Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | ||||||
| PE04039 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 04/13/2004 | 08/26/2004 | FALSE PARK | ||
| There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries. according to daimlerchrysler, incident vehicle inspections have not identified any misadjusted or broken parts.a typical incident is believed to involve the following set of conditions:(1) with the vehicle on a relatively level surface, an attempted shift into park inadvertently places the transmission in a position between the reverse and park gear detents; (2) the driver exits the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the engine running, and the parking brake disengaged; and (3) after some delay, the vehicle begins traveling rearward.in prior investigations of other daimlerchrysler products, reverse motion was found to result from a gradual pressurization of the reverse circuit (hydraulic reverse). daimlerchrysler attributes the incidents to operator error in using a system that functioned as designed.according to daimlerchrysler, the alleged defect cannot occur if the driver:(1) shifts fully into park as indicated by end of shifter travel slam, the forward throw of the shift lever, and/or the illumination of the park indication in the prndl display; (2) removes the key from the ignition; (3) turns the engine off; or (4) engages the parking brake. the subject vehicles are equipped with:(1) daimlerchrysler's re-specific transmissions that have been the subject of two previous odi reverse powered rollaway investigations (ea96-006 & ea01-017); and (2) a column mounted shift mechanism with an electronic gear position indicator (prndl) that is located in the dash display directly forward of the steering wheel.two peer populations of dodge ram pickup trucks were analyzed for comparison with the subject vehicles:(1) my 2001-02 ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks equipped with similar transmissions, but a different shifter with a mechanical prndl; and (2) my 2003-04 ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with the same shifter as the subject vehicles but different transmissions.the complaint rate in the subject vehicles is significantly higher than in the two peer populations.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | ||||||
| PE04039 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 04/13/2004 | 08/26/2004 | FALSE PARK | ||
| There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries. according to daimlerchrysler, incident vehicle inspections have not identified any misadjusted or broken parts.a typical incident is believed to involve the following set of conditions:(1) with the vehicle on a relatively level surface, an attempted shift into park inadvertently places the transmission in a position between the reverse and park gear detents; (2) the driver exits the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the engine running, and the parking brake disengaged; and (3) after some delay, the vehicle begins traveling rearward.in prior investigations of other daimlerchrysler products, reverse motion was found to result from a gradual pressurization of the reverse circuit (hydraulic reverse). daimlerchrysler attributes the incidents to operator error in using a system that functioned as designed.according to daimlerchrysler, the alleged defect cannot occur if the driver:(1) shifts fully into park as indicated by end of shifter travel slam, the forward throw of the shift lever, and/or the illumination of the park indication in the prndl display; (2) removes the key from the ignition; (3) turns the engine off; or (4) engages the parking brake. the subject vehicles are equipped with:(1) daimlerchrysler's re-specific transmissions that have been the subject of two previous odi reverse powered rollaway investigations (ea96-006 & ea01-017); and (2) a column mounted shift mechanism with an electronic gear position indicator (prndl) that is located in the dash display directly forward of the steering wheel.two peer populations of dodge ram pickup trucks were analyzed for comparison with the subject vehicles:(1) my 2001-02 ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks equipped with similar transmissions, but a different shifter with a mechanical prndl; and (2) my 2003-04 ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with the same shifter as the subject vehicles but different transmissions.the complaint rate in the subject vehicles is significantly higher than in the two peer populations.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | ||||||
| PE04039 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 04/13/2004 | 08/26/2004 | FALSE PARK | ||
| There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries. according to daimlerchrysler, incident vehicle inspections have not identified any misadjusted or broken parts.a typical incident is believed to involve the following set of conditions:(1) with the vehicle on a relatively level surface, an attempted shift into park inadvertently places the transmission in a position between the reverse and park gear detents; (2) the driver exits the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the engine running, and the parking brake disengaged; and (3) after some delay, the vehicle begins traveling rearward.in prior investigations of other daimlerchrysler products, reverse motion was found to result from a gradual pressurization of the reverse circuit (hydraulic reverse). daimlerchrysler attributes the incidents to operator error in using a system that functioned as designed.according to daimlerchrysler, the alleged defect cannot occur if the driver:(1) shifts fully into park as indicated by end of shifter travel slam, the forward throw of the shift lever, and/or the illumination of the park indication in the prndl display; (2) removes the key from the ignition; (3) turns the engine off; or (4) engages the parking brake. the subject vehicles are equipped with:(1) daimlerchrysler's re-specific transmissions that have been the subject of two previous odi reverse powered rollaway investigations (ea96-006 & ea01-017); and (2) a column mounted shift mechanism with an electronic gear position indicator (prndl) that is located in the dash display directly forward of the steering wheel.two peer populations of dodge ram pickup trucks were analyzed for comparison with the subject vehicles:(1) my 2001-02 ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks equipped with similar transmissions, but a different shifter with a mechanical prndl; and (2) my 2003-04 ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with the same shifter as the subject vehicles but different transmissions.the complaint rate in the subject vehicles is significantly higher than in the two peer populations.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT | ||||||
| PE04039 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 04/13/2004 | 08/26/2004 | FALSE PARK | ||
| There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries. according to daimlerchrysler, incident vehicle inspections have not identified any misadjusted or broken parts.a typical incident is believed to involve the following set of conditions:(1) with the vehicle on a relatively level surface, an attempted shift into park inadvertently places the transmission in a position between the reverse and park gear detents; (2) the driver exits the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the engine running, and the parking brake disengaged; and (3) after some delay, the vehicle begins traveling rearward.in prior investigations of other daimlerchrysler products, reverse motion was found to result from a gradual pressurization of the reverse circuit (hydraulic reverse). daimlerchrysler attributes the incidents to operator error in using a system that functioned as designed.according to daimlerchrysler, the alleged defect cannot occur if the driver:(1) shifts fully into park as indicated by end of shifter travel slam, the forward throw of the shift lever, and/or the illumination of the park indication in the prndl display; (2) removes the key from the ignition; (3) turns the engine off; or (4) engages the parking brake. the subject vehicles are equipped with:(1) daimlerchrysler's re-specific transmissions that have been the subject of two previous odi reverse powered rollaway investigations (ea96-006 & ea01-017); and (2) a column mounted shift mechanism with an electronic gear position indicator (prndl) that is located in the dash display directly forward of the steering wheel.two peer populations of dodge ram pickup trucks were analyzed for comparison with the subject vehicles:(1) my 2001-02 ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks equipped with similar transmissions, but a different shifter with a mechanical prndl; and (2) my 2003-04 ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with the same shifter as the subject vehicles but different transmissions.the complaint rate in the subject vehicles is significantly higher than in the two peer populations.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH | ||||||
| PE04039 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 04/13/2004 | 08/26/2004 | FALSE PARK | ||
| There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries. according to daimlerchrysler, incident vehicle inspections have not identified any misadjusted or broken parts.a typical incident is believed to involve the following set of conditions:(1) with the vehicle on a relatively level surface, an attempted shift into park inadvertently places the transmission in a position between the reverse and park gear detents; (2) the driver exits the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the engine running, and the parking brake disengaged; and (3) after some delay, the vehicle begins traveling rearward.in prior investigations of other daimlerchrysler products, reverse motion was found to result from a gradual pressurization of the reverse circuit (hydraulic reverse). daimlerchrysler attributes the incidents to operator error in using a system that functioned as designed.according to daimlerchrysler, the alleged defect cannot occur if the driver:(1) shifts fully into park as indicated by end of shifter travel slam, the forward throw of the shift lever, and/or the illumination of the park indication in the prndl display; (2) removes the key from the ignition; (3) turns the engine off; or (4) engages the parking brake. the subject vehicles are equipped with:(1) daimlerchrysler's re-specific transmissions that have been the subject of two previous odi reverse powered rollaway investigations (ea96-006 & ea01-017); and (2) a column mounted shift mechanism with an electronic gear position indicator (prndl) that is located in the dash display directly forward of the steering wheel.two peer populations of dodge ram pickup trucks were analyzed for comparison with the subject vehicles:(1) my 2001-02 ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks equipped with similar transmissions, but a different shifter with a mechanical prndl; and (2) my 2003-04 ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with the same shifter as the subject vehicles but different transmissions.the complaint rate in the subject vehicles is significantly higher than in the two peer populations.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 06/05/2005 | 1342 | 6 | 05/06/2004 |
| Piece of crap, loss of power, drive train dont hold up to loads that it states that it could pull, clutch slips when accelerating vehicle. | |||
| 09/14/2004 | |||
| Consumer states he pulled up in his back yard after driving his vehicle, put his vehicle in park cut it off. he then got out of the vehicle walked around to the rear of the truck to open the tail gate and noticed the truck was moving backward. he states he tried to catch it, but was unsuccessful, it knocked him down. he then could do no more than just lie on the ground and watch the vehicle run into his gate. he says this has happened before with his son. he says he is just fortunate that he or his son was standing iin the way of the vehicle when it begin to roll. he states that the park pawl do not engage securely, causing it to just out of park and into reverse. he states he has looked on the internet and there are other complaints of the same nature. he says this incident happened 8/27/04. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 03/21/2007 | 14600 | 1 | 10/08/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge 3500. on march 21, 2007, the vehicle automatically shifted from park into reverse. the vehicle rolled for almost 100 yards into his neighbor's brick house. the crash caused extensive damage and shifted the house five inches. the contact has a police report that stated the vehicle was defective. there is safety recall # 05v462000 (power train:automatic transmission). the engine size was unknown. the current mileage is 17,000 and failure mileage was 14,600. | |||
| 08/14/2006 | 0 | 4 | 09/17/2004 |
| 2004 dodge ram 3500. out of park. vehicle does not go all the way into park, and the vehicle will roll away when you get out. we had a recall on this problem only to now have the horn blair when you are backing up and you have the door open to gage the distance. this startled my husband when backing into a very close garage space, making him hit the accelerator and smash into the side of the garage. we have been told by dodge it is not a problem with the vehicle it is with the operators of the vehicle. but only the operators of 2004 and 2005 ram 2500 and 3500 trucks???????? not 1500 or any other trucks. it is amazing to me that only owners of 2004 & 2005 dodge ram 2500 and 3500 trucks are idiots. *nm | |||
| 07/10/2006 | 17250 | 1 | 06/25/2004 |
| The fix for the park/reverse issue on the dodge trucks is a joke. the lights blinking and horn blowing is not a fix at all. the transmission needs to be fixed right or some sort of audible alarm needs to be installed versus the horn blowing and waking up the whole neighborhood each time the door is opened when i need to back up. *jb updated | |||
| 11/27/2005 | 15660 | 2 | 04/11/2004 |
| I parked the vehicle in front of my gate, placed it in park and exited to open the gate. after being out of the vehicle for approximately 2-3 minutes, i noticed the vehicle moving backwards. i tried to catch the vehicle but was unable due to recent a knee injury. the truck hit my neighbor's fence and stopped. the gear shift had moved into reverse while the truck was idling @ gate. this was the second incident, but during the first i thought i may have not put it completely into park. thereafter, i had always ensured the park position before exiting. i had the vehicle checked @ my dodge/chrysler dealer & they said everything ok. i paid for $1,000.00 in damages to my truck, repairs done by dealers body shop. i received a recall notice on 3/30/06 but daimler chrysler is refusing to pay damages. *jb | |||
| 10/04/2005 | 82000 | 2 | 12/15/2003 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2004 dodge 3500. incident happened on october 4, 2005. while at work put vehicle in park, got out of vehicle, went away from vehicle, turned around and vehicle was rolling backwards. the contact ran and got back in vehicle . put it in park and vehicle hit a trailer that was behind it. vehicle was on private property. consumer remembered this f failure happened approximately 2 weeks ago. no police reports. no fire no injuries. 10/11/2005 - consumer reported that they fell while try to catch the truck as it was rolling away. consumer had an appointment with chiropractor to check for source of lower back pain that he was experiencing. *dsy. *ak | |||
| 07/17/2005 | 26800 | 1 | 04/01/2004 |
| Pe04039 is an exact description of what happened to my my 2004 dodge ram 3500 cummins turbo diesel with automatic transmission. witnesses saw me get out of the truck, enter a store, and then saw my truck go into reverse long after i was in the store. when i exited the store, my truck had run into the porch of a house across the street. | |||
| 07/12/2005 | 4108 | 1 | 10/15/2004 |
| Dt: the consumer stated on july 12,2005 without warning the vehicle went into drive from park on its own. the vehicle was idling with no one in it and it went into gear and hit a barn and almost ran over three people. the dealer said to make sure it was in park and take the keys out. *jb | |||
| 05/22/2005 | 39160 | 1 | 11/15/2003 |
| I parked the truck, with the motor running and put the automatic transmission in park. i left the truck to mail some letters. i was gone less than a minute and when i returned to the truck, it was across the street and up against a large tree. i know i had put the truck in park, because it was not moving when i got out of the truck. i have two bad knees and i get out of the truck slowly. | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 19000 | 2 | 04/03/2004 |
| I purchased a 2004.5 dodge ram 3500 diesel new last year. about 4 months age i was getting fuel and was parked at a gas station with the truck in park and running. my wife was sitting in the vehicle. as i was about to fuel the truck suddenly went into reverse and struck a vehicle that was behind me also getting gas. no damage or injuries. on 05/02/05, i exited my truck to give mail to a letter carrier. i exited the truck and waited for the carrier to come out of a store. all of a sudden the truck went into reverse. i started to run after the truck and fell causing my shoulder to be dislocated. the truck ran into the parked mail truck that was behind me. i also injured my other arm (left), my two knees, and my forhead. | |||
| 02/25/2005 | 12 | 10/01/2003 | |
| Dt: shifter moved from park to reverse while parked with the engine running. *ak *nm | |||
| 03/17/2005 | 12485 | 1 | 03/08/2004 |
| Owner using 2004 dodge 3500 truck in farming operation. pulled thru gate @20' in level area, put in park, shut door with engine running, proceeded to walk back and was in process of shutting gate. truck apparently jumped into reverse, backed over owner and proceeded to travel @500 ft in reverse across pasture and hit tree. rear duals ran over both legs and front wheel over right ankle. owner was hospitalized with injuries. truck could not have been in reverse when 72 yr old owner exited truck because of time lapse before backing up. owner has been driving on farm for over 50 years with no similar accident. it is common practice to put in park while opening and shutting gates. | |||
| 08/15/2004 | 10000 | 1 | 11/25/2003 |
| I own a 2004 doge ram 3500 with an automatic transmission, i have found that on some occasions the transmission will not engauge in park even though it says it is in park. when this happens it will go back into reverse, usually when you have exited the truck and it starts going backwards.*ak | |||
| 09/05/2004 | 50 | 1 | 09/04/2004 |
| New dodge ram 3500 with only 35 miles went into reverse on its own knocked me over then proceeded on its own out the driveway and across the street before i was able to get back up and catch it. the truck will not go into park, and when the shift lever is in the park position and the indicator reads reverse. drive and neutral seem to operate correctly but the dash indicator does not show it to be in neutral at times. *jb | |||
| 08/25/2004 | 16140 | 3 | 04/30/2004 |
| My 2004.5 dodge 3500 truck while in park with engine running shifted into reverse, causing damage to three vehicles. fortunately no one was hurt. this is the third time the transmission has jumped out of park, the first two i thought maybe i didn't have it all the way in park, so i became aware to check it, which i did before this last episode. although i didn't have the parking brake on, i believe this poses a very serious safety problem, which others may be experiencing as well.*ak | |||
| 07/14/2004 | 6000 | 1 | 05/07/2004 |
| When the vehicle was left idling in the park position, the transmission slipped into reverse and the vehicle rolled into a tree. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 06/17/2004 | 16000 | 1 | |
| Consumer was under the impression that the vehicle was in park . after leaving the vehicle running vehicle slipped into reverse and rolled backwards,colliding with a vehicle behind it. when the gear shifter was put in park consumer was unaware that the shifter needed to be hooked over and seated to the right. there were no injuries involved. police arrived, but,no one was cited. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | |||
| 11/03/2005 | 19578 | 5 | |
| 2004 dodge truck/pickup/3500 4x4. *nm | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 08/21/2005 | 1 | ||
| 2004 dodge ram 3500 cummins diesel. i got out of my truck to help wife shut gate, it was 25 feet from truck on flat ground- i was talking to wife-looked back and truck had shifted from park into reverse and was coming towards us at 3-4 mph- i pushed wife out of the way and the truck hit me slammed me against the gate-broke the welds on a double steel pipe gate and r4an over me. this caused severe injuries to both persons. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT | |||
| 08/10/2004 | 1800 | 5 | |
| Consumer noticed that the vehicle shifted gears on it own. while the vehicle was parked it shifted into reverse. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. also, while applying the accelerator pedal vehicle failed to accelerate. after applying the accelerator pedal numerous times vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. however, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic could not duplicate the problem. *ak the consumer parked the vehicle and was walking behind the vehicle and it started rolling backwards catching the consumer between the bumper and the car 8-10 feet behind it. the consumer was injured. *tc | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE HUBS | |||
| 06/11/2007 | 50240 | 2 | 01/09/2004 |
| 1) my 1 ton 3500 dodge truck just came out of park on its own after about 5 minutes and backed into the side of another car. i was sitting in the drivers seat using the phone and in park and it decided to go into reverse after about 5 minutes 2) the right front wheel bearing seized up from lack of grease at 52,200 miles. no damage or accident, it just sounded really bad and quit turning | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 1100 | 1 | |
| Consumer complained about front driveshaft problem. it was causing the vehicle to vibrate while driving at highway speed. manufacturer was aware of the drive shaft problem. manufacturer offered to repair the defect at a time which was not conducive to the consumer.*ak *tc | |||