Chrysler Recalls 300,000 Minivans

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Chrysler Recalls About 300,000 Minivans for Air-Bag Defect

Aug 4, 2011

Chrysler Group LLC, the U.S. automaker run by Fiat SpA (F), is recalling about 300,000 Dodge and Chrysler brand minivans in North America, citing a risk of air bags deploying when not needed and without warning.

The vehicles in this recall are the same ones involved in an earlier recall to replace a heating and cooling system drain grommet, the automaker, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, said in a document posted today on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

Chrysler is recalling model-year 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Voyager minivans and Dodge Caravans, it said on the NHTSA site. Because of the earlier defect, moisture may have leaked into the air-bag controls, the company said today in a statement on its website.

Chrysler said it doesn’t know of any accidents or injuries related to the air-bag defect.

“Despite the lack of field reports, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers to replace these modules to ensure the proper functionality of the minivan’s advanced safety system,” David Dillon, Chrysler’s head of product investigations and campaigns, said in the statement.

SOURCE

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Chrysler Group LLC to Recall 2008 Minivans to Replace Occupant Restraint Control Module.



August 4, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group LLC is recalling 299,718 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans to replace the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) modules. The ORC modules may have been exposed to moisture and could eventually experience an illumination of the airbag light with the potential for an inadvertent airbag deployment.

This announcement follows a prior recall of the same vehicles in January of 2011 to replace the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) drain grommet, which had the potential to leak moisture into the area of the ORC module.

Chrysler engineers have determined that the printed circuit board in ORC modules previously exposed to moisture could delaminate over time, despite the elimination of the source of prior moisture. This potential delamination could lead to a disruption in the circuitry and compromise airbag performance.

Chrysler reports it is unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the condition in vehicles that have had the prior recall completed. “Despite the lack of field reports, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers to replace these modules to ensure the proper functionality of the minivan’s advanced safety system,” said David Dillon, Head of Product Investigations and Campaigns.

Most of the vehicles involved are sold in the United States; there are also 50,251 vehicles in Canada; 3,748 vehicles in Mexico, and 13,633 export models.

Chrysler will begin sending letters to customers in September to schedule appointments with dealership service departments for a no-charge repair. Dealer service personnel will replace the ORC modules at no cost to the customer.