NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2002 Chrysler Town & Country
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is an office within the NHTSA which investigates serious safety problems in the design, construction or performance of vehicles.
The NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles, if the ODI finds a safety issue.
NHTSA investigations for the 2002 Chrysler Town & Country, both ongoing and closed, are listed below:
INVESTIGATION: HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Engineering Analysis #EA05009
Status:
CLOSED
Date Opened: June 01, 2005
Date Closed: May 02, 2006
Recall: No recall issued
Component(s): Electrical System Exterior Lighting:Headlights Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Summary: Owner reports indicate allegations of improper headlight operation of one or both headlights.some report intermittent outage or dimming.many report that the condition is random; it sometimes does not repeat and lasts for a very short duration. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of Agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.the Agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see summary report for additional information.
INVESTIGATION: SPEAKER FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE
Component(s): Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Summary: On July 7, 2004, the Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation based on consumer complaints alleging an interior vehicle fire starting in the area of the driver side rear speaker.DaimlerChrysler corporation (DCC) informed ODI that condensation from the instrument panel air conditioning ducts may drip onto the radio and into vent holes on top of the radio.this can result in a short circuit sending direct current to the rear speakers and cause a speaker fire.the condition is present only on subject vehicles equipped with the base radio.subject vehicles with other option radios contain circuit protection that prevents sending direct current to the speakers and are not affected.all nine complaints pertain to vehicles with the base radio.by letter dated November 1, 2004, DCC notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA# 04V531) covering model year 2001-2002 Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, and Town & Country models with base radio only (est. 238,000 vehicles).DCC dealers will install a protective tape to the top of the radio assembly to prevent water intrusion.the action taken by DCC is sufficient to resolve the issue raised by this investigation.accordingly, this investigation is closed.
INVESTIGATION: HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation #PE05004
Status:
CLOSED
Date Opened: February 02, 2005
Date Closed: June 01, 2005
Recall: No recall issued
Component(s): Electrical System Exterior Lighting:Headlights Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Summary: The Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation after receiving reports from consumers that their headlights would malfunction in various ways from flickering to complete non-illumination.headlight operation is monitored by the vehicle's body control module (BCM) and front control module (FCM).ODI is upgrading this preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis (EA05-009) to further examine the issue.
Summary: This investigation was opened as PE04-054 regarding reports of alleged power liftgate (plg) opening while driving.the investigation was upgraded on November 22, 2004 based on information provided by DaimlerChrysler corporation (DCC) in its September 17, 2004 response to PE04-054. By letter of April 5, 2005, DCC has notified the Agency that it will conduct a safety recall of 70,235 model year (MY) 2003 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles equipped with the plg option.DCC has identified a problem in early production MY 2003 plg control modules that can prevent the plg door from latching closed in a power open/close cycle.in this condition the plg can rise (not power open) during vehicle operation.dealers will install a revised plg control module to remedy the affected vehicles.see safety recall 05V134 for details.
Component(s): Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump Steering:Linkages:Drag:Power Assist System
