DP96014 · DP
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE Investigation
CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE 1991-92 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA, 1990-92 FORD TAURUS, AND 1994-96 CHRYSLER MINIVANS ARE DEFECTIVE.CFAS ALLEGE THAT INFORMATION ON LOW SPEED CRASHES HERE OCCUPANTS HAVE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTS [THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLES] HAVE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS.
PE96038 · PE
STRUCTURE Investigation
CHRYSLER MAINTAINS THAT THE COMMON FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO KNOWN SLIDING DOOR OPENING INCIDENTS IS PRIOR INCORRECT DEALER LATCH ADJUSTMENT.CHRYSLER ATTRIBUTES THIS PROBLEM TO AN INACCURATE SERVICE MANUAL PROCEDURE - SLIDING DOOR LATCH/LOCK CONTROL, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION.CHRYSLER FURNISHED INFORMATION SHOWING THAT SIX OF ITS COMPLAINTS, AND TWO OF ODI'S, INVOLVED VEHICLES THAT HAD UNDERGONE PRIOR REPAIRS TO THE AFFECTED SLIDING DOOR.CHRYSLER HAS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS.TSB 26-06-96, SERVICE MANUAL REVISIONS, WAS ISSUED IN JUNE 1996 AND INCLUDES A SERVICE REVISION (#81-370-6105A) CORRECTING SERVICE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR REPAIR PROCEDURES.TSB 23-39-96, SLIDING DOOR(S) DIFFICULT TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AND/OR INSIDE, WAS ISSUED JUNE 28, 1996.CHRYSLER IDENTIFIED THREE DESIGN CHANGES INVOLVING THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS: (1)SLIDING DOOR LATCH PAWL SPRING FORCE INCREASED FROM 5.4 NEWTONS TO 8.0 NEWTONS IN SEPTEMBER 1995 TO ENHANCE PAWL ROTATION RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION; (2)ADJUSTABLE SLIDING DOOR HINGE IMPLEMENTED IN NOVEMBER 1995 TO REDUCE VARIATION IN SLIDING DOOR FIT; AND(3)SLIDING DOOR STRIKER ATTACHMENT HOLES REVISED IN JANUARY 1996 TO ELIMINATE UP/DOWN ADJUSTMENT OF STRIKER TO IMPROVE INSTALLATION PROCESS AND REDUCE VARIABILITY OF ALIGNMENT BETWEEN LATCH AND STRIKER.AT PRESENT, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY INCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLES BUILT IN OR AFTER JANUARY 1996.ODI HAS CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS OF SLIDING DOORS OPENING WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION, INCLUDING VEHICLES WITH NO PRIOR SERVICE HISTORY TO THE AFFECTED SLIDING DOOR ASSEMBLY.OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE DOORS OPEN ANYWHERE FROM A FEW INCHES TO FULLY OPEN, AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 15 TO 60 MPH.ODI HAS ALSO RECEIVED NUMBEROUS COMPLAINTS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY IN LATCHING THE SUBJECT SLIDING DOORS AND/OR DIFFICULTY IN OPENING ONE OR BOTH SLIDING DOORS.