The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
The risk
IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chrysler 300M | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Chrysler LHS | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler 300M | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Chrysler 300M | 1999 | 351 | 3 |
| Chrysler 300M | 2000 | 242 | 6 |
| Chrysler 300M | 2001 | 91 | 3 |
| Chrysler 300M | 2002 | 83 | 1 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 1998 | 175 | 2 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 1999 | 333 | 4 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 2000 | 307 | 7 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 2001 | 106 | 3 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 2002 | 65 | 1 |
| Chrysler LHS | 1998 | 3 | 2 |
| Chrysler LHS | 1999 | 165 | 4 |
| Chrysler LHS | 2000 | 83 | 5 |
| Chrysler LHS | 2001 | 22 | 3 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 1998 | 377 | 3 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 1999 | 997 | 4 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 2000 | 1,065 | 7 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 2001 | 656 | 3 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 2002 | 329 | 1 |
Other seats recalls in 2003
15 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the seats; DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 203 campaigns in all.
| 03V530000 12 Dec 2003 | ACCUBUILT, INC. |
| 03V514000 10 Dec 2003 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 03V459000 6 Nov 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V402000 16 Oct 2003 | MID BUS CORPORATION |
| 03V364000 8 Oct 2003 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 03V346000 29 Sept 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V345000 15 Sept 2003 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 03V281000 5 Aug 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003