The defect
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.
The risk
IF THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER IS IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PROMPTLY SERVICED. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE ENHANCED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The remedy
CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chrysler Town And Country | 2005, 2006 |
| Dodge Caravan | 2005, 2006 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 2005, 2006 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 Town And Country | 2005 | 857 | 4 |
| Chrysler Town And Country | 2006 | 431 | 2 |
| Dodge Caravan | 2005 | 537 | 4 |
| Dodge Caravan | 2006 | 173 | 2 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 2005 | 995 | 5 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 2006 | 284 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2010
13 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the air bags; CHRYSLER GROUP LLC filed 37 campaigns in all.
| 10V644000 17 Dec 2010 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| 10V581000 12 Nov 2010 | JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 10V564000 10 Nov 2010 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 10V489000 13 Oct 2010 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 10V402000 8 Sept 2010 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 10V349000 22 Jul 2010 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 10V312000 6 Jul 2010 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 10V145000 12 Apr 2010 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010