The defect
EXCESS LUBRICATION CAN CAUSE THE RUBBER DOOR LATCH SWITCH COVER TO DEFORM, AND THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH TO MALFUNCTION, SO THAT THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH WITH A SWITCH THAT UTILIZES REDUCED LUBRICATING GREASE, IMPROVED CONTACT SURFACE, AND A DIFFERENT RUBBER ISOLATION BOOT.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Colt | 1992, 1993 |
| Eagle Summit | 1992, 1993 |
| Plymouth Colt | 1992, 1993 |
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Colt | 1992 | 14 | 2 |
| Dodge Colt | 1993 | 107 | 2 |
| Eagle Summit | 1992 | 44 | 3 |
| Eagle Summit | 1993 | 92 | 3 |
| Plymouth Colt | 1992 | 13 | 3 |
| Plymouth Colt | 1993 | 71 | 3 |
Other latches/locks/linkages recalls in 1997
5 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the latches/locks/linkages; CHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 640 campaigns in all.
| 97V234000 17 Dec 1997 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 97V085000 22 May 1997 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 97V063001 18 Apr 1997 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 97V024000 4 Mar 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997