ON JULY 3, 2007, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA DESCRIBING A DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING IN APPROXIMATELY 80,894 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 JEEP WRANGLER AND DODGE NITRO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 30, 2006 AND JANUARY 22, 2007

ODI'S INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED NO ISSUES IN THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURING PROCESS, OR QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS USED IN THE DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED FIELD INCIDENTS OF SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FAILURES SIMILAR TO THE FAILURES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE NHTSA RESEARCH TESTING OF THE DURANGO AIR BAGS.

IN A NOVEMBER 5, 2008 LETTER, CHRYSLER SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT DESCRIBING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN PRNDL MISALIGNMENT (I.E., INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION) IN APPROXIMATELY 20,300 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 THROUGH 2009 DODGE CHARGER AND MAGNUM

IN A NOVEMBER 5, 2008 LETTER, CHRYSLER SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT DESCRIBING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN PRNDL MISALIGNMENT (I.E., INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION) IN APPROXIMATELY 20,300 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 THROUGH 2009 DODGE CHARGER AND MAGNUM

Shaun Nicolas Doss (age 8) Robert Doss (father) Gilbert, AZ As a 6-year-old, Shaun Nicolas Doss became severely injured and is now paraplegicwhen his seatbelt failed during an accident.On May 15, 2007, 6-year-old Shaun Doss was riding in the third-row passenger seat of his family’s Dodge Durango, along with his father Robert and three siblings, when another vehicle ran a red light, “T-boning” the Doss’s Durango at the driver’s side rearwheel. Because the seat belts in the Doss’s Durango had not been properly affixed to the vehicle’s frame, they did not function properly upon impact.

 

 

Marie P. Wilkinson, Warren, OH

On March 23, 2006, after spending the day, as she often did, with her daughter and grandchild looking at prospective pre-schools, beloved grandmother, mother, and friend, 64 year old Marie P. Wilkinson drove a Chrysler-manufactured 1995 Plymouth Neon back to her home. Upon nearing her home, she drove slowly onto its flat entrance and stopped to get her mail. She then placed the vehicle into what she reasonably believed was to be “park” and likely believing that the vehicle was in “park,” exited the vehicle with the engine running to retrieve her mail. After a brief delay, the vehicle suddenly self-shifted into powered reverse, knocking Ms. Wilkinson to the ground. The vehicle then ran over her head, inflicting fatal head and neck injuries.

 

On August 4, 2007, Dzemila Heco was stopped at a light on Center road in Essex, Vermont when she was rear-ended. Although Heco was wearing her seat belt, the 2000 Dodge Neon’s restraint system failed. The force of the crash threw Heco into the rear seat and broke her spine, leaving her a quadriplegic. Before the crash, Heco had just completed her training as a dental assistant, and was ready to embark on a new career. Today, the 46-year-old woman is totally dependent on Medicaid and her younger son, who serves as her primary caretaker.