NHTSA campaign 98V183000

CHRYSLER CORPORATION Recall 98V-183: CHRYSLER/IGNITION KEY SHIFT INTERLOCK

Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

NHTSA recall 98V183000 was reported by CHRYSLER CORPORATION on August 6, 1998, with 685,000 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Chrysler Cirrus, Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Sebring and more for model years 1995–1998 (try.vin imports model years 1995 and later). Owners were notified on October 26, 1998, per NHTSA.

Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files

Is my vehicle included?

This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 98V183000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.

To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign: 98V183000 (also written 98V-183 or 98V183)
Filed by: CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Report received: August 6, 1998
Potentially affected: 685,000 vehicles (per NHTSA)
Component: Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Owners notified: October 26, 1998
NHTSA investigation: Engineering Analysis EA98-014 (per NHTSA's investigations file)

Vehicles listed for this recall

NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 98V183000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.

Chrysler

Chrysler Cirrus
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 · Vehicles built July 25, 1994 – January 21, 1998 (per NHTSA)
Chrysler Sebring
- 1996, 1997, 1998 · Vehicles built August 25, 1995 – January 21, 1998 (per NHTSA)

All Chrysler recalls

Dodge

Dodge Stratus
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 · Vehicles built July 25, 1994 – January 21, 1998 (per NHTSA)

All Dodge recalls

Plymouth

Plymouth Breeze
- 1996, 1997, 1998 · Vehicles built July 25, 1994 – January 21, 1998 (per NHTSA)

All Plymouth recalls

NHTSA's recall notice

As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 98V183000.

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.

Safety consequence

IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 1998. 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 CHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Sources

Official NHTSA notice for recall 98V183000

Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.