NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA06-015: INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRES

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA06-015 on August 28, 2006, the day it closed Recall Query RQ06-006, whose summary cites it, and closed it on March 15, 2007. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004–2005 Dodge Durango for it and links recall 07V-092 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA06-015 (also written EA06015)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed March 15, 2007
Opened: August 28, 2006
Closed: March 15, 2007
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component: Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel
Recall linked by NHTSA: 07V-092: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CIRCUIT/INTERIOR LIGHTING, reported March 9, 2007
Vehicles and equipment: 2004–2005 Dodge Durango

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA06-015.

THIS INVESTIGATION ORIGINATED FROM COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE AGENCY REPORTING INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP) FIRES ON VEHICLES THAT WERE COVERED UNDER A PRIOR RECALL (RECALL 03V528) BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER (DCC) TO CORRECT A CRACKED CAPACITOR IN THE IP.DCC HAS NOW IDENTIFIED ANOTHER CONDITION THAT CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT THAT CONTROLS INTERIOR LIGHTING.THIS CONDITION AFFECTS CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES.DCC'S MARCH 6, 2007 LETTER TO THE AGENCY STATES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MAY OVERHEAT AND RESULT IN AN INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.DCC WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT THE CLUSTER FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.IF THE CLUSTER SHOWS NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE, IT WILL BE RE-FLASHED [RE-PROGRAM THE CLUSTER] TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CONDITION.IN ADDITION, ALL VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE A WIRING MODIFICATION THAT DIRECTS THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TO A PORTION OF THE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH ADDITIONAL CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY.THIS RECALL COVERS 328,424 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 4/03/03 THROUGH 6/30/06.

SEE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 07V092 FOR DETAILS.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA06-015. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Dodge

Dodge Durango
- 2004, 2005

All Dodge recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA06-015

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.