NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA99-027: STEERING COLUMN FIRES
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA99-027 on September 10, 1999 and closed it on May 30, 2000. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1994–1996 Dodge Ram for it and links recall 00V-135 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA99-027 (also written EA99027)
- 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 May 30, 2000
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Component
- Power Train
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 00V-135: DAIMLERCHRYSLER/IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 1994–1996 Dodge Ram
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA99-027.
ODI has received 33 complaints alleging excessive heat in the ignition switch and related circuitry in 1994-1996 Dodge Ram trucks.
The root cause is an excessive current draw through the ignition switch result in fire, smoke, melting of surrounding plastics, stalling and the illumination of air bag and anti-lock brake system (ABS) warnig lights. DaimlerChrsler has been aware of the potential for this failure and implemented a design change to reduce the current draw through the switch.
This design change involved the installation of a relay in the blower motor circuitry for all Ram trucks built after March 15,1996.
DaimlerChrysler also made available an ignition switch repair package (PN 4874996) which includes the necessary components to upgrade vehicles built prior to the implementation date.
DaimleChrysler also issued a correspondence to its zones instructing technicians to replace failed ignition switches in the subject population with the sevice kit only.
An Engineering Analysis is necessary to determine if a safety defect trend exists.
ODI will focus its investigation on fires in the steering column area as well as the effects of switch failure on the ABS and air bag system.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA99-027. 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
All Dodge recallsWhat 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 EA99-027
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.