NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE12-016: Engine stall
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE12-016 on June 18, 2012 and closed it on October 15, 2012. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 models from 2 makes for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE12-016 (also written PE12016)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed October 15, 2012
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Component
- Engine
- Vehicles and equipment
- 3 models from 2 makes, including the Chrysler 200 and Chrysler 200 Convertible
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE12-016.
During PE12-016, Chrysler identified a condition in model year (MY) 2011 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines that may result in engine stall when stopped or travelling at very low speeds.
According to Chrysler, this condition occurs when the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) initiates a purge monitor check while the engine is at idle which can result in an overly rich vapor condition and cause the engine to stall while stopped.
Chrysler developed a software countermeasure to address the condition and has initiated a customer satisfaction campaign to reprogram the PCM on all affected vehicles. The bulletin was sent to dealers on September 28, 2012 and the owner letter mailing began on October 5, 2012.
See the investigative file for copies of Chrysler's bulletin and owner letter.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaints related to engine stall that were provided by Chrysler or submitted to ODI from consumers.
The predominant failure mode identified involved stalling when stopped or travelling at low speeds.
The complaint counts shown in this resume include incidents in which enough detail was available to verify the symptoms were related to the defect condition identified by Chrysler.
Two complaints alleged engine stall resulting in collisions, one involving very minor damage and one involving a single vehicle road departure crash in which the vehicle was totalled.
In the first incident, the vehicle stalled while stopped at an intersection and rolled back into a following vehicle resulting in a minor scratch in the rear bumper.
In the second incident, the vehicle was totalled from damage sustained from striking a tree after failing to negotiate a sharp turn in wet road conditions.
The police report does not include any references to stalling as a cause or contributor, but cites excessive speed entering the turn.
Although there was evidence or prior history with stalling when stopped, there is no evidence that engine stall was a factor in the crash.
The condition that is causing the majority of stalling incidents in the subject vehicles occurs at a stop or very low speed and allows the vehicle to be restarted immediately.
The condition represents a low risk to motor vehicle safety and is adequately addressed by Chrysler's service campaign. This preliminary evaluation is closed.
The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers (ODI Nos.):10458865, 10458713, 10456385, 10456270, 10452622, 10452327, 10451870, 10451243, 10450745, 10450609, 10449370, 10448136, 10446374, 10443383, 10428753, 10463086, 10463085, 10462966, 10462908, 10462901, 10462851, 10462772, 10462720, 10462702, 10462691.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE12-016. 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.
Chrysler
All Chrysler recallsDodge
Dodge Avenger
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.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE12-016
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.