2005 Chrysler Town and Country airbags problems

What is wrong

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 dodge caravan, grand caravan and chrysler town & country vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, alaska and the district of columbia. The front crash sensors may crack under certain environmental conditions and allow water to enter into the sensor. This can cause the sensor to become inoperative and illuminate the airbag warning light. These sensors were added to enhance the performance of the airbag system in certain frontal crashes.

Risk

If the front crash sensors become inoperative, the driver is immediately alerted by illumination of the airbag warning light and the vehicle should be promptly serviced. Until the vehicle is repaired, the airbags may not provide the enhanced protection in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will replace the front airbag sensors with a new design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety improvement campaign will begin during june 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 10V008000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain minivans are being recalled that were originally sold in or currently registered in the 27 states plus the district of columbia that use greater amounts of salt for winter road deicing. The up-front (uf) air bag sensors that contain brass bushings installed in these vehicles may corrode and crack allowing water to enter the sensor. These sensors provide enhanced air bag performance in certain types of frontal crashes.

Risk

In one of these crashes, with one or both of the vehicle's uf sensors inoperative, the occupants will not benefit from the enhanced air bag protection that these sensors would provide.

Remedy

For vehicles registered in the recall states, dealers will replace the original uf air bag sensors with ones with greater corrosion resistance. Vehicles registered in other states will obtain a lifetime free replacement of any uf sensor that fails. The campaign began on july 2, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 07V192000 · Recall details

Chrysler will replace the frame rail-mounted front air bag crash sensors in approximately 312,442 model year (my) 2005 and 2006 chrysler minivans (recall 10v‑008).these vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with ultradur brand plastic housings and steel bushings and were built between january 19, 2005 and april 5, 2006.this action covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in 27 states (alaska, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia and wisconsin) and the district of columbia.vehicles sold or currently registered outside of these states, approximately 185,000 my 2005-2006 minivans, are not included in the recall.although these vehicles use the same crash sensors and were built during the same period as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.also, my 2006-2007 minivans built after april 5, 2006, are not included in the recall.these vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with crastin brand plastic housings and steel bushings and experience significantly lower failure rates compared to the recalled vehicles.the federal safety agency and chrysler differ regarding the significance and impact of the defect, but in the interest of remedying the affected vehicles expeditiously and to avoid a protracted dispute, chrysler is implementing steps to replace the front crash sensors.based on these actions, the agency has decided that further use of its resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists in the subject vehicles.the agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.select document search for additional information.

RQ09003

Daimlerchrysler (dcc) will replace the frame rail-mounted front air bag crash sensors in approximately 270,958 my 2005 daimlerchrysler minivans (the federal safety agency recall no. 07v‑192).these vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with brass bushings and were built between april 24, 2003 and february 2, 2005.this action covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in 27 states (alaska, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia and wisconsin) and the district of columbia.vehicles sold or currently registered outside of these states, approximately 133,128 my 2005 minivans, will receive a lifetime warranty on the front crash sensors.although these vehicles use the same brass bushing sensors and were built during the same period as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.dcc will also provide written notification to all affected vehicle owners.the federal safety agency and dcc differ regarding the significance and impact of the defect, but in the interest of remedying the affected vehicles expeditiously and to avoid a protracted dispute, dcc is implementing steps to replace the subject components.based on these actions, the agency has decided that further use of its resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists in the subject vehicles.the agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.select document search for additional information.

EA06003

The model year (my) 2005 daimlerchrysler (dc) minivans have the new advanced frontal air bag systems with two front crash sensors mounted on the frame rails behind the front bumper and a main crash sensor inside the air bag control module mounted in the passenger compartment.according to dc, the front crash sensors are designed to optimize detection of frontal offset and angular crashes.the advanced air bag system offers different levels of air bag inflation based on input from the crash sensors.this investigation revealed that the front crash sensors can corrode from water entering the sensor assembly.dc is still investigating all potential root causes of sensor failures.a corroded sensor can set a fault code, illuminate the air bag warning lamp, and become disabled.it appears that failure of one or both front crash sensors can potentially result in no/late deployment of frontal air bags and non-deployment of driver's higher inflation levels in certain frontal crashes.it should be noted that occupants of vehicles involved in a crash may not be aware of late or improperly reduced level of air bag inflation and thus field reporting of such events may be suppressed.this preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea06-003) for further investigation of my 2005 (and 2006) dc minivans.note: total number of odi and manufacturer complaints includes some duplicate reports.

PE05061