Engine compartment fires

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Chrysler vehicles. Closed 7 November 2005.

Investigation
PE05036
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
29 June 2005
Closed
7 November 2005

What NHTSA investigated

On june 29, 2005, odi opened preliminary evaluation PE05-036 to investigate complaints of engine compartment fires in model year (my) 1999-2000 chrysler cirrus, dodge stratus and plymouth breeze passenger cars (ja cars). The ja cars were introduced in my 1995 and ended with my 2000.THEY were produced with 2.0L, 2.4L and 2.5L engines.the incident data in the failure report summary of this resume are for subject vehicle engine compartment fires for all causes. According to daimlerchrysler, evidence collected from field inspections of fire incident vehicles indicate that fluid leakage from the high pressure power steering hose is the most likely cause of the fires in the subject vehicles.the subject high pressure power steering hose is used in ja cars with both the 2.4L and 2.0L engines in my 1995 through 2000.THE fire incident rate in the my 1999 through 2000 ja vehicles with 2.4L engines is significantly higher than in the prior model year vehicles using that engine and in any of the vehicles with the 2.0L or 2.5L engines.daimlerchrysler is continuing its investigation of the issue and has provided periodic updates to odi. An engineering analysis (EA05-019) has been opened to further assess the scope and frequency of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.

The recall that followed

  1. Chrysler — Steering: Hose, Piping, and Connections06V0010005 January 2006216,299 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
ChryslerCIRRUS1999–2000
DodgeSTRATUS1999–2000
PlymouthBREEZE1999–2000

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.