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 Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
 AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation.
 ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect investigation.
 SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162, requesting that the agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect related to motor 
                        ( print page 25024)
                        vehicle safety. The petition is hereinafter identified as DP00-002.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George Chiang, Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-5206.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mr. Edward C. Kerr of Martens & Associates, Ltd. in Buffalo Grove, IL, submitted a petition to NHTSA by letter dated January 18, 2000, requesting that a new investigation be initiated or Engineering Analysis EA99-027 be extended in its scope to determine whether to issue an order concerning the notification and remedy of a defect in model year 1991 and later DamlerChrysler corporation (former Chrysler Corporation) vehicles equipped with an ignition switch assembly characterized by having a lighted plastic ring around the key cylinder assembly (subject vehicles). The petitioner alleges that the subject vehicles' ignition switch assembly allows particles/debris to fall inside, which could interfere with the switch contact operation. This may cause electrical anomalies resulting in overheating and fire. The fires, the petitioner alleges, can occur without warning in both moving and parked vehicles. ODI requested and obtained from DaimlerChrysler Corporation a listing of the subject vehicle models and populations. ODI also conducted a search of consumer complaints reported to NHTSA alleging that a thermal event (fire, smoke, melt, burn, overheat, etc.) occurred in the steering column and/or ignition switch areas of the subject vehicles. Further, ODI calculated the exposure complaint rate, 
                    *i.e.,*
                     the number of complaints per 100,000 vehicles per year, for each model and model year of the subject vehicles, and found that: (1) For a given subject vehicle model year, the exposure complaint rates vary significantly across all the subject vehicle models, (2) for a given subject vehicle model, the exposure complaint rates vary significantly across the subject vehicle model years, and (3) the exposure complaint rate was zero (no complaint reported) for many model/model year subject vehicles. Therefore, contrary to the petitioner's claim, the subject vehicles do not appear to have a common ignition switch related problem which would cause a fire. (See Attachments 1 through 3). In Attachment 3, it is noted that the model year 1995 Dodge spirit has the highest exposure complaint rate. However, the rate represents only three complaints received over a span of three years. Also, there have been no complaints received in nearly 2 years. Further, no similar complaints have been received on the model year 1995 Plymouth Acclaim which is built on the same body platform as the model year 1995 Dodge Spirit. Due to the small number of complaints and lack of recent complaints, no investigation has been opened on these vehicles concerning thermal events in the steering column and/or ignition switch areas. It is also noted that the model year 1994 and 1995 Dodge Ram Pickups have a higher number of complaints (compared with other DaimlerChrysler vehicles shown in Attachment 2) and have the second and third highest exposure complaint rates. These vehicles currently are the subject of an ODI investigation, EA99-027. At this time, that investigation is focused on allegations that the ignition switch wiring harness overheats when operating the blower motor, resulting in smoke, melting of the surrounding plastic, or fire. A copy of this petition has been included in that investigation file. In view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that NHTSA would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged safety-related defect as defined by the petition in the subject vehicles at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. Authority:
                    49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and 501.8. Kenneth N. Weinstein, Associate Administrator for Safety Assurance.
 **Attachment 1.**
                        —Populations of Model Year 1991 and Later Model Chrysler Product Line Vehicles Equipped With an Ignition Switch Assembly Characterized by Having a Lighted Plastic Ring Around the Key Cylinder Assembly
Vehicle make
Vehicle line
MY 91
MY 92
MY 93
MY 94
MY 95
MY 96
MY 97
MY 98
MY 99
MY 2000Chrysler
Acclaim
95,314
99,420
70,914
71,590
23,768Dodge
Spirit
114,905
66,905
76,509
68,382
24,566Chrysler
Lebaron
57,596
54,486
59,282
63,122
35,859Dodge
Dynasty
112,460
85,239
58,404Chrysler
New Yorker
14,354
17,237
20,855Chrysler
Imperial
51,185
41,486
33,587Dodge
Daytona
17,523
10,941
9,070Plymouth
Sundance
57,298
65,554
74,612
65,477Dodge
Shadow
82,633
79,409
102,428
89,460Dodge
Viper

238
915
2,409
1,430
1,815
1,556
1,072
1,048
484Plymouth
Prowler






404.00
n/a
3,690
1,374Plymouth
Neon




n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Neon




n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aPlymouth
Breeze





46,725
70,710
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Stratus




47,978
100,010
97,745
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Cirrus




62,014
43,743
28,112
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Sebring Convertible






56,030
50,869
46,772
29,466Dodge
Intrepid


70,160
130,603
152,579
146,826
152,314
n/a
n/a
n/aEagle
Vision


28,749
22,119
25,157
12,849
5,897
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Concorde, LHS, NY, 300M


49,530
171,090
102,707
89,730
88,132
n/a
n/a
n/aPlymouth
Voyager
145,684
189,013
211,156
224,558
166,401
183,899
150,163
156,508
150,194
72,364Dodge
Caravan
184,878
235,958
272,489
283,956
217,736
348,978
292,046
296,787
309,492
183,958Chrysler
Town and Country
2,244
13,205
26,059
37,884
12,897
107,400
79,444
76,694
68,330
61,399 
                            ( print page 25025)Dodge
Ram Wagon
56,901
69,239
31,736
129,230
75,108
85,887
98,829
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Dakota
73,162
125,714
131,611
102,750
117,991
98,200
128,785
152,496
134,192
n/aDodge
Ram Pickup
88,769
74,944
76,241
188,097
267,241
362,880
375,061
410,815
406,057
n/aDodge
Durango







123,099
204,194
n/aJeep
Commanche
n/a
n/aJeep
Wrangler
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
127,295
91,392
85,794
54,246Jeep
Cherokee
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
187,345
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJeep
Grand Cherokee


224,359
227,602
265,848
284,641
262,133
251,758
288,757
173,042Total
1,154,906
1,228,988
1,628,666
1,878,329
1,599,280
2,100,928
2,014,654
1,611,490
1,698,520
576,333Grand total









15,492,094‘n/a’—model/model year vehicle not equipped with an ignition switch characterized by having a lighted plastic ring around the key cylinder assembly.Empty cell block—model/model year vehicle not produced.
 **Attachment 2.—Number of Consumer Complaints Received by NHTSA as of March 2, 2000, Alleging a Thermal Event Occurred in the Steering Column and/or Ignition Switch Areas**
Vehicle make
Vehicle line
MY 91
MY 92
MY 93
MY 94
MY 95
MY 96
MY 97
MY 98
MY 99
MY 2000Plymouth
Acclaim
3
4
1
0
0Dodge
Spirit
3
3
5
1
3Chrysler
Lebaron
0
3
0
1
0Dodge
Dynasty
1
0
0Chrysler
New Yorker
0
0
0Chrysler
Imperial
0
0
0Dodge
Daytona
0
0
0Plymouth
Sundance
0
2
1
0Dodge
Shadow
0
0
0
0Dodge
Viper

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0Plymouth
Prowler






0
n/a
0
0Plymouth
Neon




n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Neon




n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aPlymouth
Breeze





0
0
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Stratus




0
0
0
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Cirrus




2
0
0
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Sebring Convertible






0
0
0
0Dodge
Intrepid


0
0
0
0
0
n/a
n/a
n/aEagle
Vision


0
0
0
0
0
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Concorde, LHS, NY, 300M
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
n/a
n/a
n/aPlymouth
Voyager
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0Dodge
Caravan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0Chrysler
Town and Country
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0Dodge
Ram Wagon
3
3
0
0
0
1
0
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Dakota
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
n/aDodge
Ram Pickup
1
2
0
20
18
1
0
0
0
n/aDodge
Durango







0
0
n/aJeep
Commanche
n/a
n/aJeep
Wrangler
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
0
0
0Jeep
Cherokee
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJeep
Grand Cherokee


1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0‘n/a’—model/model year vehicle not equipped with an ignition switch characterized by having a lighted plastic ring around the key cylinder assembly.Empty cell block—model/model year vehicle not produced.
 **Attachment 3.—Exposure Compliant Rate (the Number of Complaints per 100K Vehicles per Year) of an Alleged Thermal Event Occurred in the Steering Column and/or Ignition Switch Areas**
Vehicle make
Vehicle line
MY 91
MY 92
MY 93
MY 94
MY 95
MY 96
MY 97
MY 98
MY 99
MY 
                             2000Plymouth
Acclaim
.034
.048
.019
0.00
0.00Dodge
Spirit
0.28
0.54
0.89
0.23
2.29Chrysler
Lebaron
0.00
0.66
0.00
0.25
0.00Dodge
Dynasty
0.09
0.00
0.00Chrysler
New Yorker
0.00
0.00
0.00Chrysler
Imperial
0.00
0.00
0.00Dodge
Daytona
0.00
0.00
0.00






( print page 25026)Plymouth
Sundance
0.00
0.37
0.18
0.00Dodge
Shadow
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Dodge
Viper

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Plymouth
Prowler






0.00
n/a
0.00
0.00Plymouth
Neon




n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Neon




n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aPlymouth
Breeze





0.00
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Stratus




0.00
0.00
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Cirrus




0.60
0.00
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Sebring Convertible






0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Dodge
Intrepid


0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aEagle
Vision


0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aChrysler
Concorde, LHS, NY, 300M
0.00
0.00
0.28
0.18
0.00
0.00
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aPlymouth
Voyager
0.07
0.06
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.12
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Dodge
Caravan
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Chrysler
Town and Country
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Dodge
Ram Wagon
0.56
0.52
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.27
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/aDodge
Dakota
0.00
0.19
0.00
0.15
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
n/aDodge
Ram Pickup
0.12
0.32
0.00
1.68
1.26
0.06
0.00
0.00
0.00
n/aDodge
Durango







0.00
0.00
n/aJeep
Commanche
n/a
n/aJeep
Wrangler
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00Jeep
Cherokee
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0.25
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJeep
Grand Cherokee


0.06
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00‘n/a’—model/model year vehicle not equipped with an ignition switch characterized by having a lighted plastic ring around the key cylinder assembly.Empty cell block—model/model year vehicle not produced.


[FR Doc. 00-10630  Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-M