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.
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.
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.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S CAMPAIGN NOS. G09/X16. DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS NOT DECIDED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.HOWEVER, IT HAS INFORMED NHTSA THAT IT WILL PROVIDE THE MODIFICATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE FREE OF CHARGE. CUSTOMERS ALSO MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.