Investigations
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING / FIRE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09037 - closed, opened 2009-08-12 and involving the CHRYSLER CHRYSLER.
NHTSA investigation PE09037 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-08-12 and currently closed. The subject of record is CHRYSLER CHRYSLER, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for CHRYSLER. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-11-17 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE09037 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "IN A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2009, CHRYSLER GROUP LLC (CHRYSLER), NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 161,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 AND 2008 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TR..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related CHRYSLER files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
IN A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2009, CHRYSLER GROUP LLC (CHRYSLER), NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 161,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 AND 2008 JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. CHRYSLER STATED THAT "THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING SYSTEM AND THE OPERATION OF THESE VEHICLES BEYOND THE LIMITS OF REASONABLE USAGE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IN SOME CASES TRANSMISSION FLUID EXPULSION." THE EXPELLED FLUID COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST COMPONENT AND CAUSE A FIRE. CHRYSLER WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO INSTALL A "HOT OIL" WARNING MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND A CHIME INDICATING AN ELEVATED TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE CONDITION. AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM STATING THE PURPOSE OF THE "HOT OIL" MESSAGE AND CHIME TO INCLUDE CAUTION AND WARNING STATEMENTS REGARDING ELEVATED TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO OWNERS. BASED ON CHRYSLER'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Other CHRYSLER Investigations
Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
Recall 19V-293 Post Remedy Failures
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.