Water and air bag firing control computers don't get along very well together.
Chrysler is recalling almost 300,000 2008 model year Chrysler Grand Voyager, Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans because an a/c system leak can damage the airbag control module on the passenger side of the vehicle. A sudden airbag explosion could result, hence the Chrysler recalls.
Previously minivan recalls were conducted in November 2010 because a defective drain grommet on the heating and ventilation system (HVAC) allowed condensation from a/c operation to leak onto the computer. At the time only the grommet was replaced. Subsequent Chrysler durability testing revealed that some of the computers failed.
A defective computer will illuminate the airbag warning light and in theory there is the potential inadvertent airbag deployment without warning, possibly injuring an occupant, and certainly scaring the heck out of the driver. In a NHTSA filing about the Chrysler recalls, the company said it knows of no inadvertent airbag deployments.
Chrysler dealers will replace the affected air bag module free of charge as is required by U.S. law. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
