TSB: DODGE AEROSTAR, B SERIES, CONTINENTAL, CONTOUR, CROWN VICTORIA, ECONOLINE, ESCORT, EXPEDITION, EXPLORER, F SERIES, F SUPER DUTY, F-150, F-250, GRAND MARQUIS, MARK VIII, MOUNTAINEER, MUSTANG, MYSTIQUE, NAVIGATOR, RAM, RANGER, SABLE, SUPER DUTY F SERIES, TAURUS, TOWN CAR, TRACER, VILLAGER, WINDSTAR (1997–1999)
Bulletin 9844 — March 2, 1998
Bulletin Details
| Bulletin ID | 9844 |
| Manufacturer | DODGE |
| Models | AEROSTAR, B SERIES, CONTINENTAL, CONTOUR, CROWN VICTORIA, ECONOLINE, ESCORT, EXPEDITION, EXPLORER, F SERIES, F SUPER DUTY, F-150, F-250, GRAND MARQUIS, MARK VIII, MOUNTAINEER, MUSTANG, MYSTIQUE, NAVIGATOR, RAM, RANGER, SABLE, SUPER DUTY F SERIES, TAURUS, TOWN CAR, TRACER, VILLAGER, WINDSTAR |
| Model Years | 1997–1999 |
| Date Issued | March 2, 1998 |
| Date Added to NHTSA | October 20, 1998 |
| Component | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR |
| Vehicles Affected | 28 combinations |
What is a TSB?
A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.
If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.
Summary
APPROXIMATELY 3800 1999 DODGE TRUCK RAMS BUILT IN MEXICO MAY HAVE A GENERATOR WITH A SUSPECT SOLDER CONNECTION IN THE BRUSH HOLDER ASSEMBLY. IF SOLDER CONNECTION OPENS, GENERATOR FIELD CIRCUIT OPENS, CAUSING GENERATOR TO MALFUNCTION. *AK
Affected Vehicles
| Make | Model | Year | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| DODGE | RAM | 1999 | 112000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR |
| FORD | SUPER DUTY F SERIES | 1999 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | B SERIES | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| LINCOLN | CONTINENTAL | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | CONTOUR | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | CROWN VICTORIA | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | ECONOLINE | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | ESCORT | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | EXPEDITION | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | EXPLORER | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | F SERIES | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | F SUPER DUTY | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | F-150 | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | F-250 | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| MERCURY | GRAND MARQUIS | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| LINCOLN | MARK VIII | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| MERCURY | MOUNTAINEER | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | MUSTANG | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| MERCURY | MYSTIQUE | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| LINCOLN | NAVIGATOR | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | RANGER | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| MERCURY | SABLE | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | TAURUS | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| LINCOLN | TOWN CAR | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| MERCURY | TRACER | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| MERCURY | VILLAGER | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | WINDSTAR | 1998 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| FORD | AEROSTAR | 1997 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
Related DODGE Recalls
What Should You Do?
If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized DODGE dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (9844) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.
Frequently Asked Questions
A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.
If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.
Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.
This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.