NHTSA Complaint #10029048 — 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

TEXT OF MESSAGE SENT TO [email protected] WED., 7-23-2003. MY ELDERLY FATHER HAS A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE FOR WHICH HE CURRENTLY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP IN COATS, NC HAS ADVISED THAT IT HAS A GOOD IDEA THAT IT MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR MISSING BUSHINGS, LOOSE STEERING GEAR BOLTS, OR OTHER COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEMS. THEY FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE UNTIL THEY CAN LOOK AT IT NEXT WEEK. I AM ASTOUNDED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS IN EFFECT FOR THIS SUBJECT. IT TOOK A SOLID HOUR FOR ME TO CUT / PASTE THE ATTACHED. THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM YOUR RECORDS - VIVID DESCRIPTIONS WARNING OF SAFETY CONCERNS FROM CUSTOMERS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO REACH CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S SENSE OF CONCERN AND DUTY TOWARD THIS MATTER. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THIS MATTER? YOUR WEBSITE CITES THE FOLLOWING: "IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, THE MANUFACTURER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. YOUR COMPLAINT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS." THE "NEXT STEP" HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, AND INVESTIGATIONS #EA99031 OCT 29, 1999 AND PE99044 SEP 13, 2001 CLOSED WITH NO ASSUMPTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY CHRYSLER, AND NO RECALL MANDATED FOR SAFETY ISSUES. CHRYSLER OWES THIS "WELL KNOWN" PROBLEM'S FIX TO MY FATHER AT NO CHARGE. I WILL NOT STAND BY AND SEE HIM TAKEN FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS ONE HAS SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS, WAS NOT PROPERLY INVESTIGATED BY YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, OR WAS SET ASIDE PREMATURELY.HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE?*AK