NHTSA Complaint #10045743 — 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING

PURCHASED 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING FROM ED TOMKO DEALERSHIP IN AVON LAKE, OH ON SEPT 23RD. AFTER 270 MILES (9-29-03) THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO SHAKE WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS (VISIBLY SHAKING AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AS MY ENTIRE UPPER BODY FEELS THE AFFECTS). I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE ED TOMKO DEALERSHIP ON OCT 6TH AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A 4 CYLINDER (I HAVE OWNED 4 CYLINDER CHRYSLER VEHICLES FOR 14 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS DEFECT). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND SPOKE TO THE GM WHO PASSED ME OFF TO THE SERVICE MANAGER (LATER I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NO LONGER THE SALES DEPT'S CONCERN-IT WAS NOW A SERVICE ISSUE). THE SERVICE MGR, DAVE TOMKO, TOLD ME HE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CAR THE PREVIOUS DAY AND SAW NO PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK ON OCT 9TH FOR DAVE TOMKO TO VISUALLY CONFIRM THE DEFECT VIA A ROAD TEST. HE TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL AND I HAD NO OTHER RECOURSE THAN TO SEEK ARBITRATION. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (REFERENCE # 11733597) AND HAVE BEEN BRUSHED OFF. THEY SIDED WITH DAVE TOMKO AND SEVERAL E-MAILS LATER, TOLD ME IF I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS NORMAL TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (OCT 20TH). THEY AGREED IT WAS NOT NORMAL AND UPPED THE CURB IDLE SPEED (AS THE SHAKING BECAME MORE PROMINENT WHEN THE IDLE SPEED DROPPED). THE PROBLEM HAS RE-SURFACED AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NOV 6TH. THEY HAVE FAXED THE SENSOR READINGS TO CHRYSLER. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING AS OF TODAY, NOV 8TH, AND THE CAR REMAINS DEFECTIVE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE IDLING AT INTERSECTIONS, SINCE IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO KEEP MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE IDLING.*AK