NHTSA Complaint #10066498 — 1992 DODGE STEALTH

DODGE STEALTH (1992 RT AWD MODEL) TRANSMISSION FAILED ON HIGHWAY. FAILURE MODE WAS LOSS OF POWER. CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF ROAD SAFELY, BUT POSED A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO LACK OF POWER. *AK THERE IS A RECALL AGAINST THE GETRAG TRANSFER CASE (POSSIBLE BEARING SEIZURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEAL AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF LUBRICANT). BASED ON INITIAL RESEARCH (WEB, DEALER AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP STATEMENTS), IT APPEARS THE GETRAG TRANSMISSION IN THE STEALTH AND MITSUBISHI 3000GT MODELS ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR THE APPLICATION. THIS CAR HAS HAD EXQUISITE CARE AND IS DRIVEN IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION IS FUNDAMENTALLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND MITSUBISHI DO NOT ADMIT TO A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE PART. FURTHERMORE, THEY AND GETRAG HAVE CREATED A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS ON THIS PART SINCE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT OFFERED; REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY.