NHTSA Complaint #10069666 — 1996 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER

ON A FAMILY TRIP TO NORTH CAROLINA, THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 1996 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER LOST THIRD GEAR TRAVELING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALONG I-95 SOUTH OF RICHMOND, VA. LUCKILY MY SON WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAVEL A FEW MILES WITHOUT THIRD GEAR TO A CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP. SINCE THE SHOP WAS CLOSED WE HAD TO RENT A VAN TO COMPLETE THE TRIP AND RETURN ON MONDAY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY BECAUSE CHRYSLER GAVE ME A 6 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN 7 YEARS SINCE THE PURCHASE, THE 57,300+ MILES ON THE PRODUCT DOES NOT REFLECT THE 'MINIMUM' MILEAGE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOOD FOR. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE PAID FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR AS WELL AS THE COST OF THE RENTAL CARS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE TRIP AND THE COST OF HOTEL ROOMS NECESSARY TO STAY OVER NIGHT AND TO MAKE A 350 MILE RETURN TRIP TO PICK UP THE VAN. THE VAN WAS NOT DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY OR DRIVEN HARSHLY DURING THE 7 YEARS I HAVE HAVE OWNED IT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS CAR SHOULD LOSE AN ENTIRE GEAR THIS EARLY ITS LIFE ESPCIALLY IF THE PRODCUT IS SOLD AS A RELIABLE, FAMILY-SAFE VEHICLE. MY QUESTION IS WHAT FURTHER ACTIONS CAN I TAKE TO SEEK REIMBURSMENT TO DEFRAY THE REPAIR COSTS FROM THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION? PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. LINDA L. KLINKSIEK