NHTSA Complaint #10086258 — 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SEBRING LIMITED CONVERTIBLE FROM EGOLF MOTORS, HENDERSONVILLE, NC IN SEPT., 2003. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE ENGINE IDLE WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN SLOWING TO STOP, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO PULSE OR REV UP AND THEN DIE DOWN TO A NORMAL IDLE. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT THE ENGINE HAS DIED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE IDLING. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IT IS JERKY AND AT TIMES NOISY. I HAVE HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AT EGOLF MOTORS INSPECT AND DRIVE THE CAR AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I DROVE ANOTHER NEW SEBRING ON THE CAR LOT AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY AND THE IDLE HAD NONE OF THE SURGING FEATURES OF MY CAR. I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID MY CAR IS NORMAL AND IF I COULD REPLICATE WHAT IS HAPPENING THEN TO BRING THE CAR BACK. I LEFT THE CAR OVER NIGHT FOR THEM TO EXAMINE UNDER COLD CONDITIONS AND THEY STILL SAID IT WAS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE ACCORDING TO THEIR COMPUTER ANALYSIS. GRANTED, THE IDLE, TRANSMISSION AND STALLING PROBLEMS ARE SOMEHWHAT INTERMITTENT, BUT I WOULD HOPE THEIR IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THESE ANNOYING PROBLEMS. IN ONE ON-LINE SUGGESTION I READ THAT SOME OF THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY IDLE CONTROL SENSOR.*AK