NHTSA Complaint #10112615 — 1995 DODGE STRATUS

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH RESPECT TO A 1995 DODGE STRATUS. THE DODGE STRATUS IS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE WHICH I ASSUME IS TIED IN WITH THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS OR COMPUTER. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPECIFIC DEVICE IS TO MONITOR THE OPERATION OF THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SO THAT WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER STRESS OR IS NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED OR INTENDED (OR AT LEAST THE THE COMPUTER SURMISES THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT OPERATING NORMALLY OR UP TO STANDARD), THE COMPUTER WHENEVER THAT OCCURS AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS THE DODGE STRATUS TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OR NOTICE WHATSOEVER TO THE DRIVER AND THE DODGE REMAINS IN 2ND GEAR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE DODGE IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP AND UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. IF YOU THEN ALLOW THE DODGE ENGINE TO REMAIN OFF FOR 3 OR 4 MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON AGAIN, THE CAR WILL PERFORM NORMALLY AGAIN AND WITHOUT INCIDENT AT SPEEDS UP TO 40 OR 50 OR 60 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE COMPUTER, ONCE AGAIN, SUCCUMBS TO THE URGE TO DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR. AT THAT POINT, THE DRIVER FINDS HIMSELF IN 2ND GEAR AND WITH NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE BUT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN. TO COMPREHEND WHAT THAT PREDICAMENT IS LIKE FROM THE DRIVER?S POINT OF VIEW, ONE HAS ONLY TO ENVISION YOURSELF ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE OR THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 18 WHEELER TRUCKS ALL GOING 55AND 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN, OUT OF THE BLUE, THE COMPUTER ON THE DODGE STRATUS DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT TO 20 MILES AN HOUR AND THE NEAREST 18 WHEELER TRUCK IS ONLY 10 FEET BEHIND YOU AND DOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. IN THAT SCENARIO, THE POSSIBILITIES FOR A HORRIBLE AND CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT COSTING DOZENS OF LIVES IS APPARENT---ALL BECAUSE THE ONBOARD COMPUTER ON THE DODGE STRATUS DECIDED ON ITS OWN TO DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR. *AK