NHTSA Complaint #10136170 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID SE HAS A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2001. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS TURNED ON. THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY HARROWING AT TIMES WHEN THE CAR SHOULD BE DECELERATING - I.E. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR PULLING INTO THE GARAGE. DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ENGINE AT THESE TIMES, RPM'S USUALLY RANGE FROM 750 TO 1100 RPM DEPENDING ON SPEED OF THE CAR. DURING A "PROBLEM" PERIOD AS ONE BEGINS THE PROCESS OF DECELERATION, THE ENGINE RPM'S WILL JUMP UP TO 2200 - 2500 RPM THUS CAUSING UNUSUAL USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COMPENSATE FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION WILL BEGIN TO "GEAR-DOWN" AS THOUGH MY BRAKING IS INTERPRETED AS CLIMBING A HILL OR PASSING ANOTHER CAR. CONSEQUENTLY, I WILL PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND LET THE ENGINE RACE UP AND DOWN UNTIL IT SETTLES AT AN EVEN RPM. I QUIT USING AIR CONDITIONING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE 2001 DODGE INTREPID SE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE "BRAIN" OF THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (ONE MONTH AGO). NOW THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER CONSUMER PROBLEM REPORT SIMILAR TO MINE ON MYCARSTATS.COM.*JB