NHTSA Complaint #10138025 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

I WAS DRIVING RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WHEN THE CAR WENT OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH. BUT I DIDN'T FEEL ANY COMPROMISE IN VEHICLE HANDLING. I PULLED OVER, VISUALLY INSPECTED THE TIRE AND TRIED TO BOUNCE THE CAR FRONT TO REPLICATE THE SOUND WITH NO SUCCESS. I DECIDED TO PROCEED ON AND ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 60-65 MPH. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD CLANKING SOUND AND THE CAR BEGAN VIBRATING. I MOVED OFF THE ROAD, TO THE RIGHT AND STOPPED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY BOTH IN BRAKING AND STEERING. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SINGLE BANG NOISE AND BLACK SMOKE ROSE UP FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A BOLT FELL OFF OF A SUPPORT ARM THAT HOLDS THE RIGHT BRAKE CALIPER IN PLACE. THE SUPPORT ARM HAD BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE RIM AND LOCKED THE TIRE. I REPLACED THE PREMIUM RIM, SUPPORT ARM, BOLT AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE BRAKE CALIPER. MY BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED, MY CAR IS 3 YRS OLD AND HAS 27,000 MILES AND IS IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION. *NM