NHTSA Complaint #10141218 — 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING

I PURCHASED A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING IN JULY 2005. MY TRANSMISSION BLEW UP ALMOST CAUSING THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP AND HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE THAT SHOOK THE ENTIRE CAR. I THOUGHT THAT A TRUCK TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT UNTIL I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A BIG PLOOM OF SMOKE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE DASH TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING LIGHTS AND THERE WEREN'T. BUT THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN VERY FAST. WHILE GETTING OVER TO THE EXIT LANE I WAS CALMLY TELLING MY DAUGHTER TO UNFASTENED HER SAFETY BELT, AND TO SLIDE OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND TO PREPARE TO GET OUT FAST. I WAS SO FRIGHTENED THAT I COULDN'T EVEN DIAL ON MY CELL PHONE. WE COASTED OFF OF THE FREEWAY TO A GAS STATION. I THREW THAT CAR IN GEAR AND WE BOTH JUMPED OUT. THANK GOD. THE ATTENDANT NOTICED US BEFORE WE TURNED UP INTO THE STATION AND GOT A FLASHLIGHT AND SOME OTHER TOOLS AND TOLD US TO STAND BACK. BEFORE I KNEW IT ABOUT SEVEN GUYS WERE AROUND THIS VEHICLE SAYING HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM WAS. SO I ASKED THE NATURAL QUESTION. DO YOU THINK THERE WAS A RECALL? I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD TAKE MY COMPLAINT BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY ON THAT VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS TOLD ME BY THESE MEN ONE OF WHICH WAS A MASTER MECHANIC FOR FORD AND ANOTHER A MECHANIC FOR DODGE, AND TOW TRUCK GUY. HERE I AM. I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS COMPANY WAS NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF MYSELF OR MY FAMILY. I KNOW THAT VERY QUICKLY THIS INCIDENT COULD VERY WELL HAVE TURNED INTO A CATASTROPHE. WHEN I WONDER IF THEY OR THEIR FAMILIES BUY THEIR VEHICLES I HAVE TO SAY NO NO NO. HOW DARE THEY TALK ABOUT BEING THE BEST VEHICLE MADE IN AMERICA. ARE YOU TALKING CLASS ACTION ? I WANT IN. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR CRITICALLY INJURED AFTER MY TRANSMISSION BLEW UP! *JB