NHTSA Complaint #10150534 — 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING

SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK DELIVERY ON MY 2004 SEBRING SEDAN IN JULY, 2004, I RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND STALL OUT AT LOW IDLE SPEEDS. THE DEALER ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN IN LATE 2005, BUT THIS TIME, IT DIDN'T ALWAYS STALL OUT. AT TIMES WHILE I WAS BREAKING OR EVEN STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND IT WAS FIXED, I WAS TOLD, BY A COMPUTER UPDATE, AND I GOT IT BACK ON 12/1/05. I NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RECURRING AS I DROVE ABOUT 450 MILES ON JANUARY 3RD AND 4TH OF 2006. I PLANNED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER DRIVING HOME ON 1/6. BUT ON THE LAST LEG OF THE TRIP, AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES COMING UP ON CARS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE CAR HURTLED FORWARD AS I YELLED AND TRIED TO GET THE BRAKES TO OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATION. I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT THE LIGHT, BUT ONLY KNOCKED OUT HER LEFT BRAKE LIGHT. THE SEBRING SUSTAINED OVER $5000 IN DAMAGES. I DROVE THE CAR THE REST OF THE WAY TO MY HOME, BUT ON REFLECTION, I WAS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AND THEY CAME AND DROVE IT TO BE REPAIRED. WHEN THEY CHECKED FOR THE SURGE I DESCRIBED, THIS TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT, SO THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THE CAR BACK. TOO DANGEROUS. *NM