NHTSA Complaint #10165143 — 2005 DODGE STRATUS

IN LATE JULY, I WAS PARKED IN MY 2005 DODGE STRATUS RT 2 DOOR COUPE WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING. I ADJUSTED MY STEERING WHEEL WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE CAR TO TURN OFF. EVERY TIME I RAISED MY STEERING WHEEL, MY CAR WOULD TURN OFF. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE CAR WAS MOVING OR NOT, THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF (THE KEY WOULD STAY ON). BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF I WOULDN'T OF NOTICED UNTIL I BEGAN DRIVING. I COULD HAVE LOST MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP ON 8-7-06. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BROKE AND THEY COULD TEMPORARILY FIX IT. A NEW CONNECTOR IS BEING ORDERED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CONNECTOR COULDN'T HAVE BROKEN WITHOUT SOMEONE BEING IN THE STEERING COLUMN PREVIOUSLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN APART. THEREFORE, I MUST ASSUME THAT THE CONNECTOR IS EITHER FAULTY OR WAS BROKEN DURING THE INITIAL INSTALLATION. *JB