NHTSA Complaint #10167596 — 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

HERE IS AN EXTRACT OF WHAT I SEND TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH THEY REJECTED- NO INJURY WAS INVOLVED: I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ONE REPAIR THAT WAS NEEDED, THOUGH. I HAD TAKEN THE CRUISER IN FOR SERVICE ON AUG 7, 2006 AT THE ADVICE OF OAKLAWN MOBILE IN CRANSTON, RI. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISER WAS TO DO WITH A STEERING RACK THAT PURITAN REPLACED IN 2003 AND REPAIRED VIA A RECALL AGAIN IN 2005. HOWEVER, IT WAS DUE TO WORN FRONT-END PARTS. SPECIFICALLY BOTH FRONT TIE RODS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. GIVEN THAT THE CAR ONLY HAS 40,400 MILES AND HAD JUST COME OFF WARRANTY, I FOUND IT ODD THAT PARTS WOULD WEAR OUT THAT FAST. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE IS GENTLY DRIVEN. I DECIDED TO REVIEW THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS SORT OF REPAIR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WERE 20 ODD COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS SPECIFIC TO THE '02 CRUISERS. MOST OF THE INFORMATION WAS REDACTED, BUT I DID FIND (AND ENCLOSE) ONE COMPLAINT THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MINE. I WISH TO REQUEST FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER WHAT I THINK IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION IF THE FORM OF 90% OF THE REPAIR BILL OF $1320.64 TO BE REFUNDED. I TAKE THIS UP WITH THE COMPANY RATHER THAN THE DEALER. THE ENCLOSED COMPLAINT, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE REP AT PURITAN, STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EARLY PT CRUISERS. I WOULD ACCEPT A 10% REDUCTION FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE, AS A REASONABLE CONSUMER WOULD EXPECT SOME SORT OF SUSPENSION WEAR AFTER 40,000 MILES, RATHER THAN 100% WEAR THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *NM