NHTSA Complaint #10177686 — 2001 DODGE STRATUS

NOTICED MY CAR SEEMED TO BE LOSING PERFORMANCE. FAILURE STARTED WHEN MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEAT. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THE FOURTH TIME I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 5. I DID HAVE FIRESTONE CHECK THE VEHICLE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. I SEARCH THIS SITE FOR RECALLS AND FOUND RECALL NUMBER 00V299002 WHICH STATES " PROLONGED WIRING HARNESS CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD WILL CAUSE THE WIRING INSULATION TO WEAR AND EVENTUALLY TO GROUND OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DIE OUT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH" WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING WHEN I DRIVE. I HAVE KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE WITH JIFFY LUBE AND FIRESTONE, SO THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I CALLED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY BOTH STATED THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY DODGE STRATUS 2001 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS IN SHOCK TO THINK THAT NHTSA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE PRODUCTS ARE NOT. HOPEFULLY, THIS COMPLAINT WILL SPARK THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THIS A RECALL AND PREVENT MYSELF AND OTHERS FROM BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, DUE TO NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. *JB