NHTSA Complaint #10197999 — 2004 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE

I OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE. AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY YESTERDAY 07/30/07 I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A CROSS STREET AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST INCHES FROM A PARKED CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ONLY MOVE SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. I EXERTED SOME FORCE TO THE WHEEL IN THE LEFT HAND DIRECTION AND SUDDENLY IT BROKE LOOSE AND BECAME FREE AGAIN, AT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. I CAREFULLY DROVE THE CAR TO A DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD BROKEN AND JAMMED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A CLOCKSPRING BREAK ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. THE CAR IS TO BE REPAIRED 08/01/07, AT A COST TO ME OF $350.00, AND I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THEY GIVE ME THE OLD PARTS. THIS CAR IS ONE OF VERY FEW PRODUCED AND IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 22,000 MILES ON IT. IT SCARES ME TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, OR IF IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. *TR