NHTSA Complaint #10230316 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

I PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE CALIBER IN JUNE 2006. I NOTICED THIS CAR'S ROAD NOISE INCREASED OVER TIME, THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, THE WINDOWS SQUEAL PUTTING THEM UP OR DOWN, AND THE DOOR HINGES SOUND AS IF THEY HAVE BEEN ROTTING IN A JUNK YARD SOMEWHERE FOR YEARS, AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE WEIRD SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE HEAT OR AC IS ON. MY COMPLAINT, HOWEVER, IS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. ON MY WAY TO WORK, WHILE I CAME TO A BRIEF STOP AND PROCEEDED TO TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD WHEN MY CAR LURCHED AND SLOWED RIGHT BACK DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND AFTER SPEAKING TO THEM DECIDED TO DRIVE MY CAR THERE. AS I PULLED FORWARD ANOTHER LIGHT POPPED ON. THIS TIME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION OVER TEMPERATURE LIGHT. (I WAS BARELY GOING 10MPH AND IT WAS 70 DEGREES OUT). FROM THERE THE CAR WAS VERY SLUGGISH TAKING FOREVER TO GET UP TO SPEED AND I WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS EVERY TIME I HAD TO COME TO A STOP. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO WOULD NOT GIVE ME OR COVER A RENTAL. I GOT MY CAR BACK 3 DAYS LATER AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. (BY THE WAY THERE IS NO RECALL, BUT CHRYSLER HAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE). SUNDAY JUNE 8, 2008, I WAS DRIVING FOR 2 MINUTES WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR LURCHED, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THIS TIME THE PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE INDICATORS ALL LIT UP AS IF I WAS IN EVERY GEAR AT ONCE. MY APPOINTMENT IS TOMORROW. I ARGUED TO GET A RENTAL, ON THEM THIS TIME AND WILL UPDATE AS SOON AS I HAVE ANY NEWS. I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING, AFTER READING EVERYONE ELSE. *TR