NHTSA Complaint #10231037 — 2007 CHRYSLER 300

MY HUSBAND IS IN THE MILITARY, THEREFORE WE ARE STATIONED IN NEW ORLEANS, LA. ON MAY 25, 2008 WE HAD A TERRIBLE RAIN STORM IN THE CITY. WE LIVE IN BASE HOUSING SO WE PARK OUR VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT. AT ABOUT 5:00P.M. THE END OF THE PARKING LOT WERE MY 2007 CHRYSLER 300 LIMITED WAS PARKED BEGIN TO FLOOD WITH WATER. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE BEFORE THE WATER GOT TO HIGH. AT THIS TIME THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES OF WATER ON THE GROUND. HE BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE TO MOVE IT. ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WAS COMING THE PARKING LOT AT THE TIME AND FORCED MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE OUT INTO THE STREET AND RE-ENTER THE PARKING LOT. AS HE DROVE OUT INTO THE STREET, I NOTICED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. I WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND HE TOLD ME THE CAR SHUT-OFF. A COUPLE OF OUR NEIGHBORS HELPED HIM PUSH IT OUT OF THE STREET INTO THE PARKING LOT. NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG WE CALLED OUT INSURANCE AND THEY SENT OUT A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE VEHICLE AND TAKE IT TO A NEAR BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ON FRIDAY TO LET US KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE SUCKED UP WATER THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE AND HD=YDROLOCKED THE ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH WE FOUND OUT THE AIR INTAKE FOR THIS CAR, AND ITS COUNTERPARTS THE DODGE CHARGER AND MAGNUM, ARE LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER APPROXIMATELY 20IN. ABOVE THE GROUND. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM IS POORLY DESIGNED. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS DESIGN FLAW AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS IT IS CAUSING. I WATCHED NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES DRIVE DOWN THAT STREET THAT DAY, SOME AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN MY HUSBAND, AND THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS REALLY A BAD DESIGN. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL ALL 2006 AND 2007 CHRYSLER 300, DODGE MAGNUM AND DODGE CHARGER. OUR INSURANCE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR A POORLY DESIGNED SYSTEM. I HOPE TO HERE FROM CHRYSLER SOON! *TR