NHTSA Complaint #10234800 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING

ON JULY 10TH,2008 I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING 4DR SEDAN. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT HAD FALLEN FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET. I TOOK THE CAR ON JULY 11TH TO GET IT FIXED. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE BRACKET REQUIRED (4879072AD) IS ON EXTREME BACKORDER AND IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. I CALLED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SEARCHING FOR THIS PART. IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEALERS. THERE IS NO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT. ALL DEALERS EVERYWHERE ARE OUT AND HAVE ORDERS PLACED ON CHRYSLER BUT NEVER GET THE PARTS. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER BEING PERSISTENT, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 10,200 ON BACKORDER IN THE US AS OF 7/17. ASSUMING 2 PER CAR AND SOME DEALER "SAFETY STOCK", THIS COULD ADD UP TO 4000 CARS WHICH ARE NOT BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE PARTS AVAILABILITY OR ARE BEING DRIVEN UNSAFE. EVERY CHRYSLER PARTS DEALER I CALLED SAID THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF WITHOUT THE STRUT ATTACHED. IT ALSO CAUSES DAMAGE TO TIRES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. I CHECKED WITH JUNK YARDS HOPING TO FIND A SET. I DID FIND THEM AND THEY ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION AS MINE. IF THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK IS PULLED BACK YOU WILL SEE WHITE DUST AND CORROSION EVERYWHERE. I HEARD FROM A DEALER THAT THE PARTS COME FROM MEXICO AND THE PLANT IS ON STRIKE, THERE HAVE BEEN CARS SITTING AND WAITING FOR THIS PART FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS, BEST CASE I CAN GET PARTS IN 1 MONTH. FROM A PARTS, SAFETY AND AWARENESS STANDPOINT, CHRYSLER HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. UNACCEPTABLE. I AM OUT CAR RENTAL FEES AND HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR DAYS! THEY COULD AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! I AM CERTAIN THEY KNOW OF IT. *TR