NHTSA Complaint #10241745 — 2005 DODGE STRATUS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY SO THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF AND IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURE KEPT RECURRING FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED FOR INSPECTION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A FAILURE CODE. THE CONTACT RENTED A U-HAUL TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED; HOWEVER, THEY ALSO COULD NOT PROVIDE A CODE FOR THE FAILURE. ANOTHER DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE FOR THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION AS WELL. SHE RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AND A HALF WITHOUT ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE HAS RECENTLY RECURRED AND TAKES PLACE WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALES DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR FOUR DAYS. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER NEW AND DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.