NHTSA Complaint #10259180 — 2000 DODGE NEON

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE AT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOVED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE IT WOULD PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS WELL. SHE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER UNTIL THE SPEED COMPLETELY SLOWED DOWN AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT TIED A ROPE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE MIDDLE CONSOLE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ROPE WAS PULLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REPLACED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE; HOWEVER, SHE BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN UPDATED 03/23/09. *JB