NHTSA Complaint #10279375 — 2005 DODGE SRT-4

OUR 2005 NEON SRT/4 IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THEY MADE 8,000 IN 2005. 5,000 CARS CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE T-304 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE THIRD GEAR IN THIS TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR REVVED TO 8,000RPM AND STALLED, BREAKING PARTS. A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. ONLINE, ( I'LL INCLUDE THE INFO) OUT OF 1,544 2005 SRT/4 OWNERS POLLED, 1,195 HAD ISSUES WITH THIS 3RD GEAR. THEY INCLUDED: IT DOES NOT GO INTO GEAR FIRST TRY, IT GOES BUT GRINDS( DAMAGES CLUTCH), IT TRIES TO KICK OUT OF GEAR, IT GRINDS UNDER WOT SHIFTING, CAN'T SHIFT INTO 3RD WHEN WOT(WIDE OPEN THROTTLE). IT APPEARS ALL THESE TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTIVE & DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC. I WAS A FORMER TOOL ENGINEER FOR GM TRUCK STEERING, ETC., FOR AMERICAN AXLE. I ASKED FOR MY OLD PARTS FROM THE $2,200.00 REPAIR WHEN I PICKED UP OUR CAR ON 7/29/09. UPON EXAMINING THE BROKEN /DAMAGED PARTS, THE FORKS APPEARED TO BE MADE OF A SOFT BRASS! THE NORTHTOWN DODGE SERVICE MANAGER& MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAD BEEN UPGRADED( THE BEARINGS AND FORKS). WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS STEEL REPLACEMENT PARTS THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER. I THEN EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT DODGE WOULD NOT SPEND $100,000'S TO UPGRADE PARTS FOR NO REASON. I GOT NO WHERE. WHEN I CALLED DODGE, SOME IDIOTS IN INDIA ANSWERED THE PHONE. THESE ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. MY SON HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO TRANSITOWN DODGE ABOUT 3 MONTHS BEFORE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CHECKED, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. *TR