NHTSA Complaint #10302186 — 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING

THIS IS A 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING TOURING SEDAN WITH 2.7 L "FLEX-FUEL" ENGINE PURCHASED USED (ONE PRIOR OWNER IN WI) ON 05-22-09 WITH 31554MI. ACCORDING TO "CARFAX" THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD REGULAR TIMELY MAINTENANCE DONE. ON 07-11-08 AT 21199MI THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS MADE AT PURCHASING DEALERSHIP ABOUT ENGINE "STUTTER" OR "JITTER" AT 30MPH PARTICULARLY WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD. NO RECORD AS TO WHAT WAS SERVICED. ON 10-24-08 AT 25276MI THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED PER A CHRYSLER SERVICE BULLETIN. THEN ON 01-30-09 AT 27988MI CONCERNING THE SAME SORT OF "STUTTER" OR JITTER" COMPLAINT, A "CO-PILOT" WAS ATTACHED FOR 1 MONTH WHICH RECORDED NO FAULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS OFFERED FOR SALE ON 05-14-09. I HAVE NOTED THE SAME SORT OF PROBLEM SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON 05-22-09. WHEN COMING TO A SLOW OR STOP, PARTICULARLY IF THE ENGINE IS COLD (BUT NOT ALWAYS), THE RPM RISES TO OVER 2000, THE CAR "SURGES" AHEAD UNTIL I PRESS THE BRAKE HARDER. (THIS CONDITION CAUSES A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE OF A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER STOPPED CAR, PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSSWALK OR A STATIONARY OBJECT - LIKE A LIGHT POST IN A PARKING LOT.) SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL STOP AFTER THIS AND REQUIRE RESTARTING. ONE TIME I OBSERVED THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LAMP COME ON FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER THE "SURGE". I HAD THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA) WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE CONCERNING THE "SURGING" PROBLEM. THEY CHECKED FOR SERVICE CODES (INCLUDING SOFT CODES) AND FOUND NONE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROCEED FROM THERE AND SUGGESTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER TO CONTINUE DIAGNOSIS. THIS WILL BE DONE AT THE EARLIEST AVAILABLE TIME. *TR