NHTSA Complaint #10332128 — 2004 DODGE STRATUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT INTO DRIVE. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONSUMER HIT TWO PEDESTRIANS AS WELL AS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE CURB AND THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. TWO PEDESTRIANS, THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WITH CONCERNS OF HIGHER THAN NORMAL ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE EACH TIME AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/16/11*LJ UPDATED 11/18/11