NHTSA Complaint #10343614 — 2005 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE

IGNITION KEY MECHANISM "LOCKS" AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE LEAVING USER STRANDED AND REQUIRING TOW. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY USERS OF THIS VEHICLE (SEE COMMENTS AT WWW.CROSSFIREFORUM.ORG; SEARCHFOR "IGNITION, LOCK, CYLINDER") AND APPEARS EVEN IN VEHICLES WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. DEALER ADVICE IS TO REPLACE THE "IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER" WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. SOME REPORT THAT THE NEW PART ALSO FAILS WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A RELIABLE ONE. I WAS STUCK IN A PARKING LOT AT 112F (SOUTHWEST US LOCATION) FOR 1/2 HOUR TRYING TO GET THE IGNITION MECHANISM TO TURN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A STEERING WHEEL LOCKING PIN THAT BECOMES JAMMED. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THEN IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR