NHTSA Complaint #10351795 — 2008 DODGE AVENGER

I WENT OUT TO MY CAR TO LEAVE WORK AND I STARTED MY CAR AS USUAL. I TRIED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND I COULDN'T MOVE THE SHIFTER. I TRIED EVERYTHING SUGGESTED TO ME AND I COULDN'T FIND HOW TO BYPASS IT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. (THE SERVICE TECH FINALLY SHOWED ME HOW TO DO IT ONCE IT WAS FIXED) I FINALLY CALLED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A CLOSE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED IT. THE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM BROKE. THERE IS A PINK PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS THE SPRING THAT ACTIVATES THE SHIFT LOCK AND THE HOOK THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS THE SPRING BROKE. THE ENTIRE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COSTING $69.35 FOR THE PART AND APPROXIMATELY $129 FOR LABOR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INCIDENT ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A MAJOR RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THE DODGE AVENGER, IT COULD BE AVOIDED IF THE PART WAS MADE OUT OF METAL AND NOT PLASTIC. *TR