NHTSA Complaint #10416245 — 2006 DODGE CHARGER

WE OWN A 2006 DODGE, CHARGER SXT. IT JUST PASSED 76,000 MILES WHEN WE STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS AND EXHAUST. ABOUT A WEEK LATER WE HEARD EXHAUST NOISE AND TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC. WHEN HE CHECKED IT HE FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES. HE REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THEY WERE SELLING 15 RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE MANIFOLDS EVERY WEEK. AFTER HE REPLACED IT HE SAID HE STILL HEARD EXHAUST NOISE AND RECOMMENDED WE CONTACT CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WE DID AND THE LEFT SIDE MANIFOLD WAS ALSO BROKEN. THE BILL FOR BOTH MANIFOLDS WAS $1035.20. CHRYSLER HAS AGREED TO PAY 50% OF THE DEALERS BILL ONLY OR $250.96. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DEFECT WHEN NOT ONLY ONE, BUT BOTH CAST IRON MANIFOLDS FAIL WITHIN 6,000 MILES OF THE MANDATORY CALIFORNIA EPA WARRANTY PERIOD FOR MANIFOLDS (70,000). I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED BECAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WERE ENTERING THE CAR WHEN TRAVELING 65MPH. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD BEEN STUCK IN LOS ANGELES TRAFFIC AT 5-10MPH. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. *TR