NHTSA Complaint #10443141 — 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT STUCK IN PARK EVEN THOUGH BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. TRIED ROCKING THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR, NO CHANGE. I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL CHRYSLER AND DODGE PRODUCTS HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CAUSE: A SMALL PINK PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT HAS A SPRING ATTACHED TO IT, WHICH IS A GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM, TENDS TO BREAK AT ABOUT 40-60 THOUSAND MILES OR SOONER. THERE ARE NO CHRYSLER RECALLS FOR THIS ITEM. THE PIECE SEEMS TO COST ABOUT $2.00 FOR CHRYSLER TO MAKE HOWEVER, ONE WILL PAY $300-$400 OR MORE FOR THE DEALER TO FIX. TAKES MINUTES TO REPLACE IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. ONE CAN FIND THE PART ONLINE AND REPLACE WITH METAL SO THAT IT WILL NOT BREAK AGAIN FOR ABOUT $50. CHRYSLER COMPLAINT LINE STATES THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX UNLESS NHTSB FILES A RECALL COMPLAINT. THEN I MAY GET REIMBURSED FOR MY COST. THE PINK PLASTIC PIECE CAN BREAK AT ANY TIME LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME, E.G. THE DRIVE THRU., PARKING STRUCTURE AT NIGHT, ETC.. *TR