NHTSA Complaint #10447321 — 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

THE NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED RECALL CAMPAIGN #07V149000 REGARDING THE QUARTER GLASS ON CERTAIN PT CRUISERS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY, ONE OF THE QUARTER WINDOWS ON MY PT CRUISER WOULD LEAK WHILE DURING A RAIN OR GOING THROUGH THE CAR WASH. WHILE I HAD THE VEHICLE AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP BODY SHOP FOR SOME MINOR PAINT WORK, I HAD THEM LOOK AT THE WINDOW LEAK. THEY REMOVED THE WINDOW AND DISCOVERED THAT (2) OF THE (5) MOUNTING STUDS THAT SECURE THE GLASS TO THE VEHICLE BODY WERE PULLING LOOSE FROM THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDOW. THE GLASS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH COST ME $350. I HAD CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS EXPENSE. CHRYSLER CORPORATION DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. AS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE, AND THIS WINDOW BEING A NON-MOVABLE PIECE OF GLASS, THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO DURING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE GLASS MOUNTS TO FAIL. THE ONLY OTHER WAY THAT THE MOUNTS CAN FAIL IS FROM A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR INSTALLATION ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE JUST ONE MONTH OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL PERIOD. HOW CAN CHRYSLER CORPORATION BE SO SURE THAT ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE WINDOWS WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR ASSEMBLY PLANTS, AND DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO MY VEHICLE? IF THE GLASS SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN. I MAINTAIN THAT CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD EXPAND THE EXISTING RECALL AND REPLACE POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE QUARTER WINDOWS ON OTHER PT CRUISERS. CHRYSLER CORPORATION WON'T RELEASE TO ME INFORMATION ON HOW THEY CHANGED THE WINDOW DESIGN OR INSTALLATION PROCESS OF THE QUARTER WINDOWS, STATING, "...THE INFORMATION YOU ARE IS SEEKING IS EITHER UNAVAILABLE CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY; THEREFORE, WE ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST THIS CUSTOMER WITH THEIR REQUEST." *TR