NHTSA Complaint #10452826 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE AN HOUR DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE GREAT GAS MILEAGE. WITHIN MY FIRST TWO WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP THE STARTER WAS STUCK ENGAGED AS I DROVE AND CAUGHT FIRE. THIS I REPLACED KNOWING WITH AGE, STARTERS AND ALTERNATORS DIE. A MONTH AFTER SERVICING THE STARTER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A SPEED OF 67MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN A LIGHTENING BOLT (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT) FLASHED AND THE CAR JERKED AS IF IT WERE TO STALL. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT PROBABLY WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT I MIGHT AS WELL DRIVE THE CAR FOR A BIT BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS NOT STAYING LIT. EVERY SINCE THEN THE LIGHT HAS FLASHED ON ATLEAST ONCE A MONTH WITH THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKING AS TO STALL. I STARTED THE CAR LAST WEEK AND THE IDLE WAS MISERABLE SO FIGURED THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO READ CODES ON THE PC. CODE WAS FOR THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP MECHANIC. WITHIN 30 MILES AND 30MINS AFTER LEAVING THE GARAGE THE CAR WAS JERKING TO STALL AS BEFORE BUT THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SEEM TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM CONSIDERING STALL ON INTERSTATE AT THOSE SPEEDS AND HIT BY A SEMI WOULD CAUSE INSTANT DEATH. THE VALUE OF MY CAR IS NO LONGER HIGH BUT YOU CAN GUARANTEE THE LOAN AND PAYMENTS ARE. I AM A PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND MAKE A VERY SMALL INCOME. TOOK CAR INSTANTLY BACK TO DEALERSHIP BUT I KNOW THEY WILL FIND NOTHING, CHARGE TO MUCH, AND SEND ME ON MY WAY WITH A DEATH SENTENCE. SEEMS AS THOUGH DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS DECIDED THAT AS LONG AS NO DEATHS IT IS OK TO CARRY ON WITH THIS REFUSAL TO ADMIT THAT THEY MADE A BAD PRODUCT. HOW ABOUT ROBBING! ALL I WANT IS MY CAR FIXED BUT OF COURSE THEY WILL NOT ADMIT ANYTHING. SUPPOSE I WILL HAVE TO CALL THE NEWS, FAX THE CEO'S, AND DIE . *TR