NHTSA Complaint #10457398 — 2006 CHRYSLER 300

THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING NOTICEABLY ON THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WAS TYPICAL OF A LIFTER OR WORN ROCKER ARM. ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER THE CAR HAD A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY UNDER ACCELERATION. THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS COMPLETED THEY DID ADVISE THEY FOUND THE STRUT BUSHINGS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. AFTER HEARING THE ENGINE NOISES THE CAR WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE HAD THE ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. THE BUSHINGS FOR THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED. BOTH OF THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE FOUND TO BE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO REALIGN THE FRONT END. THE ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AFTER REPLACING THE STRUT BUSHINGS. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND OIL CHANGES & LUBES WERE DONE AT OR NEAR EVERY 3,500 MILES. THERE ARE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF REPLACEMENTS/REPAIRS BEING DONE FOR THESE PARTICULAR PARTS FAILING AT A LOW MILEAGE.THESE PARTS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY AND CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE & RECALL THESE COMPONENTS. REIMBURSING CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE BECOME DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR CARS AND IT'S MANUFACTURER ARE BEING BURDENED WITH UNNECESSARY REPAIR COSTS. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED ALL THE COSTS (OVER $2,000.00) . I STILL HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2008 WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. DEPENDABILITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF OWNING A CAR AND WE ALL PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO PURCHASE/LEASE THEM. PAYING FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS EXPECTED BUT EXORBITANT REPAIR COSTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE WHEN A CAR IS PROPERLY CARED FOR AND NOT ABUSED. *TR