NHTSA Complaint #10477344 — 2006 DODGE MAGNUM

THE PARKING INTERLOCK PAWL ON NEARLY ALL OF THE DODGE MAGNUMS AND CHARGERS, CHRYSLER 300 INDICATES A VERY SIGNIFICANT FAILURE RATE. THIS PIECE FUNCTIONS TO PREVENT SHIFTING THE VEHICLE FROM PARK UNLESS THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. DODGE HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN AND MATERIAL DUE TO QUALITY AND RELIABILITY PROBLEMS FROM THE PREVIOUSLY USED PART WHICH WAS MADE OUT OF A VERY INEXPENSIVE PLASTIC. AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE AGAINST FAILURE, MANY OWNERS HAVE CHOSEN TO REMOVE THE PAWL TO PREVENT BEING STRANDED. IN REMOVING THE PAWL, THE SHIFTER INTERLOCK MECHANISM BECOMES INEFFECTIVE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED FROM PARK WITHOUT THE KEY INSERTED IN THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. WHILE THE MALFUNCTION AT HAND IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE DIRECTLY RELATED TO PART FAILURE, THE RESULTING OUTCOME FROM THE REMOVAL OF THIS PART CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE OF GREAT CONCERN. TO DATE DODGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PART. I ASK THAT NHTSA CONSIDER THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND DEATHS RESULTING FROM THIS DEFECT OF THIS PART AND/OR ITS REMOVAL AND RECOMMEND THE ISSUANCE OF A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART. *TR