NHTSA Complaint #10480144 — 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

MY WIFE AND I OBTAINED A 2006 PT CRUISER FROM HER FATHER IN 2008 WITH 12,980 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN 4 YEARS WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 12,000 MILES. STARTING LAST WINTER, BOTH WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT CITY SPEEDS (30-45 MPH) AND WHILE IDLING, THIS 2006 PT CRUISER HAS PERIODICALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE NEEDLES ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY SWITCH BACK AND FORTH RAPIDLY, THEN GO TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PANEL LIGHTS TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME, THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES, THE PANEL RETURNS TO NORMAL. PRIOR TO LAST FRIDAY, 10/12/2012, THESE INCIDENTS HAD NOT PRESENTED A DANGER OR INTERFERED WITH DRIVING. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND THIS TIME THE PANEL WENT HAYWIRE AS DESCRIBED BEFORE, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND SHE WAS FORCED TO COAST TO A SLOW ROLL IN THE 40 MPH TRAFFIC! THEN, THE ENGINE REENGAGED SUDDENLY AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHEN SHE WASN'T EXPECTING IT. SHE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO BE COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WHEN I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM, AND A CALL TO CHRYSLER CORP LLC PROVED USELESS. A CURSORY INVESTIGATION ONLINE TURNS UP DOZENS OF THIS EXACT COMPLAINT OVER THE PAST 5 OR 6 YEARS, AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM INDICATE A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE VACUUM HOSES, THE WIRING HARNESS, THE FUSES, OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND NONE OF THESE APPARENTLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. IS THIS AS COMMON A COMPLAINT AS IT APPEARS TO BE? IF SO, HOW CAN IT BE RESOLVED? *TR