NHTSA Complaint #10511784 — 2007 DODGE NITRO

ON APRIL 23, 2013 I TOOK OFF FROM A RED LIGHT AT THE TOP OF A HILL. AS I COASTED DOWN THE HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH, MY CAR'S ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES OR FULLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY, ENOUGH TO TURN THE CAR INTO A SIDE STREET AND YARD OF A HOME AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND PUT IT BACK IN AN THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT START. I OPENED THE DOOR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE STILL WORKING (RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC) AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR SUCCESSFULLY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON MAY 13, 2013 AS I WAS LEAVING WORK, MY CAR WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR WOULD START AND SHUT OFF AFTER ABOUT 7 OR 8 SECONDS WHILE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC) STAYED RUNNING. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. ON THE FOURTH TRY, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR. ON THE SECOND TRY, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AND STAY RUNNING. *TR