NHTSA Complaint #10535973 — 2005 CHRYSLER 300C

IN THE VERY LATE AFTERNOON OF 8/16/2013, AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, I WENT BACK TO MY CAR THAT I PARKED EARLIER IN THE STORE'S PARKING LOT, PLACED THE GROCERIES IN THE TRUNK, CLOSED IT, GOT IN THE CAR, PUT ON MY SEAT-BELT AND STARTED THE ENGINE. SO FAR, EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND NORMAL. I THEN PRESSED THE BRAKES PEDAL, RELEASED THE HAND-BRAKE AND TRIED TO PULL THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM PARK TO REVERSE, NOTHING, IT DOESN'T WORK; IT'S STUCK. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED IT AND WENT TO THE SAME PROCESS TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. STILL, NOTHING, EVEN AFTER ABOUT 20 REPEATS. FOR SOME REASON, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS DEFINITELY STUCK IN PARK. EVEN OVERRIDING THE PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM (AS RECOMMENDED BY CHRYSLER, IN CASE OF AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION) DIDN'T HELP. AFTER 2 HOURS TRYING, IN VAIN, TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE HELP OF A VERY KIND PASSERBY, ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED, I GAVE UP AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE. AS I SEARCHED THE INTERNET THE NEXT DAY TO FIND OUT WHETHER ANY OTHER CHRYSLER OWNER HAD REPORTED SUCH AN EXPERIENCE, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF CHRYSLER AND DODGE OWNERS REPORTING SUCH AN EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. THE CULPRIT IS A PIECE OF PINK PLASTIC THAT CHRYSLER HAS USED AS A PART IN THE PARK INTERLOCK MECHANISM OF THEIR 2005 - 2007 CHRYSLER AND DODGE VEHICLES. A REPEALING SPRING IS ATTACHED TO THAT PART BY A TINY TAB. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS TO ANYONE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF COMMONSENSE THAT AS THAT PART IS FREQUENTLY USED (DURING PARKING AND GETTING OUT OF PARKING), THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE TENSION OF THE SPRING AND THE WEATHER CHANGES WILL RESULT IN HAVING THE TINY TAB ON THE PINK PLASTIC PART EASILY BREAK. THIS WILL HAPPEN TO EVERY CHRYSLER AND DODGE MODEL THAT IS USING THAT PIECE OF PLASTIC. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY MAKE SUCH A TERRIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE ENGINEERING MISTAKE. *TR