NHTSA Complaint #10562764 — 2010 DODGE CHALLENGER

WAS DRIVING ON 4TH OF JULY FOR A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION. SHIFTED FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AT 35 MPH AND THE SHIFTER HANDLE BROKE OFF. I HAD TO VERY CAREFULLY TURN AROUND AND DRIVE HOME WITH THIS BROKEN SHIFTER HANDLE. AT ONE POINT THE HANDLE CAME OUT OF THE MOUNT AND I HAD TO FIND THE HOLE AGAIN FOR THE SHIFT HANDLE WITH THE DUST BOOT OBSCURING MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. SINCE IT WAS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND I DECIDED THIS WAS A TIME TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER HANDLE WITH THE HURST SHIFTER HANDLE SUPPLIED BY DODGE AS A PART OF MY AUTO PURCHASE USING MOPAR BUCKS. AFTER I INSTALLED THIS STRONGER SHIFTER/HANDLE I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO SHOW THEM THE OBVIOUS SAFELY HAZARD FROM THE BROKEN SHIFTER HANDLE. THE DEALER TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RIDICULE ME AND MAKE IT APPEAR THAT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG TO BREAK A PART LIKE THIS. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT DODGE TO NOTIFY THEM OF A SAFETY HAZARD AND THEY WOULD NOT DO THIS. THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I BELIEVE THE WEAK ALLOY IN DODGE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER SHIFT HANDLES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM PRODUCTION AND REPLACED WITH STRONGER STEEL LIKE THE SHIFT HANDLE SUPPLIED WITH HURST SHIFTERS. I BELIEVE THE ENGINEERS AT DODGE NEED TO KNOW THESE PARTS ARE BREAKING FROM REGULAR USE. THIS IS A SAFELY HAZARD. I HAVE THE BROKEN SHIFT HANDLE FOR INSPECTION IF ANYBODY IN INTERESTED. *TR