NHTSA Complaint #10568062 — 2007 CHRYSLER 300

THE CAR COULDN'T BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK. FINALLY BROKE INTO THE SHIFTER LEVER BY REMOVING THE COVERS (VERY TRICKY TO DO, AS I DIDN'T HAVE MY TOOLS), SO MY HUSBAND WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME PICK ME UP AN HOUR AWAY. I ALMOST DIDN'T FIGURE THIS OUT, SO LUCKY FOR ME I KEPT TRYING IT. THERE ARE LOTS (MANY, MANY) SITES THAT TALK ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON CHRYSLER 300S, INCLUDING YOUTUBE (WHICH SHOWS HOW TO UNSCREW THE WHOLE THING), AND AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS. THERE ARE SOME SMALL NEON PINK PLASTIC PIECES THAT KEEP THE SHIFTER LEVER WORKING PROPERLY, THE ONLY THING KEEPING THE CAR FROM BECOMING A GIANT PAPERWEIGHT (UNLESS ONE KNOWS TO PULL APART THE COVERS ALL THE WAY TO ACCESS THE GEARS/WIRES - NOT A REASONABLE THING TO EXPECT FROM MOST CONSUMERS). FOR NOW, I HAVE TO PULL A WIRE TO GET OUT OF PARK. HAPPENS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE ALSO. THIS ALSO LEADS TO PPL KEEPING THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE INSTEAD OF GOING INTO PARK, JUST SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO MESS WITH THE WIRE. WE HAVE PEOPLE ACCIDENTALLY GOING FORWARD AND HITTING THINGS AS THEY TRY TO STAY IN DRIVE RATHER THAN PUTTING IT INTO PARK, WHILE TALKING TO SOMEONE THEY KNOW ON THE STREET/SIDEWALK AND FORGETTING TO KEEP THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, (BE IT AT A SLOW SPEED, BUT STILL NOT GOOD IF CHILDREN GET IN THE WAY WHILE ONE ISN'T PAYING ATTENTION). I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DOWN ABOUT IT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM FOR ANYONE RELYING ON THEIR CAR BEING ABLE TO DO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE SHIFT INTO DRIVE (OR REALLY ANYTHING OTHER THAN 'PARK'), AND IS A SAFETY RISK DUE TO DRIVERS ATTEMPTING TO USE THE CAR. WHAT COULD HAVE DISTURBED THESE PLASTIC PIECES IS MY MILE LONG DIRT DRIVEWAY THAT IS A LITTLE BUMPY AND VERY WET CURRENTLY. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ON THIS, SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T GO THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. THANK YOU! *TR