NHTSA Complaint #10726210 — 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

AS WITH THE OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS, REGARDING MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES SHIFTING GEARS BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AND AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED YEARS AGO AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. IT'S AS IF THE BUSHINGS IN THE SHIFT MECHANISM EXPAND WHEN HEATED AND THE SHIFTER STICKS IN ITS CURRENT GEAR; WITH GREAT FORCE YOU CAN KNOCK IT OUT AND WITH GREAT FORCE YOU CAN RE-ENGAGE. THE NEXT MORNING AT 50 DEGREES THE SHIFTER WORKS PROPERLY ONCE AGAIN. LATER IN THE DAY ABOVE 80 DEGREES THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS; THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THE RESULTING HAZARD LEAVES YOU STUCK IN TRAFFIC UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, WHICH IN TURN MAKES YOU A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISS (REAR END) COLLISIONS AS A RESULT. CHRYSLER STOPPED PRODUCTION OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION PT TWO YEARS BEFORE DISCONTINUING THE AUTOMATIC PT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. CHRYSLER DID NOT AND AS A RESULT I'M SURE THE OTHER AFFECTED CUSTOMERS DID AS I HAVE DONE AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE BRAND. I'VE PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES SINCE THAT TIME AND THEY WERE CERTAINLY NOT A CHRYSLER PRODUCT. THE LATTER IS COSTING CHRYSLER MORE THAN THE $300 IT WOULD HAVE COST TO CHANGE THE BUSHINGS TO A TYPE THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY HEAT.