NHTSA Complaint #10733934 — 2008 DODGE AVENGER

WHILE DRIVING INTO THE CITY I NOTICE THE SMELL AGAIN OF BURNING PLASTIC, THE AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH WAS HOT AND STUCK IN THE HIGH POSITION. I HAD TO BREAK AWAY THE KNOB TO THE LOWER POSITION OF THE FAN SPEED TO STOP THE BURNING SMELL AND THEN OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND SWITCH IVE HAD TO REPLACE SINCE I'VE HAS THIS CAR IVE ALSO FOUND OTHER PEOPLE ALSO HAVING THE HIGH POSITION OF THIS SWITCH FAIL DUE TO THE CONTACT GETTING HOT DUE TO ITS INABILITY TO CARRY THE CURRENT REQUIRED FOR THE FAN AT HIGH SPEED. THIS CURRENT CAUSED THE OLD SWITCH CONTACTS TO OVER HEAT AND MELT THE PLASTIC. I TOLD LANDERS DODGE ABOUT THIS THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A BAD SWITCH,,AND NOW A SECOND ONE? NO THERES SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SWITCH CONTACTS THAT IT KEEPS BURNING THESE OUT! IVE ALSO HAD THE LIGHTER SHORT OUT, THE CENTER CONTACT MOVED AND SHORTED AGAINST THE NEGATIVE OF THE HOUSING , IT GOT HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE CERAMIC ISOLATOR BEFORE WIRE FUSE WENT. IVE SAVED LL THE PARTS.