NHTSA Complaint #10744819 — 2015 CHRYSLER 200

LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE AM, STARTED MY 2015 CHRYSLER 200, REVERSED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, MADE IT TO THE CORNER OF MY CUL DE SAC AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WAS A MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY INCLUDING THE WORDS "TRANS," AND "EMERGENCY PARK." THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN PARK BECAUSE THE GEAR SYSTEM WAS LOCKED UP. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED HE HAD A HARD TIME WITH IT BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND THE WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL. I COULDN'T MOVE THIS CAR IF I WANTED TO. I COULDN'T OPEN THE TRUNK, LOCK THE DOORS, USE FLASHERS, NOTHING... ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WAS OUT OF COMMISSION. MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, SAID THEY "PERFORMED MANY SOFTWARE UPGRADES" AND "TEST DROVE IT EXTENSIVELY" AND THAT IT WAS FIXED. 20 MINUTES AFTER I PICKED IT UP, I WAS DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE OF A 3-LANE HIGHWAY, WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR'S POWER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN ALSO. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, I CAN REPLACE THE CAR OR THEY WILL BUY IT BACK. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THE FIRST TIME, BARELY LUCKY THE SECOND TIME, WHO KNOWS WHAT SITUATION I MIGHT BE IN IF I AGREE TO LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I CANNOT PUT MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY RISK, AND ALSO POSES ADDITIONAL RISKS TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AROUND IT. SINCE EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IF I WERE TO GET INTO A CRASH AS A RESULT OF IT, THE AIRBAGS LIKELY WOULD NOT DEPLOY, ADDING TO THE RISK OF INJURY. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN A CHRYSLER 200, I NO LONGER WANT THIS VEHICLE.