NHTSA Complaint #10783158 — 2015 CHRYSLER 200

DRIVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE R24 FOR CHRYSLER (NHSTA 15V-470)IN THE MAIL DURING THE WEEK OF 9/28/15 - 10/2/15. ON 10/5/15, WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH, CAR JERKED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES LATER AT 65MPH, CAR JERKED AGAIN, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND "SERVICE TRANSMISSION" MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE SCREEN NEXT TO SPEEDOMETER. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (CONCERNING THE RECALLED PART) CAUSED POWER TO THE VEHICLE TO CEASE AND DRIVER WAS FORCED TO COAST TO SHOULDER OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THROUGH WEIGH STATION ENTRANCE RAMP). CAR WAS COMPLETELY OFF WITH NO BATTERY POWER AFTER SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. WHILE STOPPED, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE (IMMEDIATELY AFTER PULLING OVER) WITH NO SUCCESS. AFTER 10 MINUTES AND A FEW PHONE CALLS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS USUAL (MAX 45MPH, STILL ON INTERSTATE, STILL RUSH HOUR). THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, ALMOST BEING REAR-ENDED TWICE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED DRIVER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A COMPLIMENTARY RENTAL ONLY IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT AS A RECALL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER'S "REP" WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN FACT DUE TO THE RECALLED PART, AND A RENTAL WAS OBTAINED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP'S CAR REPAIR PARKING LOT FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, WITH NO REPLACEMENT PART/REPAIR ON ITS WAY.