NHTSA Complaint #10917584 — 2011 DODGE CHARGER

BLIND SPOT DETECTION UNAVAILABLE- I PURCHASED A DODGE MOPAR 11 CHARGER THAT HAS A SAFETY FEATURE CALLED BLIND SPOT DETECTION. THE BLIND SPOT INDICATORS ARE LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. WHEN A CAR APPROACHES EITHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A LITTLE ORANGE TRIANGLE LIGHTS UP TO LET THE DRIVER KNOW THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE IS IN ITS BLIND SPOT. IN JUNE OF 2016, I STARTED MY CAR AND AND I GOT THE "BLIND SPOT DETECTION UNAVAILABLE" ERROR ON MY HUD. IN ADDITION, BOTH TRIANGLES ON THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE ON. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND A WAY TO TURN OFF THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM THROUGH THE CARS SETTINGS. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS AND WHEN THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION IS TURNED ON, THE TRIANGLES LIGHT UP AND THE SYSTEM SAYS ITS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS FEATURE WAS NOT INCLUSIVE TO JUST DODGE CHARGERS, BUT ALSO OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES WITH THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL THREADS AND VIDEOS ONLINE OF DISGRUNTLED OWNERS OF CHRYSLER VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE LEARNED FROM TALKING TO THE DEALER, THAT MY CAR (DODGE MOPAR 11 WHICH HAS 36K MILES ON IT) HAS TWO SENSORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE THAT COST $1,100 A PIECE EXCLUDING INSTALLATION OF THE NEW SENSORS. IN ESSENCE, THIS IS A "LATENT" SAFETY DEFECT OF POOR DESIGN AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO THE LOSS OF LIFE. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE WAS INTRINSICALLY DEFECTIVE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT IN THEIR BLIND SPOT DETECTION EQUIPPED VEHICLES AND ISSUE A RECALL THAT RESOLVES THE SAFETY ISSUE.