NHTSA Complaint #11053406 — 2013 DODGE AVENGER

THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE ON 70 MPH EXPRESSWAY. VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND SHUTDOWN. WHEN RESTARTED IF FUNCTIONED NORMALLY BUT, THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON. THE VEHICLE FAULT CODES INDICATED IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CHANGED AND CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I DISASSEMBLED THE OLD THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE AN INTERNAL PLASTIC GEAR TOOTH FAILURE. THIS IS A NON-SERVICEABLE SAFETY RELATED PART AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT LESS THAN 80K MILES. I ASKED FCA TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE PART AND THEY DECLINED THIS REQUEST.