NHTSA Complaint #717284 — 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER

COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR (SLIPPING INTO GEAR, NOT ENGAGING IMMEDIATELY WHEN PUT IN GEAR), WHEN I HAD FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT 5204 MILEAGE, I RETURNEDTO THE DEALER ,AND HAD TRANSMISSION EXAMINED (I HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER), AND WAS TOLD ALL THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS BEHAVED THIS WAY. IT WAS VERY IRRITATING AND THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT TOTALLY STOP FUNCTIONING UNTIL ON MY WAY TO WORK 7/22/98 AT MILEAGE 67927. I CONTACTED ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA (SINCE THE ONE I PURCHASED FROM HAD CLOSED), AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE I WAS OVER THE 60000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER SUPPORT, AND WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED ME $131.00 FOR HAVING MY CAR REPAINTED DO TO THE DETERIORATING PAINT CONDITIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR (ANOTHER VERY LONG STORY AND BATTLE). SINCE I COULD NOT GET ANY HELP AT THE DEALERSHIP, I TOOK THE CAR TO HONEYCUTT TRANSMISSION & AUTO REPAIR, 2734 S. WILMINGTON STREET, RALEIGH, NC 27603 (919) 834-0588 WHERE THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS AND GOT ME RUNNING AGAIN. THREE MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TOTAL FAILURE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO HONEYCUTT. THIS TIME THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1,686.06. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT NEED REPLACING AT OVER $3,000.00. *AK