NHTSA Complaint #748851 — 1994 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO LOW GEAR IN A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED MANNER. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REACH A "RED LINE" CONDITION WITHIN A FRACTION OF A SECOND, AND CAUSES THE CAR TO REDUCE SPEED IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. SINCE THE BREAK LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED, THIS SITUATION POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZZARD, AS THE CAR BEHIND MAY BE UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION FROM THE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND UN-SIGNALED BREAKING ACTION. THIS CONDITION HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES WITHIN ABOUT A ONE HOUR PERIOD, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. THE NEXT DAY THE TRANSMISSION PERFORMED NORMALLY, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED AT NIGHT TIME SINCE THIS INCIDENT, AND HAS NOT HAD THE DOWNSHIFTING PROBLEM WHEN RUN DURING THE DAY TIME. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE, SUCH AS DIM LIGHTS OR A DEAD BATTERY. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAY THAT HE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER EXPLAINATION AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK