NHTSA Complaint #761389 — 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE THE DEVICE DOES NOT DO WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. THIS FEATURE IS SURPOSE TO LOCK THE DOORS ABOVE A SPEED OF 15 MPH. BUT IF THE VEHICLE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE RUNNING, THEN THE VEHICLE IS THEN PUT IN DRIVE AND MOVES ABOVE 15MPH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT FUNCTION LEAVING THE DOORS UNLOCK WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE DEVICE WAS DESIGN INTENT WAS, BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS IS BY DESIGN. I ALSO OWN A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FUNCTION UNDER ALL CONDITIONS TO LOCK THE DOORS WHEN THE VEHICLE 15MPH WHICH IS A VERY REASSURING FEATURE TO HAVE IN THE CAR. I FEEL THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS IN THE PTCRUISER DESIGN IS FAULTY IF IT DOES NOT LOCK THE DOORS AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHS SPEEDS ABOVE 15MPH AND PROVIDES THE PASSANGERS WITH A FALSE CONDITION OF SECURITY THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK THE DOORS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HAS BEGIN TO MOVE AT STREET LEGAL SPEEDS.*AK