NHTSA Complaint #770236 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME ON 11/22/02. I GOT UP ON A LONG BIRDGE CALLED THE BUCKMAN BRIDGE WITH MY 3 CHILDREN AND 2 NEPHEWS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I WAS VERY TERRIFIED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AND KNOCKED OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. IT WAS VERY COLD ON THAT NIGHT AND ME AND THE 5 CHILDREN HAD TO WALK DOWN A BRIDGE AT NIGHT WITH NO SIDE RAILS ON IT. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT TO MY HOUSE. I HAD A MECHANIC DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT READ A TRANSMISSION CODE. SO, THEREFORE, I HAD IT TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REPRINTED THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE OUT AND SEVERAL COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, I'M OUT $2000 DOLLARS FOR A CAR I HAVE HAD FOR 10 MONTHS. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL OF MY CO-WORKERS AT LEAST 4 OF THEM KNOW SOMEONE THAT OWNS A 2000 DODGE INTERPID AND HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A DEPENDABLE CAR. I HAVE SINCE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS EXPERIENCED ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE DYING BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON ACTIONS I CAN TAKE. DT