2012 Dodge Dart

AS I WAS DRIVING THE DODGE DART (2013) THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION EITHER BROKE, VIBRATED OUT, OR WAS NEVER SCREWED IN PROPERLY AT THE PLANT. THE CAR HAD 400 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS TO THE LEFT (INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THERE WAS GRINDING AND LOUD NOISES AS I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT THE CAR WAS MISSING A BOLT WHEN HE WENT TO HOOK THE CHAIN UP UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED PASS IT OFF AS, "WE ALLIGNED IT AND ITS READY FOR YOU TO PICK UP". I TOLD THEM I KNEW THE BOLT WAS GONE BECAUSE THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY TOLD ME IT WAS. I TOLD THEM I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I SAID I DO NOT WANT TO BE A STATISTIC IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AT A LATER DATE. BOTH CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. LOU FUSZ SAID IT WAS CHRYSLER'S PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER TOLD ME TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID, "THANK GOD YOU WEREN'T ON THE HIGHWAY". WE'LL I HAD MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR FOR 2 WEEKS DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR THAT COULD HAVE HURT OR KILLED SOMEONE. I HAD NOT SIGNED OVER THE PAPERWORK TO MY DODGE JOURNEY YET (WHICH HAD A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OVER THE BRAKES WHICH IS WHY I WAS WANTING TO TRADE IT IN) BUT THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME MY CAR BACK. I SAID THEN PUT ME IN ANOTHER CAR BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME MORE FOR THE CAR WE WANTED. I THEN ASKED TO GIVE ME THE CASH FOR THE TRADE IN. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO CHRYSLER (PURCHASED 7 NEW CARS OVER THE YEARS). THE REFUSAL TO OFFER ANY TYPE OF RESOLUTION WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THEY REGISTER YOUR PHONE NUMBER IN A SYSTEM SO WHEN YOU CALL IN AND ASK TO TALK WITH A MANAGER THEY DIRECT YOU RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME DEPARTMENT WHO TELL YOU THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS NOT A CUSTOMER SERVICE OR "CUSTOMER LOYALTY DEPT" IT IS A SYSTEM OF CONTINOUS DENIAL AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL JUST GET TIRED AND GO AWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN A PARKING LOT IDLING, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT THROUGH THE VENTS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LOW WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN THE ACCELATOR PEDDLE STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MAT. I NOTICED THE FACTORY MAT SLIDING AROUND A MONTH AGO AND RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO BUY NEW AFTER MARKET MATS. I REMOVED THE DRIVER-SIDE MAT AND ORDERED AFTER MARKETS. THE NEW MATS HAVE LARGER LUGS TO HOLE THEM IN PLACE. BUT IT MOVED AGAIN AND WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FORM THE STOP SIGN THE PEDDLE STUCK UNDER THE MAT. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE PEDDLE UP. AT THIS POINT I HAVE REMOVE ALL DRIVER-SIDE MATS. I ALSO CALLED THE DODGE OWNERS HELP LINE AND WAS INFORMED THAT (MORE OR LESS) IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. IF A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER HAD BEEN AT THE WHEEL THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE OUT COME. *TR

THIS VEHICLE SHIFTS SO BAD AND THAT CARS I'VE DRIVEN THAT WERE 5 - 10 YEARS OLDER SHIFTED BETTER THAN THIS . IT DOWNSHIFTS WHILE BRAKING AND SOMETIME IT IS A VERY JERKY DOWNSHIFT .ALSO IT SLAMS/JOLTS INTO FIRST GEAR WHILE ROLLING AT ABOUT 3-5 MILES PER HOUR ONCE THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. IT ALSO IS THE WORST AT CHANGING GEARS DURING STOP AND GO DRIVING BECAUSE IT IS SO JERKY AND BOUNCY AFTER BRAKING THEN ACCELERATING AND I DON'T SEE WHY A CAR THAT IS BRAND NEW SHOULD DO THIS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND HAVING THEM TELL ME TO BRAKE IT IN FIRST , I HAVE DONE SO AND HAVE 700+ MILES ON IT AND HAVE HAD THEM PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLASH UPDATES WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS TRANSMISSION( AND ALL PARTS THAT WORK TOGETHER WITH IT )WILL LAST WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS HAPPENING. ALSO IT BOGS OUT BECAUSE IT WON'T DOWNSHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD AND STAYS AT ABOUT 1300-1400 RPM'S WHEN IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 4-5000 RPM'S HIGHER . I'VE DRIVEN NEW CARS AND THE DODGE DART 2013 SE 2.0 LITER MODEL SEEMS LIKE IT WASN'T READY YET FOR THE ROAD .THE ACCELERATION IS VERY BOUNCY TOO WHEN IT SHOULD BE A STEADY ACCELERATION. *TR

MY ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS BASED ON ENGINEERING EXPERTISE NOT EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, SUGGESTS THAT, RATHER THAN RESPONDING TO DRIVER CONTROLLED BY-WIRE" INSTRUCTIONS TO BRAKE PREPARATORY TO A HARD RIGHT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE TOOK CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE, BRAKE, AND (DRIVE-BY-WIRE ?) CLUTCH PROPELLING ITSELF 20 METERS FURTHER DOWN-ROAD TO THE RIVER SHORELINE. PERHAPS READING THE BRAKE COMMAND AS AN ACCELERATION INSTRUCTION (OR ???) THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD AND DROVE ITSELF OFF THE ROAD, TUMBLING 2 METRES ONTO A BEACH, THEN FROM THE BEACH ONTO THE RIVER ICE WHICH EXTENDS OUT TOWARDS MID-RIVER. IT CONTINUED ACROSS THAT ICE ONLY TO END ITS FORWARD PROGRESS AT THE ICE/WATER BOUNDARY WHERE IT PLUNGED INTO OPEN WATER WITHIN 100 METERS OF HOME. THESE EVENTS EFFECTIVELY ENDING A JOURNEY HOME WITH DEATH. THE OTTAWA CORONER REPORTS NO INDICATION (SUCH AS BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS / MEDICAL EVENTS) TO INDICATE THE DRIVER CONTRIBUTED TO THIS OUTCOME IN ANY WAY. IF THE DRIVER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE THEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVENT LIES WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ALONE. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT (1) MY SON IS A PROFESSIONAL AZ LICENSED DRIVER (2) HAVING FISHED IT OFTEN, IS INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD/FERRY BOUNDARY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO OUR HOME (3) WERE MECHANICALLY OPERATED STEERING ALL THAT REMAINED UNDER HIS CONTROL HE WOULD HAVE HAD THREE CHOICES: RIGHT INTO THE RIVER; STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE RIVER, OR LEFT ONTO A BEACH FORMED BY THE DEPOSITION OF RIVER SILT OVER TIME (THE CAR WENT LEFT OFF THE ROAD) (4) THE RECORD LEFT BY HIS BODY SHOWS ARM AND FIST POSTURE THAT SUGGEST DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS LITERALLY FORCED HIS HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. STRAPPED AND PINNED TO THEIR SEATS BY THE VEHICLES SAFETY SYSTEMS, MY WIFE AND SON WERE HELPLESS ONLOOKERS AS THE VEHICLE DELIVERED THEM TO THEIR DEATH. BLACK BOX ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW. *TR

ONE MONTH OLD DODGE DART RALLYE WAS PARKED ON A STEEP DRIVEWAY THE MORNING OF 01/20/13. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHT FOR THE 'PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED' WAS LIT. THE CAR SAT IDLE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND WAS ALSO IDLE AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR FOR >30 SECONDS. AT THAT POINT THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WHERE IT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA STRIKING SEVERAL TREES. THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE WAS STILL UP AND APPEARED TO BE ENGAGED. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS ESTIMATED AT $2400. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 599.

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE & COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY. WHO EVER OWNS THIS VEHICLE BE CAREFUL. ON 10/31/12 ABOUT 11:30AM MY GRANDMOTHER & I WERE HEADING OUT TO LUNCH. MY GRANDMA WANTED TO RIDE IN THE DART THAT I HAD BOUGHT ON 10/26/12. I ONLY PUT ABOUT 10 MILES ON THE DART & IT IS A MANUAL 6 SPEED. I LET MY GRANDMA INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, I STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ALREADY ENGAGED, BUT I DOUBLE CHECKED IT & RE-PULLED UP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, I THEN PULLED UP ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FULLY ENGAGED BECAUSE MY DRIVEWAY IS SLANTED. I THEN TURNED ON THE A/C SINCE IT WAS ABOUT 80 DEGREES OUT. I LEFT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN. I TOLD MY GRANDMA THAT I WAS GOING TO MOVE HER CAR SINCE IT WAS BLOCKING THE DRIVEWAY & PARKED IN THE STREET & THEN WE CAN GO TO LUNCH. I WALKED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY & MADE IT TO HER DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHEN I HEARD MY 76 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER SCREAMING I LOOKED UP & SAW MY DODGE DART ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AS IF NO E-BRAKE WAS ON AT ALL. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON THE DART SMASHED INTO MY GRANDMA'S CAR THE DOOR ON THE DART THEN SMASHED INTO THE FRONT FENDER OF THE DART THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR RUBBED & DAMAGED THE REAR FENDER OF MY GRANDMOTHERS CAR. THE DART THEN CAME TO A STOP ABOUT A 1/3 WAY INTO THE STREET ABOUT 50FT FROM WHERE I HAD THE DART PARKED. I JUMPED INTO THE DART & CHECKED ON MY GRANDMOTHER SHE HAD NO SERIOUS INJURIES. I LOOK DOWN AT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE & THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED & IN THE SAME POSITION THAT I LEFT IT IN. THIS CAR DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY IT TOOK ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS BEFORE IT STARTED ROLLING. IT ACTED LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED THEN JUST DISENGAGED & ROLLED AT A HIGH SPEED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY & TO DODGE. DODGE IS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO GIVE ME A COPY OF THE REPORT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE FAILED CAUSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE ROD TO MALFUNCTION AND NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 479. UPDATED 10/26/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED BY THE DEALER. UPDATED 11/08/12