What 638 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chrysler 200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN DRIVING, DECELERATING, OR PARKING AS WELL AS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED WITH FORCE TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE MISFIRES, USES LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT AT TIMES. UPDATED 09/04/2012 *JS

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PULLED OFF INTERSTATE AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HRS. INTO PARKING LOT. STARTED TO PULL INTO PARKING SPACE AND EVERYTHING THING LOCKED UP. NO STEERING, NO BREAKS, EVERYTHING DIED EXCEPT LIGHTS ON DASH. CAR WAS DRIVING FINE WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FIT INTO THE RECALL FOR ENGINE FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL. CONCERN WITH SAFETY AS IF I HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE GOING 70MPH THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. *TR

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CAR IS A 2012 MODEL, PURCHASED THREE DAYS AGO WITH ONLY 10 MILES ON IT. TODAY IT STALLED AS IT WAS IDLING AT RED LIGHT. IT STALLED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. IT STALLED AS I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO MY GARAGE TO PARK. I CALLED MY SALESMAN, HE CLAIMS HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT IT AND REFERRED ME TO THE MANAGER. HE ALSO CLAIMS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. YET I FIND OUT FROM A FRIEND TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. I DO A SEARCH AND SEE MANY ARTICLES FROM TODAY AND OVER THE WEEKEND ON THIS. SO, HOW DOES A DEALER NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE SELLING ME THE CAR? CONCERNED ABOUT MY KIDS BEING IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH DOWN A HILL IN FIRST GEAR, THE RPMS INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 4500 AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

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THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW WITH APPROX 300 MILES BROUGHT FROM A DEALER'S INVENTORY IN KOKOMO, IN TO ONE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT 11 MAY ,2012..IT HAD BEEN ON THE PREVIOUS DEALER'S LOT, AS PART OF INVENTORY, I BELIEVE SINCE SEP,2011. IN TOTAL IT HAS STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT 2 SEPARATE TIMES..TWICE IT HAS EITHER QUIT WHILE SLOWING OR DOWNSHIFTED CAUSING QUITE A VIOLENT THROW FORWARD OF PERSONS IN THEIR SEATS WHILE AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED COMING TO A STOP...IN THE OLD DAYS IT WOULD BE THE JERK YOU GET WHILE POPPING A CLUTCH TO GET A CAR STARTED WITH A BAD BATTERY.. THE THIRD TIME IT STALLED WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY...WE ARE NOW APPROACHING 1000 TOTAL MILES ON THE CAR WITH LESS THAN A MONTH OF OWNERSHIP...MADE FIRST VISIT TO A DEALER SERVICE 30 MAY 2012,..PCM CODE WAS UPDATED,BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM..HAVE HAD ONE JERKY DOWNSHIFT SINCE THEN ..THIS HAS BEEN THE RECURRING THEME OF MANY OF THESE INSTANCES WRITTEN UP ON BLOGS CONCERNING THIS MODEL OVER LAST 2 YEARS.. SIDE NOTE..THIS CAR HAS REMOTE START CAPABILITY ON THE KEY FOB..I NOTICED A RECALL LAST YEAR FOR SOME VEHICLES WHERE THEY NOTICED THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE A FOB HAD VIBRATED LOOSE, AND SOMEHOW WAS SENDING SIGNALS TO SOME COMPONENT IN THE CAR WHICH WAS CAUSING IT TO STOP...IE. NO CODES ASSOCIATED WITH A MALFUNCTION LIKE THAT...MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT TOO. TWICE ALSO, THE HINT OF AN ELECTRICAL SMELL HAS BEEN DETECTED...SAME SMELL I EXPERIENCED WHEN THE PCM ON MY 1993 FORD VAN COOKED ITSELF A COUPLE YEARS AGO..AT FIRST I WROTE IT OFF AS A NEW CAR THING..BUT COMBINE THAT WITH PRESENT AND PAST EXPERIENCES...WELL, THE CONNECTION MAY NOT BE COINCIDENTAL. *TR

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SALUTATIONS; I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO BASICALLY BLOW ME OFF. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE CHRYSLER 200. WHEN EVER THE REAR SUSPENSION HITS A RECESSED MAN HOLE COVER OR A POT HOLE. THE REAR SUSPENSION SEEMS TO KICK OUT FROM ITS TRAJECTORY. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT WHEN IN A CORNER THIS IS VERY SPOOKY AND UNNERVING. AND COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM IN ICY/WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS WITH THE JOINT AND REBOUND OF THE SHOCKS , OR A PROBLEM WITH THE ANGLE OF ATTACK WITHIN THE TRAILING ARMS AND SET UP. IT SIMPLY SHOULD BE A FACTORY MISALIGNMENT. I ALSO HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE PAST 20 YARDS. THIS WAS ADJUSTED IMMEDIATELY AT THE DEALERS. THIS SUSPENSION CONDITION HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN A COUPLE AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINES I READ. *TR

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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS 30-70 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND ENCOUNTERING SLIGHT DIPS OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD SURFACE, A DRAMATIC LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED AT THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONDITION IS BEST DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN, VIOLENT SWERVING FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN THE LANE. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR FROM A COMMERCIAL AGENCY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE IN ANOTHER TOWN ON MY TRIP ROUTE, DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN ANOTHER CAR. IN A SEARCH FOR SIMILAR EVENTS ON THIS SITE, I FOUND ONE FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE ON A 2011 MODEL YEAR. THE ID NUMBER OF THAT COMPLAINT IS 10444871. *TR

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SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY 2012 CHRYSLER 200 TOURING (3.6 LITER V6) I HAVE HAD STEERING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. UPON DOING MY OWN INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRES PROVIDED ON MY 18X7INCH, *UPGRADED* FACTORY RIMS, ARE SUBSTANITALLY UNDER RATED FOR THE SIZE, WEIGHT AND POWER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE TIRES ON THE V6 200 WITH THE UPGRADED WHEELS HAVE A PERFORMANCE RATING OF 'T,' HOWEVER AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL TIRE SHOPS AND LOOKING A SIMILARLY EQUIPPED CARS, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNREASONABLY LOW RATING FOR THIS PARTICULAR CAR. IT RESULTS IN SEVER UNDERSTEER, HARSH CORNERING, POOR BRAKEING DISTANCE, AND COULD RESULT IN A BLOW OUT. THE 4 CYLINDER VERSION OF THIS SAME CAR COMES WITH TIRES THAT HAVE A MUCH HIGHER RATING. IN FACT MANY SMALL FAMILY SEDANS HAVE HIGER RATED TIRES THAN THE HEAVY AND POWERFUL CHRYSLER 200. EVEN OTHER CARS OFFERED BY CHRYSLER GROUP. IT SEEMS THAT ONLY THE 200 WITH THE UPGRADED RIMS HAS THE UNDER PERFORMING TIRES. TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM EVEN WORSE, UNDER HARD ACCELERATION THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND RAISE RPMS EVEN AFTER MY FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THIS PROBLEM, COUPLED WITH THE POOR PERFORMING TIRES CAUSED THE CAR TO SKID INTO A THE GRASS MEDIAN IN A CORNER. NO ONE WAS HURT AND THE CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED. *TR

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I JUST RENTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FOLLOWING, THE BATTERY HAS NO BOOT OR OTHER INSULATION DEVICE PROTECTING EITHER ITS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE TERMINALS. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED DOWN IN A WELL IN FRONT OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. IT WOULD BE VERY POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO ACCIDENTALLY DROP A METAL TOOL DOWN INTO THAT WELL WHERE IT COULD CAUSE A SHORT-CIRCUIT TO THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. A SHORT-CIRCUITED AUTO BATTERY IS CAPABLE OF DELIVERING HUNDREDS OF AMPS OF CURRENT, WHICH EQUATES TO AN ELECTRIC ARC WELDER. THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF THOSE UNPROTECTED BATTERY TERMINALS SHOULD WARRANT A SAFETY INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED TO CORRECT THIS APPARENT DESGIN FLAW. *TR

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I RENTED THIS VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE IN HENDERSON NC. WHILE TRAVELING TO NASHVILLE, TN., I NOTICED THAT THE CAR OFTEN LOST HANDLING CAPACITY WHEN COMING OFF SMALL BRIDGES AS THERE IS OFTEN A SMALL DROP OFF. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES AS I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN TO 55 (LIMIT IS 65) WHENEVER CROSSING THEM. THIS IS QUITE A SURPRISE AND I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE ONLY ONCE BEFORE AND IT WAS ON A VERY SMALL VEHICLE SOME 10 YEARS AGO. IT WAS NOTICEABLE TO THE POINT THAT MY PASSENGER FELT IT AS WELL AND I WOULD HAVE HAD A WRECK HAD I SNATCHED THE WHEEL DURING THESE SCENARIOS. TO BE MORE CLEAR, AFTER CROSSING THE SMALL BRIDGES...MAYBE 20 YARDS LONG ON AVERAGE, THERE IS A DROP OFF TO THE NORMAL HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT END DOES NOT TRANSITION DOWN, IT ACTUALLY TAKES ON AIR BEFORE DOING SO AND THAT IS WHERE THE LOSS OF CONTROL COMES IN. I WOULD HOPE THIS CAN BE TESTED AND CORRECTED BEFORE AN OWNER LOSES HIS/HER LIFE. *TR

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THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH MY BRAND NEW 2012 CHRYSLER 200 WAS FAILURE TO START. I WENT TO START MY CAR AND TURNED THE KEY BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE STALLED. I STARTED TO TURN THE KEY AGAIN , AGAIN DID NOT TURN ON. AFTER THE THIRD TIME IT BEGAN. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM, CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY REPORT OF THIS BUT THEY HADN'T HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER THEN SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON APRIL 1ST I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 CHRYSLER 200,658 MILES,WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT OFF OF A MAIN STREET INTO A THE PARKING LOT THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR MOVING SO AT THE ENTRANCE, I PRESSED MY BRAKES SHORTLY AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE I WAS NOT IN THE OTHER VEHICLES WAY SO I THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. AT THIS TIME THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND IN THE FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WITH MY DAUGHTERS END OUT IN THE MAIN STREET. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHICH THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER AND ASKED FOR REPORTS BUT CHRYSLER SAID NO PROBLEMS SUCH AS MINE HAS BEEN REPORTED. THE DEALERSHIP OR CHRYSLER IS HELPING ME IN THIS MATTER I DON'T FEEL SAFE AND I HAVE EXPRESSED THIS TO THEM. I AND MY DAUGHTER ARE AT RISK WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG AND SINCE THE CAR IS NOT LEAVING AND SENSORS ON AFTER EITHER INCIDENT I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IF THE CAR STOPS ON THE INTERSTATE AND STALLS OR FAILS TO DRIVE MY DAUGHTER AND OR I CAN BE KILLED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE OPENED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND BEGAN TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED SCREECHING NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE NOISE CREATED A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIS EAR DRUMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

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