What 638 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chrysler 200

THERE IS LOW HEAT OUTPUT FROM THE HEATER VENTS DUE TO THE HEATER CORE PLUGGING UP WITH "SLUDGE" AS CHRYSLER CALLS IT. THERE IS A CHRYSLER STAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HOTLINE CASE, NUMBER S1207000008 EXPLAINING HEATER CORE RESTRICTION DUE TO SLUDGE CAUSING POOR HEATER SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF CHRYSLER 200 AND DODGE AVENGERS WHICH I AM SURE CAN BE VERIFIED BY CHRYSLER. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL, OR AT LEAST AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE. THE STAR CASE STATES TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE, RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP AND REVERSE FLUSH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CAN BE VERIFIED BY THE TECHNICIAN, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE SLUDGE. THE SYMPTOM FIRST NOTICED IS LITTLE OR NO HEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THEN PROGRESSIVELY LOWER HEAT OUTPUT THE MORE PLUGGED THE HEATER CORE BECOMES AS TIME GOES ON. I BELIEVE IN COLD CLIMATES THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO STAY ICED OVER, OR BECOME ICED OVER AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD DUE TO WIND CHILL FACTOR OF THE VEHICLE SPEED. IT COULD ALSO BE AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNS WITH THE HEATER ON DEFROST ( TO DRY INTERIOR AIR IN ORDER TO DE-FOG THE WINDSHIELD IN HUMID OR RAINY WEATHER) WHICH FURTHER COOLS THE ALREADY COLD AIR COMING FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT IF THE HEATER CORE EVENTUALLY BECOMES COMPLETELY PLUGGED. IN HOT CLIMATES, THE HEATER CORE STILL PLUGS UP, HOWEVER THE CUSTOMER MAY NEVER NOTICE THE SYMPTOMS. I ALSO HAPPEN TO BE CHRYSLER ACADEMY MASTER CERTIFIED IN ALL CORE CURRICULUM, POWERTRAIN, ELECTRICAL AND CHASSIS. ASE MASTER AND ADVANCED LEVEL CERTIFIED (A1 THROUGH A9 AND L1) ASE CERTIFIED PARTS SPECIALIST(P2)AND SERVICE CONSULTANT(C1) AND I HAVE AN AOS DEGREE IN AUTOMOTIVE TRADES FROM SUNY ALFRED. NEW YORK STATE DMV CERTIFICATIONS( F.E.E.T, S.T.E.P, C.A.P.S, F.I.S.T.). CREDENTIALS CAN BE VERIFIED UPON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10668063

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM & WILL NOW ONLY COME ON HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10619037

IN MARCH 2014 OWNER NOTED A PROBLEM WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM - NO HEAT WAS DELIVERED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR VENTS OR HEATER VENTS IN COLD WEATHER. DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTED SEVERE DISCOLORATION OF ENGINE COOLANT AND BUILDUP UP SLUDGE IN COOLANT EXPANSION TANK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALER STATED THAT THE COOLANT HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH THE ADDITION OF THE WRONG TYPE OF COOLANT. PER CHRYSLER STAR # S1207000008, DEALER FLUSHED COOLANT SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES AND COMMENTED THAT IF THAT DIDN'T WORK THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE, RADIATOR, OIL COOLER, AND EXPANSION TANK. WHEN REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED OWNER NOTED THAT THE TEMPERATURE OUTPUT FROM THE AIR AND HEATER VENTS WAS 20 DEGREES LOWER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAN THE DRIVER SIDE. DEALER STATED THAT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. OWNER IS IN PROCESS OF CONTACTING CHRYSLER TO HAVE HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593627

WIPERS ONLY WORK ON HIGH. WIPER MOTOR SHORTED TO GROUND CAUSING INTERNAL COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO TIPM. REMOVED AND REPLACED WIPER MOTOR. REMOVED AND REPLACED TIPM AND UPDATED SOFTWARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587879

PURCHASE NEW OFF THE CHRYSLER DEALER LOT APRIL 2012.THERE ARE THREE KNOBS THAT CONTROL THE HEATING AND COOLING IN THE CAR WHEN THE BLOWER IS TURNED TO A LOW SETTING IT WILL BLOW HOT AIR REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE THAT IS SELECTED FOR EXAMPLE IF IT IS SITTING AT 66DEGREES IT WILL BLOW EXTREMELY HOT AIR AND ONLY IF THE BLOWER IS SET TO MAX WILL IT EVENTUALLY COOL DOWN TO THE SELECTED TEMPERATURE. ONCE THE COOLER TEMPERATURE IS ACQUIRED, IF THE BLOWER IS TURNED DOWN IT WILL EVENTUALLY GO BACK TO BLOWING ONLY REALLY HOT AIR REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE SETTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10567438

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.

NHTSA ODI 10452167