2007 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED AND DID NOT COMPLETELY INFLATE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND INJURIES TO THE RIGHT HAND AND SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: [XXX] WAS FILED. GARY MILLER CHRYSLER (5746 PEACH ST, ERIE, PA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.*BF ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

THE HORN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND IS DEFECTED. IT ONLY WORKS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK AND WON'T TURN OFF. WON'T WORK WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT OR TURNING RIGHT. THE HORN DID NOT ALLOW ME TO WARN A DRIVER THAT ALMOST BACKED INTO ME, THIS FORCED ME TO MOVE AWAY FROM HIM IN AN UNSAFE POSITION AND HE STILL DID NOT SEE ME AND KEPT ON BACKING OUT. HAD THE HORN WORKED IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS ISSUE THAT ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I DROVE HOME TO INSPECT THE HORN AS TO WHY IT WASN'T WORKING IS WHEN I LEARNED THAT IT ONLY WORKED WHILE SITTING STILL AND TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND AT TIMES IT STUCK AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS BECAUSE I DON'T USE IT VERY OFTEN, UNTIL THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAPPENED. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SHOWS TO BE OFF WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I WAS DELIVERING FOR A PIZZA COMPANY ON SOMEWHAT WET ROADS. THE GUY IN FRONT OF ME HAD NON-FUNCTIONING TAIL LIGHTS, SO I DID NOT SEE HIM BREAKING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. I HIT MY BRAKES AND SWERVED TO AVOID HIM, WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN A 15-20 FOOT EMBANKMENT, AND HIT A SIX TO EIGHT INCH TREE HARD ENOUGH AT 35 MILES AN HOUR TO SPLIT IT IN HALF AND HAVE IT FALL ON TOP OF MY CAR, AND TO BRING ME TO A DEAD STOP. EVEN WITH THAT FORCE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I HAD ASKED CHRYSLER TO LOOK INTO IT, BUT AFTER THREE WEEKS, THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT I DID NOT HIT THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH BECAUSE THE RATE OF DECELERATION NECESSARY TO ACTIVATE THEM WAS NOT PRESENT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY REASON, OR EVEN THE ACTUAL REASON, THEY DID NOT GO OFF.

DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY, APPROACHING THE CITY, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. WEATHER CLEAR AND SUNNY. HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. MY SPEED WAS AT AROUND 70 MPH. THE DRIVER APPARENTLY DECIDED TO EXIT THE RAMP AS IT WAS LINED WITH VEHICLES. THE DRIVER PULLED OUT OF RAMP AND STEERED TO LEFT LANE ON HIGHWAY, IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID COLLISION. MY CAR SUDDENLY SKIDDED AND SPUN AROUND ONCE, WITH RUBBER BURNING FROM TIRES. MY VEHICLE NEARLY CRASHED AGAINST THE RAIL AS MY CAR SKIDDED FOR 2ND TIME TO STOP. NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGES. INSPECTED MY CAR LATER AT GAS STATION. DID NOT DETECT ANY VISUAL PROBLEMS. COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY MY CAR SKIDDED AND SPUN AROUND ON HIGHWAY. AFTER THE SHOPPING TRIP, I DROVE HOME WITH NO INCIDENTS. AS I PULLED IN HOME, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF UNDER HOOD. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED BY TWO MECHANICS, FROM SEPARATE TIME AND LOCATION, AND I WAS TOLD MY COOLING FAN BROKE. POSSIBLE THAT THE INCIDENT LEADED THE FAN TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO MECHANICAL ERROR, THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID. COST TO REPLACE THE COOLING FAN AND LABOR CAN RUN AS HIGH AS $400. ALSO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT, ON DASHBOARD, STAYS ON MOST OF TIME.