Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
May 4, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Leading US based automaker Chrysler Group LLC has come into the spotlight after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported its popular Dodge Caliber model suffering from a sticky accelerator problem. The problem lies with the 2007 model, as it has been reported. The NHTSA website has a report on the issue that says five Dodge users have reported problems with accelerators in their cars that tend to get stuck when pressed and refuse to return to neutral position after releasing the pedal. The pedals in question were manufactured by CTS Corp, an Indiana-based supplier. Incidentally, this company also supplied the pedals that were used in the Toyota cars that were recalled a few months back.

However, both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Chrysler Group LLC have made it clear that no Dodge owner has reported any accident resulting from the sticky accelerator issues. It is a mechanical fault and not a design related one, the carmaker said in its statement. However, the company has not yet declared a recall. The NHTSA and Chrysler have differences of opinions as far as the number of affected dodge models is concerned. NHTSA feels at least 161,000 vehicles are going to be affected while Chrysler feels the number would not exceed 10000.

The owners of Dodge caliber models have been asked to approach the dealers for getting their cars inspected. Chrysler is expected to take up the matter seriously considering the fact that a similar problem led its rival Toyota Motors in deep trouble and it also had to cough up a hefty penalty.