IT WAS LIMITED PRODUCTION ENGINE THAT HAS A PROBLEM OF EATING TIMING BELTS, CRACKING CYLINDER HEADS, AND A/C FAILURE. WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIES AND THERE IS A LOSS OF ALL POWER ASSIST INCLUDING STEERING. ANOTHER ONE OF THESE VEHICLES I OWN WENT THROUGH 5 CYLINDER HEADS AND 7 TIMING BELTS IN 83K MILES, BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF THIS SPECIAL ENGINE PRODUCED, THERE PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS, BUT IF THE SERVICE RECORDS WERE PULLED FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER FOR ALL THE CARS WITH ENGINE VIN CODE "A" THE 2.2L 16V LOTUS DOHC TURBO III, 90% WILL HAVE HAD AT LEST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBABLY MANY MORE THAT WHICH CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AN OWNERS CLUB ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://TOPICA.COM/LIST/RT_MAILING_LIST HAS OVER 300 PEOPLE, SOME WITH MULTIPLE CARS LIKE MYSELF AND WOULD BE A GOOD SOURCE TO HELP DOCUMENT THESE PROBLEMS. *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****762546
NHTSA complaint #10009858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, HE PULLED OVER ONTO THE BERM WHERE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AS A RESULT THERE WAS HEAVY FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF TE VEHICLE, POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
NHTSA complaint #567655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER HAD JUST GOTTEN INTO VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE T VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF RECALL 89V237000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 467 WOULD APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #885511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ITEM LISTED IS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 89V237000. DEALER INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE RECALL. CALLED CHRYSLER'S RECALL CENTER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL OR THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE NHTSA. THE REPAIR CHARGE FOR THIS WORK THAT WE ARE HAVING PERFORMED IS $131.00 WE WANT TO BE REIMBURSED AS OUR VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE RANGE OF MANUFACTURE DATES AND EXHIBITED THE PROBLEM NHTSA CHARACTERIZED AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #734707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DID NOT BURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY.
NHTSA complaint #835152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.