NHTSA Complaint #10033395 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I PURCHASED A 2000 DODGE INTREPID ON 3-28-03. THE CAR HAD 58000 MILES AT PURCHASE, WAS CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC AND SEEMED TO BE A VERY GOOD RELIABLE CAR WITH SERVICE RECORDS. I HAD NO TROUBLE, OTHER THAN THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT BLOWING COOL AIR, UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO I NOTICED A VERY LIGHT TICKING SOUND DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL TWICE AND NOW HAVE 62000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS BOTH OF WHICH DID NOT DO INTERNAL WORK AND WAS AFRAID TO DIAGNOSE CAR IF THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TIMING BELT AND REPAIR WOULD RUN ME $1,600. I WAS UPSET WITH THE COST AND BEFORE I AGREED TO LET THE DEALER REPAIR MY VEHICLE THEY ASSURED ME THAT I WAS GETTING OUT CHEAP AND IF I REPAIRED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY I WOULD NOT NEED A NEW MOTOR. AFTER A WEEK IN THE SHOP, THE DEALER CALLED ME BACK TO SAY I HAD A BLOWN MOTOR (EVEN THOUGH I HAD DRIVABLE CAR WHEN I LEFT IT) AND REPAIR COSTS WOULD EXCEED $6,000. I STILL OWE $6,200 ON A CAR I HAVE ONLY MADE 4 PAYMENTS ON TO DATE. I AM A WORKING MOTHER WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTION. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON MY OWN I HAVE FOUND THAT REGARDING THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES THIS PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON THAN NOT. I HAVE TALKED TO 2 LOCAL SALVAGE PARTS DEALERS AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT THESE ENGINES ARE IN VERY HIGH DEMAND. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE REP I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT SINCE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THE PRODUCT THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. SO NOW I AM LEFT WITHOUT THE TRANSPORTATION THAT I WILL BE PAYING ON FOR THE NEXT 2 1/2 YEARS. I AM FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED WITH NO TRANSPORTATION AND CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY ARE PETTLING JUNK WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE. I FEEL VIOLATED AS A CONSUMER THAT TRUSTED WHAT ONCE WAS ONE OF THE "BIG 3". IF ANYONE READING THIS HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS OR SUGGESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [email protected].*AK