NHTSA Complaint #10040980 — 1995 DODGE INTREPID

ROCKER ARM AND ROCKER ARM SUPPORT FAILURE ON 26 SEPT '03 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY 1995 INTREPID (3.3 LITER) BEGAN MAKING A "TICKING" OR "CLACKING" NOISE. AFTTER DISCUSSION AT WORK,THE NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A MISSING CYLINDER, THE IGNITION SYSTEMS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. I BROUGHT IT HOME AND REPLACED THE PLUGS AND WIRES AND CHECKED THE SPARK. ALL NORMAL, STILL THE CLACKING NOISE. AFTER DROPPING THE CAR AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD MECHANIC WHO PULLED THE VALVE COVER AND NOTIFIED ME THAT THE TOWER SUPPORTING THE AFT END OF THE DRIVERS SIDE ROCKER ARM AXIS HAD SHEARED OFF AND THAT THE LIFTING ROD AND ROCKER ARM WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD AND ANCILLARY COMPONENTS. FURTHER THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE 3.3 MOTORS AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I ALSO CONTACTED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR HAVE OWNED THE SAME CAR (1995 INTREPID) AND AT LEAST TWO REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM AT A SMILAR MILAGE.