NHTSA Complaint #10043865 — 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

I OWN A 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE WITH A 2.7 L ENGINE. WE HAVE MAINTAINED IT ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE IN THE HANDBOOK, WITH OIL CHANGES APPROXIMATELY EVERY 4500 - 7500 MILES.*AK THE CAR HAS 79000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO WE NOTICED AN ENGINE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A FAN GOING OUT. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO AN INDEPENDANT SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED A FAILURE OF THE COOLING FAN. THAT WAS REPAIRED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME A MUCH LARGE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE ENGINE IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE LIFTERS. THE SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS NOT UPPER ENGINE, AND HENCE NOT LIFTERS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORN APART AND REPLACED ($7,000) BUT THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY LOWER ENGINE. I FOUND LITERALLY A HUNDRED REPORTS OF ENGINE FAILURE ON CONCORDES AND INTREPIDS WITH THIS SAME ENGINE, MANY OF WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED (BLEW UP) WHILE DRIVING - WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS A LUCKY ONE - THAT SO FAR HASN'T HAD THE ENGINE BLOW UP, BUT IF IT DOES OR IF IT HAD, SINCE I LIVE IN A DALLAS SUBURB WITH MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TRAFFIC IT MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I WILL BE KEEPING OFF THE HIGHWAYS IF I DRIVE IT AT ALL.