NHTSA Complaint #10045811 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I WAS DRIVING MY DODGE 2000 INTREPID AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TAIL PIPE OF MY CAR. MY CAR STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS LATER TOLD THAT MY ENGINE HAD FAILED DUE TO A SLUDGE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED EVEN THROUGH I HAVE 2,000 MILES LEFT FOR THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 1999 MY WARRANTY WAS FOR THREE YEARS OR 36,000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. I MADE A PHONE CALL TO THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS, SINCE I HAD MOVED FROM MY PREVIOUS ADDRESS, BUT THERE WAS NOT. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO SOMETHING I DID. I CONTACTED A REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THE COST OF REPAIR. THE REPAIR PERSON CALLED ME BACK AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF A REBUILD ENGINE COMPANY WAS AWARE OF A DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT CAUSED A SLUDGING PROBLEM AND PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE IS A 2.7 LITER THAT CHRYSLER MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1998,1999 AND 2000 AND THAT THE ENGINE DESIGN HAD CHANGED IN 2001. I THEN WENT ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE PURSUING CHRYSLER CORPORATION FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE MATTER. I AM NOW FACED WITH THIS OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE AND AM LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY $4,700.00 IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. THIS IS PLACING A SEVERE HARDSHIP ON ME. I AM A DISLOCATED WORKER AND AM PRESENTLY LIVING OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND HAVE RECENTLY WENT BACK TO SCHOOL FOR RETRAINING. THIS IS MY SOLE SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING OUT HOW I CAN BECOME INVOVLED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT OTHERS HAVE FILED AGAINST CHRYSLER IN THE HOPES THAT I CAN GAIN SOME COMPENSATION OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY LOSES. *AK