NHTSA Complaint #10051172 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

ON 11/30/03, ON MY WAY TO WORK, MY CAR STARTED MAKING A TICKING & KNOCKING SOUND. AS I PULLED OFF OF THE EXIT, IT CUT OFF. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT & HE SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE -- THE CAR ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 86,000 MILES ON IT; & IT'S ONLY 2 YEARS OLD! I CALLED THE DODGE'S CUSTOMER CARE LINE; THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT ($65 TOW, $80 DEALER DIAGNOSTIC). BEFORE THE SERVICE PERSON LOOKED AT IT, HE ASKED IF I HAD PROOF OF MY OIL CHANGES, I SAID I DID NOT -- BUT THAT I DID HAVE THEM DONE EVERY 3,000 MILES. NATURALLY, IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE (MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DID NOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF IT) & THAT IT WOULD COST $6900 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE! IT SEEMS TO ME THAT DODGE IS RUNNING A SCAM. I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 INTREPID. THERE ARE 20 SUCH COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE ALONE! I HAVE 4 YEARS LEFT TO PAY ON THIS CAR! IT IS RIDICULOUS & UNACCEPTABLE THAT DODGE IS ALLOWED TO IGNORE & REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSTALLING FAULTY ENGINES IN THE INTREPID!*AK