NHTSA Complaint #10054975 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

OIL SLUDGE IN 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 3.2 6 CYL ENGINE. NOTED NOISY VALVE IN LEFT CYLINDER HEAD. DURING INSPECTION OF VALVE TRAIN FOUND ROCKER ARM SHAFT FILLED WITH SLUDGE BLOCKING OIL PASSAGE TO ROCKER ARMS. RIGHT VALVE TRAINED ALSO HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN ROCKER ARM SHAFT. CLEANED SHAFT AND INSPECTED VALVE TRAIN FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR. VALVE TRAIN WEAR STILL WITHIN LIMITS AS PRESCRIBED BY CHRYSLER/DODGE. INSPECTED OIL PAN AND NOTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN THE PAN. FURTHER INSPECTIONS REVEALED OIL PICK UP TUBE 90% BLOCKED, AND THE OIL PUMP HOUSING SCORED FROM DAMAGED GEAR OUT OF THE FACTORY. REPLACED OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY, PICK UP TUBE, CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS, AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. THIS DEFECT WAS CAUGHT AND CORRECTED BEFORE ANY SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OCCURRED. HAD IT NOT, RESULT WOULD BE AN ENGINE LOCKED UP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THIS CAR IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY, WITH FREQUENT OIL CHANGES, AND HAS HIGHWAY MILEAGE ON IT. DODGE DENIES ANY OIL NITRATION/SLUDGE PROBLEM ON THE 3.2 ENGINE. NOTED SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS. *JB