NHTSA Complaint #10056793 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

I'M A CONSUMER AND A VICTIM OF A FAILED 2.7 LITER ENGINE. I PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE INTREPID IN JUNE OF 2001 IT ONLY HAD 100 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I HAD THIS CAR ONLY 2YEARS AND 7MONTHS. I GOT TO WORK PULLED IN THE PARKING DECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON. I PARKED WENT IN TO WORK. LEAVING THE PARKING DECK MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. NO TAPPING NO SMOKE OR ANYTHING. I'M THINKING THIS IS JUST MY BATTERY. MY HUSBAND CAME AN TRIED THE SAME THING. PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD, AND HAD A WRECKER COME AND GET THE CAR TOOK IT TO HANSEN CHRYSLER FOR REPAIRS. HE STATED THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND HE REPLACED THE BATTERY THEN HE RETURNED A CALL TO ME AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY BE SLUDGED AND HE WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME $84 TO TAKE OFF THE GASKETS AND $84 TO PUT THEM BACK ON JUST TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BUT IF I WANTED TO WAIT THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AND I COULD COME AND GET IT BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS ENGINE WOULD HOLD UP. I WENT AND GOT MY CAR AND DROVE OFF THE LOT. I GOT AROUND THE CORNER NOT EVEN A HALF A MILE AWAY IT SHUT OFF AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE WAS TAPPING. NEVER SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR HAD I HEARD ANY TAPPING UNTIL THAT DAY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT NOW THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT MY ENGINE IS BLOWN. I FIND OUT FROM THE MECHANIC THAT THESE 2.7 LITER ENGINES ARE NOT REALLY GOOD ENGINES. THE MECHANIC STATES THAT I WOULD BE LOOKING AT SPENDING ABOUT 6 - 7,000 DOLLARS ON THE ENGINE ALONG NOT EVEN COUNTING THE LABOR. I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN ROBBED. I HAVE A CAR WITH ONLY 64,555 MILES AND TWO YEARS TO PAY ON IT AND CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT. I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO TAKE IT AS A TRADE IN, SO NOW I'M RIDING THE BUS AND PAYING A CAR NOTE. I'M SEEKING LEGAL HELP. WHAT AM I TO DO?*AK