NHTSA Complaint #10060311 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

I HAVE A 1999 2.7L DODGE INTREPID THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE WARRANTY DENIAL ON AN ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAD A SENSOR REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 18 2003 ALONG WITH AN OIL CHANGE AND A TRANSMISSION CHANGE. AFTER THIS SERVICE THROUGH THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA WE NOTED THAT THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING WHILST IDLING AND WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. WE WERE ASSURED THAT IT WAS JUST A SENSOR ISSUE AND THEY PROMPTLY CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL A MONTH AGO TO ASSURE US THE OIL WAS STILL IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TICKING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HAD CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. THE ENGINE HAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE THAT IS PREDOMINENT AS SOON AS I TURN ON THE ENGINE. IN ORDER TO NOT RISK THE SAFETY OF MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE NOW CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT AN INSPECTOR WILL NEED TO DETERMINE IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE BASIC WARRANTY THAT IS STILL AFFECTIVE WILL COVER THE COSTS. UPON READING SITES ON THIS VEHICLE IT IS ALMOST PREDETERMINED THAT THEY WILL REFUSE TO COVER THE COST UNDER OUR WARRANTY. WHAT RIGHTS DO WE HAVE IF THIS HAPPENS? WE STILL OWE MONEY ON THE VEHICLE AND CANNOT AFFORD THE RENTAL AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AND IF CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SURELY THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM THAT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP COULD HAVE DETERMINED BEFORE OUR ENGINE BECAME DAMAGED?*AK