NHTSA Complaint #10062497 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MY 2000 DODGE INTREPID (2.7 LITER DOHC V6 ENGINE) WENT BAD, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO GET LOOSE. IT STARTED SLAPPING AGAINST THE HOUSING, MAKING A HORRIBLE RACKET. I GOT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. HE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. HE ALSO FOUND OIL SLUDGE ALL THROUGH MY ENGINE, WHICH WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER GOING BAD. MY ENGINE DID NOT NEED REPLACED AT THIS TIME. I HAD 58,026 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT THAT LOW A MILEAGE. I DID NOT TAKE THIS TO A DODGE DEALER, AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. THE OWNER HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN MAJOR AUTO REPAIR AND ENGINE REBUILDING AND REPLACEMENT. I HAVE JUST THIS PAST WEEK TRADED THIS CAR OFF, AND NO LONGER OWN IT.*AK