NHTSA Complaint #10066512 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

IN JULY 2003 MY 1999 DODGE INTREPID BEGAN TICKING ON THE WAY TO THE GROCERY STORE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR QUIT RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START.LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST IN TO A PARKING SPOT AND NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACED.I CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, THE WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED. I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE REPAIR SHOP I HAD IT TOWED TO FIX THE CAR.IT IS NOW APRIL 2004 AND THE TIMING CHAIN IS AGAIN BAD WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT.I AGAIN CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER AND DODGE'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO HELP WHAT SO EVER BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS WILLING TO MAYBE HELP DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND WHEN THEY TEAR THE MOTOR DOWN FOR 375.00.AFTER SEARCHING ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS CAR I FOUND AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I SEEM TO HAVE GOTTEN LUCKY AND DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. YET! TO ME THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY CRITICAL PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7 LITER IN THESE CARS THAT POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO DRIVERS. I HAVEN'T HEARD FORM THE DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP YET TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR THERE IS THIS TIME BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE HEARD IN REGARDS TO THIS MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM AND HOPE DODGE COULD TAKE SOME RESPONSABILITY FOR MAKING A BAD PRODUCT. *AK