NHTSA Complaint #10070147 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

I BOUGHT A 99 DODGE INTREPID FROM FREEDOM FORD IN CENTRE, ALABAMA FOR A LITTLE OVER $14,000 ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I WENT BACK LAST SUMMER TO TRADE IN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT EVEN BLACK BOOKED FOR HALF THAT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLING SYSTEM (THE ENTIRE SYSTEM), ALL THE FUSES, THE SENSORY MODULE, THE TIE RODS ARE SHOT AND NOW THE MOTOR HAS LOCKED UP. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED FOR A MOTOR AND FOUND THAT THE MOTOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR OF INTREPID RUNS $1,500 TO $2000 MORE THAN ALL OTHER MOTORS, EVEN THE 2001 AND NEWER MODELS RUN $1000 TO $1200 AT THE MOST. THEIR REJECTION TO HELP ME IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE 99 MODEL WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL MOTOR AND VERY FEW WERE MADE. I TEACH SCHOOL AND HAVE FOUND A CO-WORKER WHOSE SISTER HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. HER HUSBAND CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM, THEY PAID FOR HALF OF HIS MOTOR, WHICH KNOCKED HIS TOTAL EXPENSE WITHIN THE NORMALLY MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST. I WAS GIVEN A FLAT NO FROM CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY HONOR THIS FOR ORIGINAL CAR OWNERS WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND HAVE AN ACTIVE WARRANTY. WELL MY FRIEND WAS A SECOND CAR OWNER WITH MORE THAN 110,000 MILES, NO WARRANTY, AND IS WILL TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO PROVE THAT HE WAS IN MY SAME SITUATION AND RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN PAYING FOR HIS MOTOR. I ALSO HAVE MECHANICS WHO WILL PROVIDE STATEMENTS THAT AFTER SEARCHING THE AUCTIONS AND HOTLINES FOR A MOTOR THEY FOUND MORE INTREPIDS ON THE LINE WITH BAD MOTORS THAN ANY OTHER CAR, SOME HAVING AS LITTLE AS 60 AND 65 THOUSAND MILES. I ALSO HAVE AUTO PARTS STORE OWNERS WHO SUGGEST THAT I CALL CHRYSLER TO HAVE THEM HELP WITH THE EXPENSES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE HELPED OTHERS. I JUST GET THE RUN AROUND FROM CHRYSLER WITH NO CONCERN OF ME HAVING TO MAKE A $386 CAR PAYMENT TO FORD FOR A PIECE OF JUNK SITTING IN MY YARD, AND CONTINUE PAY $107 A MONTH INSURANCE THAT HAS TO CONTINUED DUE TO STATE LAWS.