NHTSA Complaint #10071001 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN THE ROAD, AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS BEYOND REPAIR, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE. CONSIDERING THAT I OWE $9000, TO SPEND $4000 TO REPAIR IS BEYOND MY MEANS. WE ORIGINALLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 2002 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER IN OUR AREA, THE CODE WAS FOR THE LEAK DETECTION SENSOR. THIS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNTIL IT STARTED FLASHING. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE LIGHT WOULD THEN GO OFF. WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS AFTER THAT FOR THE SAME CODE AND SENSORS/MODULES REPLACED, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE ULTIMATELY TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN WIRE UNDER THE SEAT?. EVENTUALLY, IN JUNE 2003, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SEIZURE, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION AND HIM SWERVING TO AVOID ONCOMING CARS AND ULTIMATELY ALMOST GOING IN THE DITCH IN FRONT OF A BUSY GAS STATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE, ENGINE SENT TO MACHINE SHOP, AND WE ARE TOLD IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED, AND IF THEY ATTEMPT TO, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE FOR EVEN A DAY. THE VALVES ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND THERE ARE LARGE INDENTATIONS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS. EVERY TIME THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IT WOULD DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS A HAZARD AND A LEMON!