NHTSA Complaint #10071002 — 1998 DODGE INTREPID

ON THE AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, THE BEARINGS IN THE TENSION PULLEY WENT BAD AND IT SHREADED THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH WE HAD JUST REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE NEW ENGINE. ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. A SENSOR WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR UNLESS THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. AFTER THAT, AS SOON AS WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP IT WOULD AGAIN FAIL TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST WHEN RE-ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE IS THE BIG PROBLEM. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. MY WIFE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. BUT THE ENGINE QUIT BEFORE SHE COULD EVEN GET THE CAR STOPPED. HAD IT TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THE SAID IT HAD NO OIL. WE CHANGED OIL IN THIS CAR LIKE CLOCKWORK. EVERY 3000 MILES AND WE HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING. AND NO BLUE EXHAUST SMOKE INDICATING IT WAS BURNING UP INSIDE THE MOTOR. WE SUSPECTED BUILD UP OF ENGINE SLUDGE BUT DEALERSHIP DISPOSED OF OLD MOTOR BEFORE WE COULD SEE IT. CHRYSLER CORPORATIONS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TREATED US TERRIBLY. VERY RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL. THEY SAID ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE. WE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OUR PREVIOUS VEHICLE. A DODGE RAM THAT WAS BUILDING UP SLUDGE. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WE RECEIVED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE ON-LINE RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY TYPICAL PROBLEM. AND CHRYSLER MAINTAINS A CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT IT. THEY SEEM TO BE TELLING EVERYONE THAT IT IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM AND THAT EACH CASE IS ISOLATED. THIS COST US OVER $4000.00. AND NOW WE CAN'T SELL THE CAR. I'M WONDERING WHEN THE NEW MOTOR WILL GO. IT NOW HAS 63000 MILES. SORRY FOR THE LONG LETTER, BUT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AS MANY DETAILS AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. RONALD W. AULT. 989 435-9941. ([email protected])