NHTSA Complaint #10072533 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO WITH ENGINE FAILURE AND SLUDGE BUILDUP AT 64K MILES. FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL 6 TIMES AS A RESULT OF THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPING TO ZERO, REPLACED THE OIL SENSOR AND OIL PUMP.LAST WEEK I HAD THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED 2 HOURS/98 MILES AFTER I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THE OIL PAN AND ENGINE WERE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SLUDGE. I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE OVER THE PAST 41/2 YEARS. CHRYSLER WILL NOT SEND A REP TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS MY FAULT FOR NOT USING THE RIGHT OIL AND NOT MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE. THE TYPE OF OIL I USED WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUAL AND I FOLLOWED CHRYSLER'S MAINTAINENANCE SCHEDULE TO A T. THE DODGE DEALER SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AT MY EXPENSE (BECAUSE THE ENGINE FAILED) IF I WANTED THE ENGINE EXAMINED. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE OBVIOUS INTRINSICE ENGINE DEFECT. *AK