NHTSA Complaint #10088829 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER A BRIEF DRIVE WITH NO PREVIOS INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEM. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR $8100.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.TECH SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE INTREPIDS WITH 2.7L ENGINES, BUT IT IS USUALLY DUE TO POOR MAINTAINANCE WHICH LEADS TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP, BUT THAT HE COULD TELL MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND CLEAN. HE SIAD IT WAS CAUSED BY A WATER-PUMP FAILURE, WHICH THREW OFF THE TIMING AND TOTALLED THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD 59,000 MILES AND 2 PAYMENTS LEFT AND WAS NOW BASICALLY WORTHLESS. THE DEALERSHIP GOT CHRYSLER TO REDUCE THE BILL BY ABOUT 50% AND I HAD TO PAY $4000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. AFTER PICKING IT UP, THE A/C DOES NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS 'UNRELATED" AND WILL COST $1100. TO REPAIR. SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS CAR AS WE ARE PAYING $20,000+ IN GOOD FAITH FOR CARS THAT SEEM TO SELF DESTRUCT BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN PAID FOR AND WE ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR 5 YEARS OF PAYMENTS!!! THANK YOU. *AK