NHTSA Complaint #10090744 — 2001 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

12/29/03 TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT INTERMITTANT CLICKING NOISE IN ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND SLUDGE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED REPLACING ENGINE WITH THE LONG BLOCK. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANGER WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS AND HE STATED 'IT JUST HAPPENS". THE REPLACEMENT ESTIMATE WAS $6500.00. WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY $6500.00 OUT OF OUR POCKET AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND MAINTAIN THE CAR. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE INTERMITTANTLY. IN MAY 2004 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT BEGAN MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE. UPON PULLING OVER THE CAR DIED AND THE MOTOR HAD SEIZED. THIS HAS HAD A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR LIVELYHOOD. AS THIS CAR WAS OUR ONLY RELIABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, WE WERE FORCED TO PURCHASE A USED CAR THAT WE COULD MAKE SMALL PAYMENTS ON AS WE NEEDED TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS ON THE CONCORDE AND KEEP FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE ON THIS USELESS CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY. I STILL OWE TWO AND A HALF YEARS WORTH OF PAYMENTS. THIS CAR WILL SIT IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I CAN SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH PROBABLY WILL BE AFTER THE CAR IS PAID OFF IN 2 1/2 YEARS.