NHTSA Complaint #10104388 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

I BOUGHT DODGE INTREPID 2001 SE 2.7 L FROM THE LOCAL AUCTION WITH ONLY 53000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM THE AUCTION, I HEARD TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I STOPPED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT ENGINE WAS LOW ON THE OIL, I DECIDE TO ADD ONE QUART OF ENGINE OIL UNTIL I WAS CLOSE TO THE AUTO MECHANIC SHOP. AFTER GETTING TO HIS SHOP AND OPENING UP THE ENGINE WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS LITTLE OIL BUT MOSTLY SLUDGE THAT PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM LUBRICATION. THE NOISE WAS REALLY LOUD THAT HAD DAMAGED SOME INTERNAL PARTS (BROKE CRANK SHAFT) TOO. ANYWAY THE ENGINE WAS GONE, WE DECIDED TO PUT ANOTHER ENGINE FROM THE JUNK YARD, WHICH COASTED OVER TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AND INSTALLATION WAS ABOUT ONE THOUSAND . NOW, I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 1000 MILES ON THE NEW ENGINE AND THERE IS ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. I HOPE IT IS NOT THE BEGINNING OF SAME ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ALREADY COASTED ME ALMOST SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NOT TO MENTION TIME IN THE SHOP AND FRUSTRATION. I WANT TO WARN EVERY ONE TO STAY AWAY FROM INTREPID AND ANY 2.7 L DODGE ENGINES. RESEARCHING ON CHRYSLER'S WEB SITE AND EDMUNDS NOW I SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUES BUT NO SOLUTION. I HOPE COMPANY CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY OF POOR DESIGN AND ISSUE A RECALL. REGARDS, PULKIT KAPILA . *AK