NHTSA Complaint #10106198 — 1999 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER

I PURCHASED A USED 1999 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 2.4L MINIVAN WITH 54,000 MILES IN APRIL 2001. SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND AT ABOUT 58,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL. THE OIL LEAK HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, TO WHERE I AM LOSING 1 QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. THE OIL IS SPRAYING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VAN NOW HAS 88,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN IN RECENTLY AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD NOT FAIL AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE! THE HEAD GASKET IS BEING REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $1000!. ALTHOUGH NO DEATHS, ACCIDENTS, FIRES, DAMAGE, ETC. HAS OCCURRED, THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN OIL FIRE FROM THE LEAK. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4L ENGINES ON THIS MODEL!!! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT!*AK