NHTSA Complaint #10112445 — 1999 DODGE DODGE

I BOUGHT A 1999 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. IN DECEMBER 2004, THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING WHENEVER I STOPPED, AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE BURNING OIL. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ, MY CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED AND LOST ALMOST ALL MOMENTUM. LUCKILY, IT WAS A SATURDAY MORNING AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND, AT NO MORE THAN 35 MPH, MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP NEARBY. I WAS TOLD THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT WORKING, BUT SOMEONE DID LOOK AT THE ENGINE AND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. HE SAID IT WAS JUST LOW ON OIL. HE ADDED SOME, AND TOLD ME I COULD MAKE IT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (AN HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE/HIGHWAY). I DID MAKE IT HOME, BUT THE CAR NEVER STARTED AGAIN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOUSE, AND WAS TOLD REPAIR COST WOULD BE AROUND $6500. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS FLAWED - THE OIL LINES ARE TOO SMALL TO SUFFICIENTLY LUBRICATE THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE BURNS SO HOT THE OIL IT DOES GET JUST SLEDGES IT UP. HE ALSO ADMITTED SEEING THE SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL INTREPID WITH THE SAME ENGINE, DESPITE REGULARITY OF OIL CHANGES. *AK