NHTSA Complaint #10114131 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

1) 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7L V6 ENGINE PURCHASED USED IN LATE 2002. IN 2004, DEVELOPED SLIGHT RATTLE NOISE AT HARD ACCELLERATION. CHECKED WITH DODGE DEALER REPAIR SHOP, WHO EXPLAINED IT AS NEEDING PREMIUM GAS AND THAT IT WAS COMMON TO HEAR THIS NOISE.*AK 2) FEB 1, 2005: WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR HOME FROM WORK WHEN ENGINE BEGAN TO HAVE A METALLIC LOUD NOISE LIKE A NOISY VALVE LIFTER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. MILEAGE WAS 56002. 3) DEALERSHIP EVALUATED FAILURE AS SPUN #1 ROD BEARING. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WITH TENSIONER AT MAXIMUM TRAVEL. METALLIC PARTICULATE PRESENT IN UPPER OIL PASSAGES OF ENGINE. INSPECTION OF OIL PAN REVEALED NO INDICATION OF SLUDGE PRESENT IN OIL AS NOTED IN TYPICAL FAILURES OF THIS TYPE FOR THIS ENGINE. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT PRESENT DUE TO SIGNIFICANT COST REQUIRED TO FIX, WHICH WAS QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $6500.00.