NHTSA Complaint #10116098 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

WE HAVE A 1999 INTREPID WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE WHICH FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN FEBURARY 2002 WITH 22,000 ON IT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, HEAT AND AIR. WE FOUND OUT TOO LATE THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE THE FIRST SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING WE HEARD A SLIGHT KNOCK IN THE ENGINE AND EVEN THOUGH THE OIL HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED 1500 MILES BEFORE WE PULLED IN AND HAD IT CHANGED AGAIN (NO ONE EVER MENTIONED TOO LITTLE OIL AND THE STATE OF THE OIL BEING REMOVED IN THE TWO YEARS WE OWNED IT). ABOUT 20 MILES AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED THE KNOCKING GOT LOUDER. WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH AND WERE COMING UP TO A PLACE WE COULD PULL OFF BUT THE ENGINE DIED BEFORE WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD NEARLY KILLING MY HUSBAND, 12 MONTH OLD SON AND MYSELF. THE QUOTES FOR A NEW ENGINE ARE IN THE RANGE OF $4000 TO $5000 AND THE BLUE BOOK ON THE CAR IS ONLY $3500 (WITH A RUNNING ENGINE). WE'VE HAD TO DEFAULT ON THE LOAD SINCE WE HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR AND EVEN THE FINANCE COMPANY WON'T PICK IT UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORTH ENOUGH TO TAKE TO AUCTION. WHEN WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER WE WERE SIMPLY TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WAS OUR PROBLEM NOW.*AK