NHTSA Complaint #10120691 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

WHILE DRIVING HOME APRIL 20, 2005 MY CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING AND STALLED OUT. I GOT IT HOME AND CALLED MY MECHANIC TO COME OVER AND CHECK IT OUT. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A ROD KNOCK, AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CAM SENSOR. ON APRIL 22, 2005 I HAD THE SENSOR INSTALLED, $37.00 FOR PART. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES AND THE KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE GOT INCREASINGLY WORSE UNTIL IT WENT BANG AND WOULD NO LONGER RUN. THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD. NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE, AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $3,500.00 TO $5,000.00. THIS FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES. IT SHOULD BE JUST BREAKING IN AT THIS POINT, NOT BREAKING DOWN, ESPECIALLY FROM A BLOWN ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, HAVING HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY AT 2,500-3,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL POSTINGS REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING FAULT CREATED BY CHRYSLER IN THE 2.7 LITRE ENGINE AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO OFFSET THE MAJOR EXPENSE CAUSED BY THEIR DESIGN.