NHTSA Complaint #10120697 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND. MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE/REPAIR WIYH MY LOCAL MECHANIC. APPT WAS FOR MAY 5, 2002. MY CAR NEVER MADE IT TO THE APPOINTMENT. ON MAY 4, 2002, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A DR. APPT @ ABOUT 4:30 P.M. & MY CAR LITERALLY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN A NO PASSING ZONE APPROACHING A METAL GRATE BRIDGE WIDE ENOUGH FOR TWO CARS TO PASS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER THE BRIDGE SAFELY & HAD TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (RT#322 HEADING WEST-FROM WEST CHESTER, PA. APPROX. 1 MILE OUTSIDE OF DOWINGTOWN, PA.) & WALK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (NO SIDEWALKS) FOR APPROX. 1/4 MILE WITH CARS WHIZZING BY ME, TO NEARBY WAWA STORE. HAD THE CAR TOWED ($45.00 PAID BY ME) TO MY MECHANIC WHO PROMPLTY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SNAPPED & GONE THROUGH THE TOP OF MY ENGINGE. UNFIXABLE! CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR - "CARSENSE" LOCATED AT 21 POTTSTOWN PIKE, UWCHLAND, PA 19480. THEY SAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED UP TO THEM ($85.00 PAID BY ME AGAIN). FINALLY THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE REP TOLD US THE CAR WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $5,600. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT! I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS YET. I STILL OWE $7,000 ON THE CAR. CAR SENSE WILL NOT BEAR THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE REPAIRS. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET BY TYPING IN THE SEARCH WORDS: DODGE INTREPID ENGINE PROBLEMS & LOCATED MANY SITES DESCRIBING THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME. CAR QUITS WITH BARELY A WARNING & DEALER WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS, BUT INSTEAD, BLAMES THE "LACK OF PROPER MAINTAINANCE" ON THE OWNER. WEBSITES SHOW ME OTHERWISE. ALSO KNOW OF 2 PEOPLE PERSONALLY, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME SCENARIO. THESE CARS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE & I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS PROVES A REAL SAFETY HAZZARD FOR MANY DRIVERS OF THIS CAR & OTHER DRIVERS NEAR THIS CAR WHEN IT QUITS.