NHTSA Complaint #10125387 — 2000 CHRYSLER CHRYSLER

ON JUNE 9, 2005 I LEFT A RESTAURANT AFTER LUNCH. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AT 30-35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY AND LOSING POWER. SINCE I WAS ON A SURFACE STREET AND GOING SLOWLY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND TURN THE CAR OFF. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 30-45 SECONDS TO DRIVE THE CAR THE 300-400 YARDS TO THE GAS STATION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE DRIVER'S SIDE PISTON AND THAT IT APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY A PART OF THE VALVE SEAT FALLING OFF AND BECOMING LOOSE WITHIN THE PISTON/CYLINDER. THIS CAUSED A HOLE IN THE PISTON WHICH POLLUTED THE OIL WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE/MANAFOLD, ETC. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SERIOUS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OR EVEN ON SURFACE STREETS. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS AT LA BREA CHRYSLER (323) 933-5501. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I WILL REQUEST THAT THE OLD PARTS BE KEPT SO THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE.