NHTSA Complaint #10126605 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I OWN A 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7 LETTER ENGINE. ON JUNE 16 2005 WHEN RETURNING FROM VACATION MY CAR WHILE I WAS IN TRANSIT DEVELOPED A CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH THEN LED TO THE INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. BEFORE I EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD THE ENGINE WAS DEAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN MOTION. THE FOLLOWING WEEK MY DODGE INTREPID WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. SIMPLY LOCATING THE PROBLEM ENTAILED DISASSEMBLING THE ENGINE WHICH COST $700 ALONE. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT A ROD BEARING HAD COME DISLODGED CAUSING IT TO FALL IN THE OIL PAN. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WAS THE RESULT OF OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH CAUSED A LACK OF OIL FLOW IN THE ENGINE. THE REPAIRS WERE QUOTED AT COSTING $6,900 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. MY CAR HAS RECEIVED OIL CHANGES AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS WHICH I HAVE RETAINED DOCUMENTATION OF AND AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS JUST DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE.