NHTSA Complaint #10127062 — 2002 DODGE INTREPID

ON 12/18/2002, I PURCHASED A "LEFTOVER" 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE. I RECENTLY REFINANCED MY HOME AND PAID OFF THE CAR LOAN LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER. AS SOON AS I RECIEVED MY TITLE FOR THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED! I BROUGHT THE INTREPID TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT HE SAW SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT SANSONE ROUTE 66 IN NEPTUNE, NJ TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTEE FOR TWO REASONS; FIRST, BECAUSE THE INTREPID HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT (I BOUGHT IT WITH 12,801 MILES ON IT) AND SECOND, BECAUSE THE MECHANIC FOUND SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT CHANGING THE OIL! I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY WITH MOBILE1 SYNTHETIC OIL AND USED MOBIL 1 OIL FILTERS (CONFIRMED BY MECHANIC) AS WELL AS HAVING OTHER OIL CHANGES DONE. THIS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF DODGE/CHRYSLER TO HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO REPAIRING FAULTY ENGINES; I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE OBSERVED MANY OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.