NHTSA Complaint #10129059 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ON 1999 DODGE INTREPID. CONSUMER WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE LOCKED AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 35 MPH. THIS TOOK PLACE ON JULY 13, 2005. CONSUMER HAD NOT ANY HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR BEFORE THIS. TOOK CAR TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $6000.00. CONSUMER DID NOT PLAN TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ONLY WORTH ABOUT $7,000.00. THE MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER THAT THE VALVE SPRING BROKE, AND THE VALVE DROPPED DOWN INTO THE CYLINDER. CONSUMER UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE MOTORS WERE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS. CONSUMER TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD THE CAR. THE CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER. MECHANIC WANTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF OIL AND FILTERS THE CONSUMER WAS USING, THIS WAS THE CLEANEST ENGINE THAT THE MECHANIC HAD SEEN. *AK