NHTSA Complaint #10134260 — 2003 DODGE INTREPID

MY 2003 DODGE INTREPID ENGINE FAILED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT IN OCTOBER 2004. THE ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY SLUDGE. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. THE DODGE TECHNICIAN SAID THE SLUDGE COULD NOT HAVE BUILT UP TO THE POINT IT WAS EVEN IF THE OIL HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED. WE CONSULTED AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN WHO SAYS THE SLUDGE IS A RESULT OF MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE AROUND $6000 WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD, AND IS IN FACT ABOUT THE SAME AS THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE IF IT WERE WORKING, WHICH IT ISN'T. EVEN IF WE COULD AFFORD IT, OUR RESEARCH INDICATES THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE YET AGAIN BEFORE THE CAR IS EVEN PAID FOR. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL INJURY TO OUR FAMILY.