NHTSA Complaint #10138753 — 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BLOWING 2 HEAD GASKETS. AT A PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE, I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT I HAD SOME SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE AND ASKED WOULD I LIKE TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIVE FOR IT? SINCE I HAD READ MY OWNER'S MANUAL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, I KNEW THAT CHRYSLER DID NOT RECOMMEND ADDING ANYTHING TO THE ENGINE, SO I SAID NO. I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST A SALES PLOY BY THE OIL CHANGE OUTLET ANYWAY. AFTER HAVING JUST EXITED A FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WITH ABSOLUTELY NO LIGHTS COMING ON. AFTER THE CAR DIED, I OPENED THE HOOD AND HAD OIL EVERYWHERE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC OF 15 YEARS WHO TOLD ME THAT BOTH HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN, THE WATER PUMP HAD GONE AND THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY ENGINE. HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND THINKS IT IS THE WORST DESIGNED ENGINE IMAGINABLE. THE WATER PUMP IS LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE. AFTER SPENDING $2600, THE TOP HALF OF MY ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE BOTTOM HALF STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5300. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 12 HIGHWAY MILES, MY CAR CANNOT MAINTAIN OIL PRESSURE WHILE IDLING AND I HAVE TO KEEP THE IDLE UP MANUALLY SO I DON'T HARM THE WORK WE HAVE ALREADY DONE. WE REPLACED 24 LIFTERS, 2 HEAD GASKETS, THE WATER PUMP, 3 OIL SENDING UNITS AND VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS PARTS. MY OTHER CAR HAS 300,000 MILES ON IT. I KNOW HOW TO MAINTAIN A CAR. I AM GRATEFUL IT DIDN'T LOSE POWER ON THE FREEWAY I HAD JUST EXITED. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY AND THE MEDIATION GROUP HANDLING THIS FOR CHRYSLER. I AM AWAITING PAPERWORK FROM THEM AT THE PRESENT TIME. *JB