NHTSA Complaint #10140422 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE. IT STALLED 2 TIMES AND THEN JUST DIED. I AM DISABLED, A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE FOR ME TO GET IT OFF TO THE SIDE. WE DRIFTED DOWN THE ROAD TILL WE STOPPED AT A BETTER LOCATION. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HELP TO GET ME AND MY 2 SONS HOME. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BROWN DAUB DODGE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. THEY SAID THE ENGINE FAILED AND IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE FROM 5,000 TO 8,000 TO REPAIR. THEY BLAMED IT ON MAINTENANCE. THE CAR HAD BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME YOU HAD TO USE A SPECIAL OIL (5W30) INSTEAD OF 10W30 BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 2.7L ENGINES. I CHECKED MY RECORDS AND DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM EVERY 3,000 MILES AND THEY WERE USING 10W30 . THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I TOOK MY CAR TO AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OVER WAS USING 5W30 THE CORRECT OIL. I AM LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS TO SUPPORT MYSELF AND MY 2 SONS. I HAVE NO MEANS OF COMING UP WITH THIS MONEY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TOO. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE NOTORIOUS ENGINE/TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THESE CARS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO USE TO WORK FOR CHRYSLER AND SAID HE COULDN'T WORK FOR A COMPANY WHERE THE WERE TOLD TO "SAY NOTHING" BUT WHAT THE TOLD HIM TO TELL PEOPLE IN THESE SITUATIONS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACCIDENT FOR US. BROWN DAUB WILL ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR USING THE WRONG OIL AND I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING EITHER. I AM KNOW UNDER THE EMOTIONAL STRESS OF BEING STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR AND HAVE TO RELY ON WHATEVER HELP I CAN FIND TO GET MYSELF TO MY DOCTOR APPTS. TO FOLLOW UP ON MY DISABILITY AND GET MY CHILDREN WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. *NM