NHTSA Complaint #10142290 — 1999 DODGE DODGE

I PURCHASED THIS 1999 DODGE INTREPID USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN THE SUMMER OF 2003. I JUST RECENTLY GRADUATED COLLEGE AND THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER FINANCED. I WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED AND PROUD TO BE THE OWNER OF A NEWER VEHICLE. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. WE ALSO BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SUMMER WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH OUR CHILDREN IT SUDDENLY SHOOK AND SHUTTERED AND THEN QUIT RUNNING ALMOST CAUSING THEM TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY AND DANGEROUS EXPRESSWAY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THE VERDICT WAS THE SAME THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF MORE THAN 5,000.00. THIS ABOUT MADE ME SICK AS WE STILL OWNED OVER 4500 ON THE CAR TO THE BANK. I HAD NOT CHOICE BUT TO PAY THE REPAIRED BILL AND HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I WAS FORCED TO RE-MORTGAGE MY HOUSE TO PAY THIS EXPENSE. AT THE TIME OF THE BREAKDOWN THE VEHICLE HAD JUST LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THE PROBLEM FROM THE ENGINE WAS CAUSED BY SLUDGE. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD JUST RECEIVED A MECHANIC BULLETIN THAT THESE CARS NEED TO HAVE THERE OIL CHANGED EVERY 1000 MILES. THIS INFORMATION ABOUT MADE ME SICK. I WAS RELIGIOUS IN CHANGING THE OIL AND MAINTAIN THIS VEHICLE IT WAS MY PRIZED POSITION. I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU PLEASE OPEN A CASE FILE AND LOOK INTO HELPING COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS HUGE EXPENSE THAT APPEARS TO A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. *NM