NHTSA Complaint #10143729 — 2001 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

I AM THE UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF A 2001 CHRYSLER CONCORDE WITH A BURNED OUT 2.7 LITER ENGINE, THE SAME ONE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING ON THIS WEB SITE. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE MORNING OF 7/25/05 ON THE NORTHBOUND I90 EXPRESSWAY ON GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. TRAVELING AT APPROX. 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATED AN ENGINE OVERHEATING CONDITION AND BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE GOOD DRIVING SKILLS AS THIS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE SHUT DOWN ALL POWER ACCESSORIES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES AT THIS POINT AND WAS FORTUNATE TO BE AT THE WHITEHAVEN RD. EXIT. WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST ONTO THE EXIT RAMP AND PARKED THE CONCORDE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART PRODUCED A GRATING METAL ON METAL SOUND AND I NEW THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. THE SAME DAY I CALLED AROUND FOR THE BEST PRICE ON THE COST OF AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND DECIDED MY BEST OPTION WAS NOT TO GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AS THEY DO NOT HONOR ANY WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS ENGINE AND OPTED TO HAVE AAA DELIVER THE CAR TO MY LOCAL GARAGE FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. IT IS NOW 11/27/2005 AND I AM UNABLE TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND STILL PAYING INSURANCE AND LOAN PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE(I STILL OWE $4.5K). MY ENGINE FAILED AT 95K MILES AND I AM TOLD THAT THIS ONE OF THE BETTER 2.7 LITER ENGINES, NONETHELESS I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A DEAD HORSE. *JB