NHTSA Complaint #10146022 — 2003 DODGE INTREPID

MY 2003 INTREPID HAD 43000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN JUNE OF 2005. IT HAS THE 2.7 LITER V-6 ENGINE. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE SINCE THEN, ONCE AT 43000 AND 45000. THERE WAS NO HINT OF TROUBLE FROM THE ENGINE AND I CHECKED THE OIL REGULARLY. I ALSO CAN'T VOUCH FOR WHAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE EITHER. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE IN FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN ON A BUSINESS MEETING. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. IT ALSO FLICKERED WHILE DRIVING HOME TO LANSING, A SEVENTY MILE TRIP. IT ALSO DID THE SAME THING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK TO NEXT DAY AND THERE WAS STILL NO USUAL SIGNS OF FAILURE SUCH AS CLICKING, ETC. NOT WANTING TO TAKE CHANCES I TOOK THE CAR WHERE I BOUGHT IT, I ALSO PURCHASED A WARRANTY WITH IT; THAT FRIDAY MORNING. THEY REPLACED AND OIL SENDER AND CHECKED THE ENGINE. THE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY STAYED ON AND THEY CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SLUDGE AND IT WOULD IN FACT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER, SUNDANCE CHEVROLET HAS BEEN VERY CORDIAL THUS FAR. I'M HOPING THERE'S A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR THIS FIX RATHER THAN SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON AN ENGINE THAT MIGHT FAIL AGAIN. THE CAR HAS 47700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *JB