NHTSA Complaint #10147617 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

8/13/02-WE TOOK OUR 2001 DODGE INTREPID 2.7L IN TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. THE HEADLAMPS WERE CHANGE BECAUSE OF FOGGING LENS COVERS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WHINING SO THAT WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD 31,207 MILES. 1/14/03-WITH 36,354 MILES ON IT WE HAD THE REAR GLASS REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING. NO COST FOR THIS. ALSO HAD THEM CHECK A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. 12/16/03-47,658 MILES. ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR A PROBLEM IN THE EVAP SYSTEM. DEALER FIXED IT FOR $248.69. WE HAD THEM CHECK FOR THE FRONT END KNOCK BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER LOOKED AT. I DID NOT ASK THEM TO CHECK THAT AT ALL SINCE EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AT THE TIME. LOOKING BACK I CAN SEE THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PREVENT SOMETHING THEY KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE! 06/07/04-54,932 MILES. THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. HAD THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR $70.51. THEY SAID THE CONDENSER WAS LEAKING. I REPAIRED IT MYSELF FOR ABOUT $200.00. 01/05/06-74,600 MILES. VEHICLE STARTED KNOCKING LOUDER AND LOUDER WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE MY OTHER CAR. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO START THE INTREPID BUT IT WOULD NOT FIRE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. FIX WOULD COST AROUND $1,500. OIL CHANGES WERE MADE EVERY 3000-5000 MILES AND SLUDGED WITH A OIL FLUSH BECAUSE OIL WOULD EVAPORATE. *JB