NHTSA Complaint #10148988 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I LIVE IN HAMILTON OHIO. I AM THE OWNER OF THE 2001, DODGE INTREPID. ON JANUARY 28, 2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A RURAL ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE OF THE CAR STARTED TO TICK AS SHE WAS SLOWING TO GO AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD. SHE LOOKED AT THE GAUGES TO FIND NOTHING REAL ABNORMAL. WHEN SHE GOT ALMOST AROUND THE BEND AND TRIED TO SPEED UP A LITTLE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE WHEELS ENDED UP LOCKING BEFORE FINISHING THE CURVE, AND SHE SLID OFF THE ROAD. MY WIFE HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN A DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD AND WALK QUITE A DISTANCE TO GET TO A PHONE TO CALL ME. WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND ONE OR ALL COULD HAVE BEEN WITH HER AT THE TIME. IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE STOPPED SOONER SHE COULD HAVE GOTTEN REALLY HURT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP IN FAIRFIELD, OHIO, AND THEY HAVE SINCE INFORMED ME THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TALKING VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, HE INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEMS OF THIS ENGINE. THIS ENGINE DID HAVE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN IT. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO GET ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE ENGINE FLUSHED TO GET THE SLUDGE OUT, COSTING MORE MONEY. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEATING SYSTEM. BUT, I ASSOCIATED THAT WITH SOME SORT OF HEATING ELEMENT NOT WORKING. IT WOULD WORK FINE MOVING DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WHEN I WOULD STOP AT A SIGN OR A LIGHT IT WOULD GET COLD. I HAD ALL THE SIGNS I HAVE DISCOVERED FROM YOUR WEB SITE AFTER THE ENGINE WENT OUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP OR INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR