NHTSA Complaint #10152049 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

1999 DODGE INTREPID (C. 52.218) ORIGINAL MILES. DRIVING HOME FROM LOCAL MALL, ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO TRAVEL, ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A TAPPING NOISE. ARRIVED HOME ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER AND SHUT CAR OFF. CONTACTED A FRIEND WHO IS RETIRED MECHANIC. HE TRIED TO START ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS, HE SAID THE ENGINE HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF COMPRESSION. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AN ENGINE SPECIALIST WHO CHECKED ENGINE THOROUGHLY. HE SAID THAT DUE TO LACK OF OIL PRESSURE, THE CAM WAS NOT RECEIVING SUFFICIENT OIL TO LUBRICATE THE TIMING CHAIN THUS CAUSING IT TO BREAK AND COMPLETELY RUIN THE VALVES AND HEADS IN THE ENGINE. COST TO REPAIR WOULD EITHER BE A COMPLETE TEAR DOWN AND MACHINING OF THE INTERNAL PARTS, $3,400.00 OR PUTTING IN A 2002 2.7 LITER INTREPID ENGINE AT A COST OF $4,500.00 PARTS AND LABOR INCLUDED. SINCE I STILL OWE $3,300.00 ON THIS VEHICLE I COULD NOT AFFORD EITHER OF THESE OPTIONS. *NM