NHTSA Complaint #10154299 — 1996 DODGE INTREPID

ON 3/16/06 THE ENGINE IN MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID CAUGHT ON FIRE OUT OF THE BLUE. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 60,000-70,000 MILES ON IT. AN INVESTIGATOR FOR CHRYSLER CORP. LOOKED AT THE CAR AND FILED A REPORT WITH CHRYSLER CORP. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1998 HAVING TO DO WITH FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL OR O-RINGS WHICH I WAS NEVER AWARE OF. CHRYSLER DENIED MY CLAIM AND STATED THAT THEY HAD SENT ME A NOTICE IN FEB. 1999 AT MY CURRENT RESIDENCE, ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT EVEN CLOSE ON MY HOUSE UNTIL MAY 1999. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE, AND THIS FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A FUEL LEAKAGE. WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION DEPT. AND EXPLAINED THAT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL ETC. I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE CHRYSLER MAKES A DECISION TO DENY A CLAIM THERE CAN NO REBUTTAL, AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT A LAWYER IF I WANTED TO GO ANY FURTHER IN RESOLVING THIS. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WOULD COST A LOT TO GET A LAWYER SO I AM STUCK PAYING THE COSTS TO REPAIR THE ENGINE WHICH WAS A RESULT OF A DEFECT CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *NM