NHTSA Complaint #10155103 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WITHIN ONE BLOCK FROM HER OFFICE, SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IDLING ROUGH. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE 6 MILE TRIP IN SHE COULD NOT GET ANY HEAT TO COME OUT OF THE HEATER. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TO GO SHE MADE THE TURN AND WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION WHEN SHE LOST POWER AND THE CAR DIED. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR LOST STEERING AND SHE COASTED IT OFF OF THE ROAD 1/2 BLOCK FROM HER OFFICE. SHE STATED THAT THE ONLY WARNING SHE HAD WAS IT WAS IDLING ROUGH. SHE STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL. I ARRIVED ON SCENE AND DISCOVERED ANTI-FREEZE IN THE OIL. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER IN TOWN AND WAS LATER TOLD THAT A HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE TO EITHER HEAD OR BLOCK. WE HAVE BEEN QUOTED ANY WHERE FROM 2000 TO 7600 TO FIX. WE HAVE 15 MONTHS LEFT ON THE LOAN AND THE CAR HAS 67,000 MILES. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT MY WIFE HAD THE SAME MYSTERIOUS HEATER PROBLEMS HAS OTHER INTREPID OWNERS. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OIL CAP DOES SHOW SIGNS OF POSSIBLE SLUDGE. WE HAVE SERVICED THE VEHICLE EACH AND EVERY TIME IT WAS NEEDED AND HAD JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED ONE. THE SCARY PART OF ALL OF THIS IS THE FACT THAT SHE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. *JB