NHTSA Complaint #10155227 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

THE CAR WAS DRIVING GOOD. I NOTICED A LITTLE JERKING BUT WAS NOT TOO WORRIED AS I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGED RECENTLY. WHEN LEAVING FROM MY WORK FOR LUNCH, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND STALL BADLY. I TURNED AROUND AND PARKED THE CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO AAMCO THINKING IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY PERFORMED TESTS AND THE REPORT SAID CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. I STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOOK OFF THE OIL PAN AND DISCOVERED SCRAPS OF METAL IN MY OIL. HE STATED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE. I DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MORE WEEKS AND DECIDED TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE INSTEAD OF TAKING MY CHANCES WITH THIS ONE SINCE THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN $5000. WHILE GETTING MY OTHER VEHICLE SERVICED, I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE INTREPID. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AT ABOUT 55MPH, THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. LUCKILY I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY AND PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. IF I HAD BEEN GOING SLOWER, IT WOULD HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. SINCE I STILL OWE FOR THE CAR ($8000), IT WAS HARD TO TRADE SO I KEPT IT AND NOW HAVE TWO CAR PAYMENTS. AFTER COUNCEL, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FILE FOR CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY IN ORDER TO COUNTERACT MY LIVING EXPENSES WITH THE TWO CAR PAYMENTS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR CHILDREN, WORK FULL TIME, AND PRESENTLY IN MY LAST YEAR OF COLLEGE FOR MY BACHELORS DEGREEE. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT FIND GOOD TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THE INTREPID AND GO WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR 2 MONTHS WHILE I PAID IT OFF. FOR REPAIRS, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO UPGRADE THE ENGINE TO A 3.5L AND USE A CONVERSION KIT FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO COMPLETE THE JOB. THE 2.7L ARE NOT GOOD ENGINES AND THEY STATED THAT IF THAT ONE FAILED, ANOTHER MOST LIKELY WOULD DO THE SAME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING WAS THAT THE 3.5L IS ACTUALLY 1/3 CHEAPER THAN THE 2.7L! THAT IS BECAUSE THE 2.7L ARE HARD TO FIND BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS GOING OUT! *NM