NHTSA Complaint #10157119 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

THE DAY AFTER I GOT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID, I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND MY CAR SEIZED UP AND DIED. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I PUT IT IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I WAS ON A HILL AND FORTUNATELY, WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST SO I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT IN NEUTRAL TO A CURB. WHAT A FEELING, A SUDDEN JOLT, LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. I CERTAINLY DID NOT EXPECT THE NEWS THAT WAS TO FOLLOW. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THE COST WOULD BE ABOUT $5500.00. HOW COULD THAT BE? THERE IS ONLY 48,700 MILES ON THIS CAR AND I HAVE IT SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES. I CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE IN THIS CAR AND STILL HAVE A LOAN ON IF FOR OVER $4000.00. I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE COMPANY HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THERE IS EVEN A CLAUSE THAT STATES THAT EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS ENGINE. FURTHERMORE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF ANY CAR WITH THIS ENGINE HAS GONE DRASTICALLY DOWN. WE, THE CONSUMERS, ARE BEING SHAFTED BY DODGE. I LOVED THIS CAR AND EXPECTED TO OWN IT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. NOW IT HAS BECOME MY BIGGEST NIGHTMARE. ANY. *JB