NHTSA Complaint #10157852 — 2003 DODGE INTREPID

THE OIL LIGHT IN MY WIFE'S CAR WOULD COME ON AT AN IDLE. THE CAR HAD ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. FOUND VERY LOW OIL PRESSURE ( UNDER 5 PSI ). REMOVED ROD AND MAIN BEARINGS. THE BEARINGS LOOKED LIKE NEW. USED PLASTIC GAUGE TO MEASURE BEARING CLEARANCE. FOUND THE CLEARANCE TO BE .003". THE SPEC IS .0015" TO .002". I FOUND THAT DODGE MAKES A .001" UNDERSIZE BEARING FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE CRANK SHAFTS WERE UNDERSIZE FROM THE FACTORY. WITH ONLY .001" OF "WEAR" THE ENGINE COULD NOT MAINTAIN OIL PRESSURE. WHEN I ORDERED THE UNDERSIZE BEARINGS I GOT ANOTHER SURPRISE. IN ALL THE ENGINES I HAVE REBUILT THE BEARING KITS RUN ABOUT $50. DODGE IS CHARGING $40 EACH FOR THE MAIN BEARINGS AND $64 EACH FOR THE ROD BEARINGS. THE TOTAL BILL FOR ROD AND MAIN BEARINGS CAME TO $500. COULD THERE BE A LITTLE PRICE GOUGING GOING ON TO FINANCE THE LEGAL BATTLE WITH THESE ENGINES. *NM