NHTSA Complaint #10162816 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE INTREPID IN 2001. THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT ON US TWICE, THE FIRST TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT AND IT WAS SHAKING AND RATTLING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY, WITHOUT INFORMING US OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE 2.7 LITER ENGINES. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR LOST COMPRESSION, I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND THEN COULDN'T START THE CAR BACK UP AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME WE NEEDED TO GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST US ABOUT $7,000 DOLLARS, OR THEY COULD TRY TO FIX THE TIMING CHAIN AGAIN FOR AROUND $1,000 DOLLARS, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE IT WOULD START. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM THEY TOLD US THEY COULDN'T HELP US SINCE IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. THEY SAID WE COULD TRY TO CONTACT CHRYSLER, BUT THEY PROBABLY WOULD NOT HELP US. SO NOW WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR THAT WE CAN'T USE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET FIXED. WE ARE A YOUNG FAMILY WITH A 2 YEAR OLD AND 3 MONTH OLD, AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *NM