NHTSA Complaint #10163964 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

BOUGHT 3 YEARS AGO USED, IT HAD EMISSIONS ISSUES WITH THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. AT ABOUT 74,000 MILES THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. ENGINE DESIGN DOES NOT ALLOW FOR IT TO COOL ITSELF PROPERLY WHILE RUNNING AND RESULTS IN THE OIL BURNING WITHIN BEFORE THE ENGINE CAN CIRCULATE IT WHICH FINALLY RESULTS IN THE "SLUDGE" THAT SO MANY OWNERS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AND ONLY PERSEVERANT THE HIGH HEAT ISSUE AS LESS OIL IS CIRCULATED TO COOL THE ENGINE. MY ENGINE'S BLOCK CRACKED PROVIDING EVIDENCE OF THE ENGINE GETTING TOO HOT WITH NO GAUGE WARNING OF OVERHEATING BECAUSE IT IS "OVERHEATING" WITHIN THE SYSTEM BEFORE IT GETS TO THE SENSOR ETC, THEREFORE IT IS NOT A POOR MAINTENANCE ISSUE BUT POOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING. WITH A "REBUILT" ENGINE IT SHAKES, HESITATES AND EMITS SMOKE WITH CLEAN OIL AND FILTER AND NO EVIDENCE OF SLUDGE WITHIN!! NOW AT UNDER 96000 ORIGINAL MILES AND 22000 REBUILT ENGINE THE A/C COIL HAS BUSTED UNDER THE HIGH PRESSURE CAUSED BY THE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE. THE A/C PRESSURE VARIES WITH ENGINE PRESSURE WHICH VARIES WITH ENGINE HEAT (STILL NO OVERHEATING WARNING ON THE GAUGES). IT IS ONLY ADDRESSED NOW THAT IT IS SUMMER AND TOO HOT TO DRIVE WITHOUT A/C. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN IT WILL COST AROUND $850 TO REPLACE A $80-120 PART BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH/FIREWALL MUST COME OUT ALONG WITH MANY OTHER COMPONENTS TO GET TO IT (AND THEN THOSE REINSTALLED AFTERWARD). THE BATTERY WAS SUCKED OF POWER AROUND THIS TIME AND THE MOTORS CONTROLLING THE WINDOWS & MIRRORS HAVE BROKEN. THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM HAS GONE AS WELL. *JB