NHTSA Complaint #10176729 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

WHILE TURNING INTO MY SUBDIVISION MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID, 2.7L, V-6, 83,000 MILES, DIED AND I LOST ALL POWER FOR STEERING AND BRAKING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE A CRACKED PLENTIUM, BUT AFTER REPLACEMENT ($1,000), THE CAR DID NOT START AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN ENGINE SPECIALTY SHOP FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. THIS SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS WATER AND/OR OIL LOCKED AND THAT INDEED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY RESEARCHED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT WOULDN'T EVEN SALE THE 2.7L, V-6 DUE THE GREAT NUMBER OF ENGINE FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY, JASPER ENGINES (A LEADING MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTOR OF ENGINES) STATED THAT THESE ENGINES HAVE A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE AND SUGGESTED UPGRADING TO THE 3.2L ($4,500 ENGINE + $1,000 FOR THE UPGRADE PARTS AND PIECES NEEDED BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT ENGINE = $5,500). THEY EVEN SUGGESTED I GO ON THIS SITE TO SEE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT I READ THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD OWN UP TO AND MAKE THE APPROPRIATE FIXES. I FOR ONE HAVE OWNED A NUMBER OF DODGES AND ALL HAVE HAD SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, SPECIFICALLY, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY LUCK WITH CHRYSLER GIVING THEM RELIEF OR A DEALER STEPPING UP? *NM