NHTSA Complaint #10179062 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID OUR OF THE DEALERS REPAIR BAY WHERE THEY REPLACED 6 PARTS ON THE CAR THAT WERE WORKING BEFORE DISCOVERING THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN. WE TESTED ALL OF THE PARTS LATER AND THEY WORKED. THIS COST 1,400 DOLLARS. 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS IN MY CAR ON I-75 IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA WHEN I SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD TO FORCE THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER PAYING A 200 DOLLAR TOWING BILL I FOUND OUT THE ACCUMULATION OF OIL SLUDGE IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN ON A TRAILER IN MURRAY COUNTY GEORGIA FOR 8 MONTHS AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AFTER CONTACTING DODGE THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. THEY BLAMED IT ON ME SAYING I DIDN'T CHANGE THE OIL ENOUGH THIS CANNOT BE TRUE BECAUSE WE HAVE RELIGIOUSLY CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME FAILURES. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED INTO REPAIRING THESE PROBLEMS. SO HERE I SIT THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST KILLED MY BUSINESS BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR THAT IS NICE ENOUGH TO TAKE CLIENTS AROUND IN SO I HAVE TO DRIVE A PIECE OF JUNK. YOU WOULD THINK THAT THESE COMPANIES WOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS BUT ONCE AGAIN DAIMLER/CHRYSLER PROVES THAT THEY DON'T GIVE A DARN ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM PROFITABLE. UNLESS THIS IS RESOLVED I WILL NEVER HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A DODGE, CHRYSLER, OR MERCEDES EVER AGAIN AND I SWEAR I WILL TELL EVERY PERSON I COME IN CONTACT WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS I MAY EVEN START A NEGATIVE AD CAMPAIGN AGAINST DODGE. I WILL TAKE THIS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH BEFORE I LET ANYONE I KNOW RUN THE RISK OF LOSING THEIR LIVES DUE THE INCOMPETENCY OF THESE MONEY HUNGRY SHARKS. *NM