NHTSA Complaint #10182501 — 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE - 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY WENT OFF BUT THEN CAME BACK ON AGAIN OVER AND OVER AND OVER. I WAS WITHIN 300 MILES OF NEEDING MY SECOND OIL CHANGE. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THINKING IT MAY BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. WHEN YOU SEE THREE MECHANICS LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND HOLDING THEIR HANDS UP WITH LOOKS OF DISMAY ON THEIR FACES......THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THERE WAS 1/8TH OF AN INCH OF "END PLAY" IN THE ENGINE AND THE REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW. THE CAR HAD TO HAVE A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MORE THAN 70% OF THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. THE CAR WAS COVERED WITH OIL TOP TO BOTTOM ON THE OUTSIDE (PAINT AND CONVERTIBLE TOP) FOR WEEKS WHILE THIS ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS AND THE DEALERSHIP PICKED IT UP ON ROLLBACK AND AFTER ANALYSIS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *NM