NHTSA Complaint #10183693 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7 ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER EVER SINCE. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND THERE ARE ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING FINE, TIL ONE DAY ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A TERRIBLE TAPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AND AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC INSPECT IT, HE SAID THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REBUILT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE LET GO AND THAT ALL THE GUIDES, GASKETS, TIMING CHAIN, GEARS, AND CRANKSHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A NEW ENGINE OR A REBUILT ONE WOULD NEED TO BE DONE ON A CAR OF THIS AGE AND SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I'VE HAD A CONCERN WITH THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON PERIODICALLY, BUT EVERYTIME WE'VE HAD IT CHECKED, THE OIL WAS FULL AND NO PROBLEM FOUND, THOUGHT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL CONCERN. NOW, I FIND OUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH THAT THIS YEAR VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT CAUSED SLUDGE TO BUILD UP AND CAUSE THIS LIGHT TO GO ON AND CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. SHAME ON CHRYSLER FOR MAKING THIS ENGINE. I THINK SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER SHOULD CONTACT ME AND ASSIST WITH THIS REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN BUYING CHRYSLER FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD A NEON, JEEP CHEROKEE, AND CURRENTLY A GRAND MINIVAN. MY FATHER IN LAW IS A PROUD RETIRED CHRYSLER AUTOMAKER. IF CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES, THEN I SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME CONSIDERATION. I HAVE ALWAYS INTENDED TO BUY CHRYSLER PRODUCTS, BUT AFTER THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER BUY ONE AGAIN, AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW OF THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *NM