NHTSA Complaint #10184497 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

WIFE WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DIAL WENT TO HOT AND CHIMED. WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES OF THE CHIME NOTIFYING MY WIFE OF A PROBLEM, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE ROLLED PARTIALLY ONTO A NEARBY DRIVEWAY AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY WIFE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DOWN THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE, TO A NEARBY HOTEL PARKING LOT TO AWAIT A TOW HOME. THE OWNER OF THE HOME REFUSED TO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO MY WIFE. IN THE PROCESS, MY WIFE RE-INJURED HER LOWER BACK BY PUSHING THE CAR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HOPPING INTO THE VEHICLE TO NAVIGATE/STEER/BRAKE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. SHE WAS CURRENTLY UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE AND BEING TREATED FOR THIS LUMBAR INJURY. THE INTREPID WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE SEIZING. THE MECHANIC ELABORATED IN SHARING HOW THERE WAS NO WAY FOR MY WIFE TO KNOW AT ANY POINT THAT THERE WAS A UNDERLINING PROBLEM WITH THE FAILING WATER PUMP AND THAT IT WAS TYPICAL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE $6,000 TO REBUILD THE ENGINE AND THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AGAIN LATER IF WE OPTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE IT REBUILD. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO SELL TO A JUNK YARD OR DONATE TO CHARITY. IT'S A 2001 DODGE INTREPID SE. IT SITS IN OUR DRIVEWAY. *JB