NHTSA Complaint #10186225 — 2002 DODGE INTREPID

PURCHASED THE 2002 DODGE INTREPID 2/11/06. IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR THE ENGINE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. NOT TO REBUILD. SALVAGED ENGINE WASN'T AN OPTION, WOULD ONLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE CORE OF THE ENGINE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE TWO MECHANICS EXPECTED PAYMENT. I EXPLORED THE WEB & THE CHEAPEST REBUILD ENGINE I COULD FIND WAS $2,499 + CORE CHARGE, THAT I WON'T GET BACK WITH A SHOT CORE. THE MECHANIC WILL HAVE TO BE PAID OF COURSE, TO REINSTALL THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE. OH, AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE LOAN BALANCE STILL REQUIRED FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CAR THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN. FORTUNATELY. I AM ABLE TO BORROW FROM MY 401K TO GET THE CAR DRIVABLE AGAIN OR MY DAUGHTER WOULD BE OUT OF LUCK. HOWEVER, THE MOST DISCOURAGING THOUGHT WAS HOW LONG WILL THE REBUILD ENGINE LAST? THANK GOD IT CAME WITH A 3 YEAR UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE, WHEN PURCHASED USED HAD 82,357 ON IT, AND MY DAUGHTER ONLY GOT ABOUT 10,000 MILES OF USE BEFORE IT DIED. THAT WAS TERRIBLE.*AK