NHTSA Complaint #10186641 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

1) I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE INTREPID...WHAT OTHER EVENTS DO YOU NEED? I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE 2.7L ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR ENGINE FAILURE. I HAD CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3M MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A TICKING NOISE IF THE OIL WAS LOW. I WOULDN'T WAIT 3M MILES BECAUSE I WAS CHANGING THE OIL EVERY TIME IT STARTED TO TICK. NEVER ONCE DID MY OIL LIGHT COME ON. 2) THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A TICKING NOISE AND I DROVE IT TO WORK. I DROVE BACK FROM WORK AND WAS DRIVING 20 - 30 MPH HOME AND THE OIL LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE CAR DIED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND WAS -4 QUARTS LOW OF OIL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO LEAK AND NO SPOTS IN MY PARKING AREA TO TELL ME THAT I WAS LOSING OIL. SINCE THE FAILURE, I HAVE IT IN STORAGE AT A FRIEND'S PARKING SPOT AND AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE .I HAVE TWO YEARS OF PAYMENTS TO GO UNTIL I CAN FINALLY "OFFICIALLY" JUNK IT. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I AM PAYING 6,000 DOLLARS ON A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK. 3) I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $4,000 TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE AND HAVE NOT DONE SO AND WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A USED HONDA FOR THAT AMOUNT WITH MORE MILES THAT WILL RUN LONGER. ALL PARTS ARE IN TACT ON THE VEHICLE JUST AS I PURCHASED IT. *JB