NHTSA Complaint #10187240 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING

I PURCHASED THE 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LX SEDAN IN OCTOBER 2003 USED WITH 43,000 MILES. I HAD RECEIVED FREE OIL CHANGES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS. I DID NOT RECEIVE ALL OF THE OIL CHANGES FOR THE TWO YEARS, BUT OIL WAS CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN OCTOBER 2005 I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FOR THE WEEKEND WHEN I NOTICED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE ,AND AS SOON AS I STOPPED, THE ENGINE DIED. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. I DROVE TO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL, NO OIL. I PLACED TWO QUARTS OF OIL IN THE ENGINE AND DROVE HOME. OVER THE LAST 1 1/2 YEARS I HAD FOUR MECHANICS, INCLUDING CHRYSLER MECHANICS, TELL ME THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN PAYING ON THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER THREE YEARS, AND ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, I STILL OWE $5500.00 ON THE VEHICLE, AND AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE. IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN TO A PERSON IN THE RIGHT SITUATIONS IT COULD BE DEVASTATING, AND LIVES COULD BE LOST. CHRYSLER STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR VEHICLES, BUT THEY WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL RETURN HEATING UP THE OIL TOO FAST AND CAUSING THE OIL TO SLUDGE. TOYOTA, AUDI, VOLKSWAGEN HAVE ALL HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT THEY H OWNED UP TO THEM. THESE COMPLAINTS WERE BECOMING MORE NUMEROUS, AND WERE STARTING TO COME IN MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, HOW LONG WILL THIS GO ON BEFORE SOMEBODY WAS ACTUALLY INJURED? I AM PERSONALLY OUT OF A LOT OF MONEY, AND WILL BE OUT OF THIS MONEY FOR AT LEAST 2 MORE YEARS, UNLESS I RUN INTO A WINNING LOTTERY TICKET TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. EVERY BODY WAS MAKING MONEY OFF OF THESE ENGINES, EXCEPT THE CONSUMER. I KNOW IT SOUNDS BAD, BUT I HOPE SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE WILL GIVE THEIR LIFE TO GIVE YOU THE HINT THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THESE 2.7 LITER V6 ENGINES IN THE SEBRINGS. *AK