NHTSA Complaint #10195691 — 2004 DODGE INTREPID

I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF AN EVENT THAT HAS AFFECTED ME AND MAY BE A CONCERN TO OTHERS. IN 2004, I PURCHASES A 2004 DODGE INTREPID FROM THE NOW DEFUNCT TONY PESCE CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE , PREDECESSOR TO ALSO DEFUNCT LABATE CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, LOCATED ON NORTH MARKET STREET IN EAST PALESTINE,OH. THE VEHICLE HAD NORMAL PREVENTABLE CHECKS DONE, AND HAD UNDERGONE ALL APPLICABLE RECALL SERVICE. AT ONE POINT, THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED FOR AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THERE WAS A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN ON THE CAR AND THE RESULT WAS THAT EVERYTHING WAS A OKAY. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, I HAD BEEN INFORMED I WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I AM STUCK TO PAY FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAS YET TO REACH ITS PAYOFF. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO WHO HOPED TO BETTER SERVE MY FAMILY BY PURCHASING A "DEPENDABLE" VEHICLE AND AM NOW FACED WITH A TERRIBLE LOSS DILEMMA. I AM VERY DISCOURAGED AND FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION, AND "AUTHORIZED SERVICE TECHNICIANS." I ALWAYS RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO MY ORIGINAL SELLER (OR CERTIFIED DODGE DEALER) WHEN A PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AND I AM MORE HURT THAN ANYTHING AS TO HOW NO ONE COULD SEE THIS PROBLEM COMING (ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ABOVE STATED). I HAVE NEVER BEEN A MECHANIC OR SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT VEHICLES WHICH IS WHY WHENEVER I FELT THE SLIGHTEST PROBLEM I WOULD SEEK HELP FROM A DEALER. I HAD THE NATURAL THOUGHT OF LETTING A TECHNICIAN TELL ME WHAT I DID OR DID NOT NEED. I FEEL AS IF I HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN WITH A ONCE REPUTABLE DEALERSHIP CLOSING ITS DOORS. LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF MY VEHICLE WILL TAKE MY LITTLE GIRLS TO SCHOOL OR GET ME TO WORK AND BACK I SIMPLY HAVE NO ROOM TO BREATHE. THE THOUGHT OF PUTTING $7,000 INTO A $30,000 VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN HALF WAY PAID OFF IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I AM UNABLE TO TRADE WITHOUT OWING OR RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE FROM CRYSLER.*AK