NHTSA Complaint #10196856 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

I WAS DRIVING MY 99 DODGE INTREPID TO WORK AND I WAS MAKING IN THE LEFT TURN LANE AS THE TRAFFIC CLEARED I BEGAN TO MAKE MY LEFT TURN. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR THE ENGINE MAKE A TERRIBLE SOUND AND THE CAR STOPPED. I SHIFTED IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO RESTART TO NO AVAIL. AT THAT POINT I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND PUSH IT OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. A COUPLE OF GUYS HELPED ME PUSH IT INTO A 7-11 WHERE I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE. I ONLY PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 DAYS PRIOR WITH THE INSURANCE MONEY FROM WHEN MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. (WE WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A AN UNCONSCIOUS DRIVER TRAVELING OVER 100 MPH. CAUSING OUR AEROSTAR TO ROLL AND FLIP WITH 5 OF US IN THE CAR INCLUDING OUR 18 MONTH OLD) I GOT QUOTES ON A NEW ENGINE AND REALIZED THAT I AM NOT IN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION TO FIX IT. SO IT'S BEEN SITTING IN MY GARAGE UNTIL I FOUND AN ARTICLE ON AOL WHICH LED ME TO THIS SITE. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER THAT I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STANDARD CHRYSLER MOTOR AND THAT THEY MADE THE OIL RETURN LARGER TO ELIMINATE THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A CAR ENGINE THAT DIES WHILE DRIVING IS ALLOWED TO GO UNRESOLVED. I COULD'VE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED SITTING IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY BUT SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM (I DIDN'T KNOW PRIOR TO BUYING THE CAR OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T HAVE RISKED MY LIFE DRIVING IT).*JB