NHTSA Complaint #10197194 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

OUR VEHICLE IS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID WHICH WILL NEED THE ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO "OIL SLUDGE" BUILD-UP IN THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS ENGINE WITH ANOTHER USED ENGINE (WHICH MAY DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM) HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $4,000 AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER. TO REPLACE THIS WITH A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $1000-$1500. THE DEALER INDICATES HE MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE, BUT HAVE NO CHOICE AND THE COST WILL TOTALLY DEPLETE OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 76,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE LEARNED FROM SOME INVESTIGATION THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER DIRECTLY AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR "SINCERE APOLOGY", BUT NOTE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AS WELL AS OTHER WEBSITES. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES ON MANY CHRYSLER VEHICLES (INTREPID, SEBRING, ETC.). CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF A DESIGN FLAW. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS AND CANNOT EVEN AFFORD TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE! SOME HAVE HAD THEIR VEHICLES STOP ON THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM (VIA AN ENGINE "NOISE") BEFORE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS OCCURRED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A VEHICLE WITH THIS ENGINE AND IT INVOLVES 1999-2003 VEHICLES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD AND DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR