NHTSA Complaint #10198671 — 2003 DODGE INTREPID

JULY 31 2007 TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY (75) IN TULSA OKLA THE MOTOR IN OUR 2003 DODGE INTREPID, A 2.7 V 6 SHUT DOWN. NO INDICATIONS OF ANY KIND OF PROBLEM. (NO LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT, NO HIGH TEMP., NO NOISE INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE MOTOR JUST DIED AND MY WIFE HAD TROUBLE EVEN GETTING IT OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER,(EAST TULSA DODGE WHERE THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND TOLD ME THE MOTOR WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 83,941 MILES ON IT. I CALLED THE FACTORY REP AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES SAYING WE DID NOT MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE TO THEIR SPECIFICATIONS. THE OIL IN THE CAR IS LESS THAN 40 DAYS OLD AND ANY SLUDGE THAT THE OLD OIL HAD IN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED AS THIS OIL WAS REMOVED FROM THE OIL PAN. IT IS NOT NORMAL MAINTENANCE TO HAVE TO REMOVE THE OIL PAN AND WIPE OUT THE SLUDGE BUILD-UP OR REMOVE THE COVER ON THE TOP OF THE MOTOR TO WIPE OUT THE SLUDGE BUILD-UP. THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED FROM POOR DESIGN OF THE OIL PUMP AND THE OIL PICK UP TUBES BEING TO SMALL FOR THE JOB REQUIRED TO KEEP ENOUGH OIL FLOWING THROUGH THE MOTOR TO PROTECT ENGINE PARTS FROM THIS KIND OF DAMAGE. *JB