NHTSA Complaint #10198690 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

I PURCHASED A 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED EDITION ONE YEAR AGO. I MAINTAINED THE CAR, CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY, AND PUT 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE IT THREW A ROD. I HAD CHANGED THE OIL 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THE CAR HAS UNDER 100,000 MILES TOTAL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $8000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THEY WILL ONLY GIVE ME $1000 ON A TRADE, LEAVING ME IN TOO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUITY (-$6400) TO AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. THEY ARE UNYIELDING IN EVERY ASPECT AND REFUSE TO HELP ME GET INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TO REPAIR WHAT IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH RESEARCH TO LEARN THESE ENGINES ARE JUNK. NOW I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AND STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. THEY ARE FORCING ME INTO A REPO SITUATION, WHICH WILL ABSOLUTELY RUIN MY CREDIT. NOT TO MENTION, I CANNOT GET INTO ANOTHER CAR WITH THAT ONE STILL IN FINANCING. SINCE I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ANOTHER SHOP, THEY BLAMED THE SHOP AND SAID THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG. FUNNY, THE SAME SHOP AND SAME GUY HAS BEEN CHANGING MY OIL FOR 20 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE. I WAS ALMOST HIT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I COULD NOT SAFELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! AND STILL, I HAVE NO VEHICLE. *JB