NHTSA Complaint #10198871 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

WE PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE INTREPID FOR OUR SON ON MAY 21,2007 FROM A REPUTABLE GOSSETT DEALERSHIP IN MEMPHIS TN. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY HAD NO LIABILITY FOR THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE. THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE FAILED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE ON 07/12/2007. THERE WAS NO WARNING! THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED THE DAY OF PURCHASE AND NO LIGHTS OR SENSORS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OF ANY KIND. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHTS FLASHED ONLY AT THE TIME THAT THE VEHICLE QUIT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE WAS GONE AND THAT THE OIL WAS LIKE SLUDGE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS FOR A JASPER ENGINE $5926.04 AND FOR A USED 2.7L ENGINE $3992.30. I CALLED A RELATIVE WHO WORKS FOR THE US CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION. WE BOTH WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THROUGH CONTACTS AT UCPSC AND NHTSA DISCOVERED INFORMATION REGARDING DEFECTS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE AND PROBLEMS THAT CONSUMERS WERE HAVING WITH GETTING ISSUES RESOLVED. THERE ARE EVEN FORUMS DEDICATED TO ENGINE FAILURES FOR 1999 - 2001 DODGE INTREPIDS WITH THE 2.7L ENGINE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING EVEN IF THE ENGINE IS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER 2.7L WE WILL BE DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE OF ENGINE FAILURE AS THE PRODUCT IS FAULTY. IT IS ALSO OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE JASPER ENGINE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CORRECTED VERSION OF THE 2.7L ENGINE FOR THIS VEHICLE TYPE. I WAS ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ENGINE ON THIS WEBSITE AND THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY. I AM VERY BOTHERED BY THIS SITUATION AND THE DUPLICITOUS NATURE OF CHRYSLER PLACING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT ON THE MARKET WITHOUT PROVIDING RECOURSE SUCH AS A RECALL OR ADVISEMENT/WARNING. GIVEN HORROR STORIES THAT I HAVE READ ON THE WEB, I FEEL FORTUNATE BUT HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE FOR THE CHRYSLER PRODUCT LINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS BEING PURSUED OR INITIATED IN THIS MATTER. *TR