NHTSA Complaint #10200533 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

WHILE DRIVING MY DODGE INTREPID, THE ENGINE FAILED AND SEIZED ON ME. THE LAST REGULAR OIL CHANGE I DID, I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THE OIL WAS A LITTLE CHUNKY. AFTER THAT OIL CHANGE, THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER WHILE CAR WAS IN IDOL. ASKED MECHANIC FRIEND TO COME LOOK AT MY CAR, AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. LATER THAT WEEK MY CAR STARTED TO KNOCK VERY LOUDLY. FEAR OF A BREAKDOWN, I PARKED MY INTREPID AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX. WHEN I TOOK THE VALVE COVER OFF THERE WAS A THICK COATING OF SLUDGE ON EVERYTHING. I REPLACED A BEARING ON THE CRANK FOR THE #1 PISTON ROD. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, IT RAN FINE. I DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE I WAS ON A BUSY 2 LANE HIGHWAY. NOW I NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WHEN A CALLED A SHOP AND DESCRIBED THE SITUATION, HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO FIX MY CAR THAT WILL JUST BREAKDOWN OVER AND OVER. PLUS, I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW SWITCHES, AND A/C CONTROLS. BOTH PROBLEMS I TRIED TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP FIX AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT WITH MY WARRANTY! *TR