NHTSA Complaint #10203592 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 10MONTHS NOW AND ALREADY ITS A PIECE OF JUNK. WHILE DRIVING MY KIDS TO DAYCARE ONE DAY THE CAR JUST STOPPED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. MY HUSBAND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE TRIED TO START IT UP AND IT WOULDN'T. HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE OIL THINKING MAYBE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. HE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AFTER HE SAW THERE WAS OIL THERE AND THE TIMING CHAIN JUMP UP AND BROKE RIGHT THREW THE COVERING. WE DIDN'T HAVE AAA SO HIS BROTHER CALLED THEM AND HAD THEM TOW IT TO A MECHANIC. THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND OUT THE VALVES WERE BENT CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BE USELESS. THE WHOLE COST OF THE REPAIRS WERE AN ESTIMATE OF $3000. WE CALLED THE FINANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD US TO FIRST CALL THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRADE IT IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T OFFER IT AND THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO. THIS IS VERY HARD ON US BEING THAT WE BOTH WORK FULLTIME AND HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET THIS CAR REPAIRED AND KEEP PAYING ON A CAR THAT DOESN'T SERVE US ANY VALUE. *TR