NHTSA Complaint #10211006 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I GOT A LOAN ON A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT EXPENSE AFTER EXPENSE. IT DIDN'T WANT TO START, SO I TOOK TO A DODGE SERVICE PLACE. THEY SAID IT WAS A CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR, WHICH COST ME $582.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. TWO WEEKS LATER IT DIDN'T WANT TO START AGAIN. THEY SAID IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR, WHICH COST ME ANOTHER $284.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. EACH TIME THAT THE DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CAR, THEY SUPPOSEDLY DID A 24 POINT INSPECTION AFTER FIXING IT, AND IT PASSED THE INSPECTION BOTH TIMES. SO, A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, THERE WAS SOME REALLY LOUD KNOCKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE MOTOR. THE DODGE SERVICE PLACE SAID THAT THE WHOLE LOWER UNIT ON THE ENGINE IS SHOT, SO IT NEEDS EITHER AN OVERHAUL OR A NEW MOTOR. I GOT SOME QUOTES OVER THE PHONE TO EITHER FIX THE MOTOR OR REPLACE THE MOTOR WITH A NEW MOTOR. FOR OVERHAULING THE MOTOR, WHICH INCLUDES PARTS AND LABOR, THEY WANT AT LEAST $4300.00. TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN THEY WANT $4600.00. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FOR OVER $7000.00, NOT INCLUDING THE FINANCE AND INTEREST CHARGES. NOW IN ORDER TO FIX THE CAR, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT THE CAR COST TO BEGIN WITH. THE DODGE SERVICE PLACES SAY THAT THE 2.7 MOTORS ARE NOT MADE WELL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO SMALL OF AN OPENING FOR THE OIL TO BE DISPERSED CORRECTLY THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. MY INTREPID ONLY HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. SO I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A CAR THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN, UNLESS I WANT TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. I STILL OWE ON THE CAR, SO I AM PAYING PAYMENTS AND KEEPING INSURANCE ON A CAR I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A WARNING SOMEWHERE ON THESE VEHICLES, ABOUT THE CHANCES OF SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL? SHOULDN'T DODGE STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES, AND PUT SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THESE MOTORS? WHAT ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME TO DO? AM I JUST SUPPOSE TO PAY AND PAY ON A CAR THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE AT MY OWN RISK, OF THE ENGINE FAILING AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT? *TR