NHTSA Complaint #10212405 — 2001 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

I HAD A 2001 CHRYSLER CONCORDE WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. I SERVICED IT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. THEN ONE DAY, AT 95,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING IT AND THE THERMOSTAT SHOT TO OVERHEATING. I PULLED OVER, HAD A SERVICE STATION LOOK AT IT, AND THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING A DEALER NEEDED TO LOOK AT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THE 'ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED, THAT COOLANT AND OIL MIXED AND GOT SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE WAS SHOT.' AT 95,000 MILES IT WOULD COST ME MORE TO FIX THEN THE CAR WAS WORTH, SO I HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR. SOMEONE TOLD ME THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS CHRYSLER ENGINE AND CHRYSLER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL AND NOTHING I COULD DO. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND A LOT OF ARTICLES ABOUT HOW BIG A PROBLEM THIS IS AND HOW MANY CARS IT HAS AFFECTED, AND SUGGESTED OWNERS REPORT THIS TO YOU. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE CHRYSLER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. WHILE IN MY CASE IT DIDN'T RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT (IT ALMOST DID WHEN MY CAR DIED ON THE ROAD), AND THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE, DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR CARS CATCH ON FIRE BEFORE CHRYSLER IS MADE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR AN OBVIOUS ENGINE FLAW? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP OR GUIDANCE YOU CAN GIVE ON WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE AND SHOULD PURSUE. BOB BLADEL ASHBURN, VA *TR