NHTSA Complaint #10222998 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

OIL SLUDGE HAS BUILT UP IN THE ENGINE, LEAVING THE ENGINE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO CIRCULATE OIL THROUGH THE BLOCK TO LUBRICATE THE PARTS. A MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND NOTED THAT DRIVING THE CAR WILL CAUSE PARTS TO BREAK AND THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE MECHANIC TOOK PHOTOS OF THE INSIDE OF ONE OF THE VALVE COVERS TO SHOW HOW THICK THE OIL SLUDGE IS. WHERE THE INSIDE OF THE VALVE COVER SHOULD BE CLEAN AND SHINY, IT IS COATED WITH A HALF-INCH OF SLUDGE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT ABOUT 121,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE OIL-PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME. A CHECK OF THE OIL SHOWED IT WAS FULL AND CLEAN. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT PERFORMED VERY WELL. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT ENGINE PROBLEM, THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR -- NO ACCIDENTS, NO DENTS OF BODY DAMAGE, NO RUST, CLEAN INTERIOR AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS. CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY GOOD CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR TWO MONTHS WHILE I CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, FILE REPORTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE NHTSA AND THE CENTER OF AUTO SAFETY, AND RESEARCH WHAT CAN BE DONE AND AT WHAT COST. MY PREFERENCE, OF COURSE, WOULD BE THAT THE MANUFACTURER, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, PAY TO REBUILD OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. HAVING THE MANUFACTURER ADMIT TO A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW, AS ALLEGED IN HEBERT V. DAIMLER CHRYSLER, WOULD BE NICE, BUT NOT ESSENTIAL. GETTING THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD AT NO COST OR MINIMAL COST TO ME IS MY GOAL. *TR