NHTSA Complaint #10226417 — 2002 DODGE INTREPID

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE INTREPID 2.7 LITER ENGINE FROM HONDA CARS OF MCKINNEY IN MAY OF 2005 FOR $7000 AND FELT VERY HAPPY ABOUT MY PURCHASE UNTIL A ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF LATER, THE ENGINE BEGIN LEAKING OIL. I FOLLOWED THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. I TOOK MY DODGE TO ALLEN SAMUELS OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS AND THEY "FIXED" MY OIL LEAK PROBLEM FOR $893 BUT WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE 2.7 ENGINE DESIGN PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE MAJOR OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN ANOTHER CHECK AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK (ENGINE BURNS OIL NOW) BUT THERE WAS A "SMALL" TRANSMISSION LEAK. I WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY FURTHER WITH THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT PAYING MORE MONEY? SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED AND HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CITATIONS FOR EXPIRED INSPECTION. I WAS EVEN TOLD BY A POLICEMAN THAT I COULD CHECK WITH THE AIR TEXAS PROGRAM FOR REPAIR COST HELP. I SENT IN REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FOUND OUT FROM CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE THAT IT WOULD COST MORE THE CAR IS WORTH TO FIX. THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS GIVEN ME A $3000 VOUCHER TO REPLACE THIS POS DODGE. THE PROBLEM NOW IS THAT I'M UNEMPLOYED AND CAN'T AFFORD A CAR THAT QUALIFIES FOR THIS BENEFIT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SENDING A COMPLAINT TO ROBERT NARDELLI WITH CHRYSLER BUT I SAW THIS LINK AND THOUGHT I WOULD GET THE WORD OUT. THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR CHRYSLER OWE ME THE COST OF THE "OIL LEAK" REPAIR, COST TO EITHER REPLACE ENGINE/TRANS AND THE EXPENSES TO TRY AND GET IT INSPECTED. *TR