NHTSA Complaint #10229895 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT 29709 MILES. AT 31900 MILES THE OIL LIGHT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. BOTH SAID TO BE FAULTY. ON FRI EVE MAR 14, 2008 WITH 39,250 MILEAGE & WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A TERRIBLE CLANKING NOISE. THE OIL CAP WAS FULL OF SLUDGE. I HAD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED. THE TENSIONER FAILED AFTER 11 DAYS. MY MECHANIC, PER CHRYSLER, PUT IN 2 ADDITIVES TO MAKE THE TENSIONER WORK PROPERLY. ONLY DAYS LATER THE ENGINE SEIZED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WOULD COST ME $5400. CHRYSLER WAS "KIND ENOUGH" TO OFFER ME A NEW ENGINE FOR $3500. I WAS ABLE TO PROVE WITH RECEIPTS THAT THE OIL & FILTER HAD BEEN CHANGED 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS CAR FIXED. WHEN I SPOKE TO CAROL, A REP AT THE CHRYSLER CORP, TRYING TO MAKE HER UNDERSTAND MY FRUSTRATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, SHE HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT I "NEEDED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS IN MY OWN LIFE." THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT SOMETHING I BROUGHT ON MYSELF. INCIDENTALLY, IF THE CAR HAD TO HAVE BOTH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT & THE "OIL SENSOR" LIGHT REPLACED, WHY DID NEITHER GIVE ME ANY WARNING OF A PROBLEM? *TR