NHTSA Complaint #10239489 — 2003 DODGE INTREPID

I NEVER HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM, EXCEPT CLOUDY SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND AN OIL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON IT BEGAN TO OVER HEAT AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO LANDMARK DODGE, THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN (UPON MY ARRIVAL, I EXPLAINED THE MECHANIC, WHAT HAPPENED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED, HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND I NEEDED AND ENGINE, WITHOUT DOING A DIAGNOSTIC. I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TO BE EXACT AND NOT GUESS WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. THEY RESPONDED BY HAVING A SALES REP CALL TO TRY AND SALE ME A VEHICLE). I WANTED A SECOND OPINION, THEREFORE, I HAD IT TOWED TO STEVE RAYMAN DODGE THAT'S WHEN THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED I NEEDED AN ENGINE FOR SURE AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOST OIL PRESSURE, AND HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP. AT FIRST, THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS FOR $3000.00 BUT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE MOTOR WOULD LAST. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THAT'S WHEN THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE SLUDGE BUILD-UP, NO OIL PRESSURE AND I NEEDED AN ENGINE. THE MECHANIC AT LANDMARK RECOGNIZED THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A DIAGNOSTIC AND TRIED KEEP MY CAR FOR NON PAYMENT OF SERVICE THAT WAS NEVER PERFORMED. IS THIS COMMON FOR DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLES? AS A CONSUMER, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE, PROTECT AND PURSUE LEGAL ACTION. *TR