NHTSA Complaint #10239644 — 2004 DODGE STRATUS

THIS LETTER IN REGARDS TO MY SERVICE CONTRACT #23013588 FOR # 2004 DODGE STRATUS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 10/14/06 AND IT HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DONE ROUTINE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 ? 4,000 MILES. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL MYSELF BY DRAINING THE OIL AND REPLACING THE OIL FILTER AND NEW OIL. I HAVE NO RECEIPTS FOR THIS AND WAS NOT AWARE I WAS REQUIRED TO KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF THIS. NOWHERE IN MY SERVICE DO I SEE ANYTHING THAT SAYS TO. ON 08/10/08 MY CAR BEGAN STALLING AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO JACK POWELL CHRYSLER DODGE IN ESCONDIDO, CA FOR SERVICE. MIKE LEWIS RECOMMENDED I HAVE THE ENGINE DISMANTLED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. UPON HIS INVESTIGATION HE SAW METAL SHAVINGS AND ?SLUDGE? NEAR THE BEARINGS. CHRYSLER SENT A 3RD PARTY INVESTIGATOR TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. IT WAS THE INSPECTOR?S DECISION THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS! I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR AND WAS A VERY HAPPY CUSTOMER UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. I AM REQUESTING IN WRITING AN APPEAL TO THIS DECISION AND DEMAND THAT THE CAR BE REPAIRED AS DESIGNATED IN MY SERVICE CONTRACT. I PURCHASED THE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY FOR THE COMFORT OF KNOWING THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WERE TO HAPPEN I WOULD CERTAINLY BE COVERED. I CONTACTED YOUR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THIS IS THE PROPER CHANNEL TO MAKE THIS REQUEST. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID YOU REPLACE ENGINES EVERYDAY AND DOESN'T SEE WHY THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM. I NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS I CANNOT POSSIBLY AFFORD WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I AM A GOOD CUSTOMER AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY SERVICE CONTRACT IS BASICALLY USELESS. THESE REPAIRS MUST BE COVERED AND THERE WAS IN NO WAY A LACK OF MAINTENANCE. PLEASE TAKE WHATEVER ACTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER IN A TIMELY FASHION. I REFUSE TO JUST BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. *TR