NHTSA Complaint #10243512 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

IN 2001 I BOUGHT A DODGE INTREPID 2.7L. IT WAS SERVICE REGULARLY AT KEYSTONE CHRYSLER IN MISSION, KANSAS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT IT WAS RUNNING STRANGE SO I TOOK IT TO BUD BROWN DODGE IN OVERLAND PARK, KS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BELT HAD SLIPPED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TELL THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE UNLESS I ALLOWED THEM TO PUT A NEW ONE ON AND CHECK THE ENGINE PRESSURE. THEY SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE CHANCES OF THE ENGINE BEING RUINED WERE 50/50. HE CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND I OWED $1,400. I CALL ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ENGINE SYMPTOMS AND ASKED WHAT MY NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE. THE SUNFLOWER DODGE TECH TOLD ME THAT THE 2.7 WAS A TERRIBLE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS ANY CHANCE THAT THE ENGINE WAS SALVAGEABLE AND HE SAID NO. HE WAS WILLING TO LOOK AT IT BUT TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN THIS OVER AND OVER WITH THIS CAR. I CAME CLEAN AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH THE OTHER DEALERSHIP AND HE ASSURED ME THAT THEY WERE WRONG. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE TECH COULD BE NEW SO I SHOULDN'T ASSUME FRAUD. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT DODGE WAS NOT RECALLING AN ENGINE THAT THEY MUST HAVE KNOWN BY THAT TIME TO BE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND HE APPEARS TO BE CORRECT. *TR