NHTSA Complaint #10250779 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

I BOUGHT THIS 2000 DODGE INTREPID, V-6, 2.7 LITER ENGINE, NEW FROM A DEALER IN DECEMBER, 1999. IN 2003, WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. THE DEALER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AS IF IT HAD BEEN UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. INTERESTINGLY, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO INDICATION OF EXCESSIVE SLUDGE BUILDUP, WHICH APPARENTLY IS THE BASIS OF MOST COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ENGINE. I PAID ABOUT $200, AND WAS SATISFIED AT THAT POINT. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD LOTS OF (RELATIVELY MINOR) REPAIRS DONE ON THIS CAR, AND I WOULD RATE IT BELOW AVERAGE FOR RELIABILITY. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 81,000 MILES ON IT, WHICH MEANS THE CURRENT ENGINE HAS ABOUT 41,000 MILES. THE ENGINE HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE ONLY WARNING WAS AN INTERMITTENT (NOT CONSISTENT) CLICKING SOUND, WHICH MY MECHANIC FELT WAS COMING FROM THE HOUSING OVER THE FRONT PART OF THE ENGINE (WHERE THE TIMING GEAR/BELT IS LOCATED). THUS FAR, CHRYSLER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST FOR COVERAGE AS IF IT WERE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE REVIEWED MANY OF THE ON-LINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE; I HAVE TALKED TO AT LEAST THREE LOCAL (NON-DEALERSHIP) MECHANICS, EACH OF WHOM WAS FAMILIAR WITH SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THE 2.7 ENGINE, AND ONE OF WHOM SAID HE PERSONALLY KNEW OF SEVEN SUCH FAILURES IN THIS LOCAL AREA. NONE OF THOSE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WOULD TOUCH THIS REPAIR JOB. THIS IS PROBABLY AN $8,000 REPAIR JOB, IF I CHOOSE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT MAKES NO ECONOMIC SENSE, WHEN THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF THE CAR IS LESS THAN $2,000. EVEN IF I REPLACE THE ENGINE (AGAIN) I WOULD NOT SELL THIS CAR TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT DESCRIBING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. I'VE READ ENOUGH, AND HEARD ENOUGH, TO BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO INITIATE SOME SORT OF REPLACEMENT AND COMPENSATION PROGRAM, AT LEAST FOR THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE NEW, HAVE OWNED IT CONTINUOUSLY, HAVE MAINTAINED IT PROPERLY, HAVE NOT ABUSED IT IN ANY WAY, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO PROSECUTE A LAWSUIT. *TR