NHTSA Complaint #10260448 — 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONV

13,090 MILES MY WIFE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AS SHE DROVE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT DID NOT TOUCH THE DIPSTICK. I ADDED 2 QUARTS AND STARTED THE ENGINE TO FIND THAT IT WAS LEAKING OIL OUT THE ACCESSORIES END OF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CRANKSHAFT END SEAL WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING EXPELLED FROM THE TIMING COVER. 1ST REPAIR ATTEMPT: UPON TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL WAS AGAIN EXPELLED FROM THE TIMING COVER. THE CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED AS EXCESSIVE CRANKSHAFT END PLAY RESULTING IN THE CRANKSHAFT END SEAL BEING FORCED OUT OF THE TIMING COVER. 2ND ATTEMPT: THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP ON 10/16/2007. ON 1/26/2009 AT 32,022 ODOMETER WITH 18,932 MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT SHORT BLOCK AND 13 MILES INTO A 15 MILE TRIP, THE REAR TIRES BEGAN SLIPPING AS I TRAVELED AROUND CORNERS. AS I SLOWED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY, I COULD SMELL THE ODOR OF BURNT MOTOR OIL. ENGINE OIL WAS COMING FROM THE ACCESSORIES SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THE OIL NO LONGER TOUCHED THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JAN. 27, 2009 FOR REPAIR. THE CRANKSHAFT END SEAL WAS NOTED AS LEAKING WHEN IN REALITY THE SEAL HAD TO HAVE BEEN DISLODGED FROM THE TIMING COVER FOR THE VOLUME OF ENGINE OIL THAT WAS LOST IN 2 MILES. THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL AND DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED AS EITHER THE WEATHER BEING TOO COLD OR THE FACT THAT THE DEALER SERVICE REP HAD SEEN ALL KINDS OF STRANGE FAILURES THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO GET THE CAR BEYOND THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FAILURE WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR