NHTSA Complaint #10262503 — 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING

I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI 2.7L V6 SEDAN. ON FEBRUARY 28, 2009, ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED ON HIGHWAY I-77 NORTH. I PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC AS ASAP. ENGINE LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT START. ENGINE RUINED. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM HWY. CAR RAN PERFECTLY BEFORE GOING ON THE HWY. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS TO PROVE THE OIL WAS CHANGED WITH SYNTHETIC OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. I HAVE A RECEIPT TO PROVE I TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DENIED THE CLAIM ON MARCH 3. I FOUND THAT EXTENDED WARRANTIES EITHER REJECT THESE CLAIMS AUTOMATICALLY OR PAY THEM AND THEN CANCEL YOUR COVERAGE. AFTER DENIAL, I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS CHRYSLER MODEL HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS DUE TO ENGINE AND COOLING DEFECTS, INCLUDING THE ENGINE ITSELF, THE WATER OUTLET/COOLANT ARM, AND HEAD GASKET. ENGINE FAILURE HAPPENS FREQUENTLY TO CONSUMERS DRIVING 60 MPH OR FASTER (HIGHWAY CONDITIONS). CONSUMERS REPORT THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS DESPITE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO WARNING PRIOR TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAILURE. YOU DON'T KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM UNTIL SMOKE STARTS. MY CAR SMOKED LONG BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED RED HOT. THE HAND WAS STILL IN THE MIDDLE WHEN SMOKE FIRST STARTED. LOCAL MECHANICS, SALVAGE YARDS, AND EVEN CHRYSLER MASTER TECHS CONFIRMED THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT YOU CANNOT FORESEE THEM. CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL REGARDING THESE PROBLEMS BUT NEVER DID. THE ONLY ENGINE-RELATED RECALL ACTUALLY ISSUED WAS FOR THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. OBVIOUSLY, CHRYSLER HAS TRIED TO AVOID SUCH COSTLY REPLACEMENTS. A NEW, REMANUFACTURED ENGINE (WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL DEFECTS) COSTS AROUND $6200 IN MY AREA. MY PROBLEM CAME FROM CHRYSLER DEFECTS. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW, REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AND ALL OTHER DAMAGED PARTS AT NO CHARGE TO ME. CHRYSLER SHOULD ALSO PAY FOR THE TOWING OF MY CAR TO A CHRYSLER SERVICE SHOP AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PREVIOUS TOWS. *TR