NHTSA Complaint #10266251 — 2005 CHRYSLER 300

1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT LONG TERM AND SYSTEMIC OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS CAUSING SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES IN DODGE AND CHRYSLER VEHICLES USING THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE SPANNING FROM APPROX 1998-2005. MY WELL MAINTAINED 2005 CHRYSLER 300 ENGINE FAILED SUDDENLY AND DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING. AND THIS WAS 1 MONTH AFTER PAYING THE CHRYSLER DEALER $850 TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT AT FACTORY SUGGESTED DATES. WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES AND OIL CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES (OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTS 7500) THE CHRYSLER DEALER INITIALLY WANTED OVER $2000 TO FIX AN UNEXPLAINED INTERNAL WATER PUMP LEAK, AND TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. ONLY AFTER HEATED DISCUSSION DID THEY BACK DOWN AND REPAIR IT FOR A $100 DEDUCTIBLE UNDER THE 7/70 DRIVEDRAIN WARRANTY. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES. SIMPLY USING GOOGLE AND ENTERING "CHRYSLER 2.7L ENGINE FAILURE" LEADS TO HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF SUSPECTED OIL SLUDGE (DUE TO POOR ENGINE DESIGN AND OIL NOT FLOWING PROPERLY) THAT CAUSES SUDDEN AND DANGEROUS UNEXPLAINED ENGINE FAILURE INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. CHRYSLER AND ITS DEALERS FIRST ATTEMPT TO BLAME CUSTOMERS FOR NOT CHANGING THE OIL ENOUGH OR USING THE RIGHT OIL ETC. IN MY CASE MY DEALER SAID "...CHRYSLER IS BEING VERY QUIET ASKING US TO USE ALL NEW PARTS AND NOT GIVING US ALOT OF INFORMATION...". 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE). MY DEALER SAID CHRYSLER TOLD THEM NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT AND TO USE NEW AND MODIFIED PARTS THEY GAVE THEM AND NOT TO USE ANY OF THE OLD PARTS. *TR