NHTSA Complaint #10279646 — 2001 DODGE STRATUS

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 DODGE STRATUS SE WITH THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE. ON FEBRUARY 9, 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO PARK PLAZA DODGE IN FORREST PARK, IL. BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAKING A LOUD TAPPING SOUND. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD 67,441 MILES ON IT AND WAS COVERED UNDER A CHRYSLER 5 YEAR/75,000 MILE WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD A LOT OF SLUDGE IN IT AND I WAS ASKED TO PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS ON THE VEHICLE. I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND POINTED OUT TO CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK OF STALLING CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THEIR EXPENSE LESS MY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. IT TOOK CHRYSLER MORE THEN TWO WEEKS TO DELIVER THE NEW ENGINE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY INCLUDED A MAXIMUM OF TWO WEEKS RENTAL FOR COVERED REPAIRS. I POINTED OUT TO BOTH CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT THAT CHRYSLER HADN'T DELIVERED THE ENGINE AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL RENTAL. THEY REFUSED. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON FEBRUARY 24, 2006. WHEN PUTTING IN THE NEW ENGINE THE DEALERSHIP MOVED ALL OF THE EXTRA PARTS (ALTERNATOR, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, ETC.) TO THE NEW ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW ENGINE HAD A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. THE NEW ENGINE HAS FAILED WITH 37,500 MILES ON IT. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITION INFORMATION BUT IT WOULDN'T FIT IN THIS BOX. *TR