NHTSA Complaint #10280936 — 2002 DODGE STRATUS

ON 9/3/08 I HAD BROUGHT MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS 2.7L V6 IN FOR A COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH. I WAS CHARGED $129.95. SOON AFTER, I SMELLED BURNING COOLANT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAD SAID IT WAS JUST EXCESS BURNING OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER ON 9/23/08, I WAS ON RT 1 TO OUT TO MY SISTER-IN-LAWS IN LANCASTER, PA, WHEN MY CAR OVERHEATED AND HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN ON AN OFF RAMP. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND ALL THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MILLER DODGE, AND THEY HAD INFORMED ME MY WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN. IT COST ME $628.63. I HAD ARGUED WITH THE DODGE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY JUST DID MAINTENANCE INVOLVING THE WATER PUMP, AND NOW IT IS DEAD. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT WITH CHRYSLER ABOUT IT. I FOUND A BULLETIN ON MYCARSTATS.COM REGARDING MY ENGINE THAT THE WATER PUMP APPEARS TO FAIL AFTER A COOLANT FLUSH IS PERFORMED. THE BULLETIN ID # 0700202, MFG BULLETIN DATE: 20020204, AND THE NHTSA ITEM # 629131. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I AM STILL FIGHTING THAT FIGHT NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER. I FEEL THAT IF THE COOLANT FLUSH DAMAGES THE WATER PUMP, THAT IT IS A DEFECT, AND CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. I DO NOT FEEL I AM GETTING ANY WHERE WITH CHRYSLER, AND NOW I AM REPORTING IT, HOPEFULLY FOR SOME KIND OF SOLUTION. *TR