NHTSA Complaint #10330813 — 2006 CHRYSLER 300C

LAST WEEK ON MAY 9TH, 2010 THE ENGINE IN MY 2006 CHRYSLER 300C SPONTANEOUSLY DIED IN THE PARKING LOT OF AN OSH HARDWARE STORE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT A PISTON AND VALVE BLEW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AT A COST OF $8,500.00. THE MECHANIC ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF WEAR AND TEAR THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND EVEN MENTIONED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD FULL SYNTHETIC OIL THAT WAS CLEAN AND WASN'T DUE FOR A CHANGE FOR ANOTHER 2,500 MILES PER CHRYSLER'S RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE. I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS FROM MY PAST OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE AS WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS DEFECT AND IT APPEARS THEY ARE NOT VERY SHOCKED AT ALL AS IF IT WAS SOMETHING THEY FORESEEN HAPPENING. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED WITH HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO CONTACT SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORITY AT THE COMPANY TO EXPLAIN THIS ISSUE AND DISCUSS A RESOLUTION. I HAVE WRITTEN THEIR CEO AND THEIR CHIEF OF CUSTOMER CARE AND QUALITY A LETTER AND AN E-MAIL ABOUT THIS OVER A WEEK AGO AND NEITHER HAS RESPONDED. WHAT KIND OF CHIEF OF CUSTOMER CARE AND QUALITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN TALKING TO A REAL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER REGARDING AN ISSUE OF QUALITY? PLEASE HELP ME IN CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS I DO BELIEVE IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HAD THIS ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NOT IN THE PARKING LOT OF A HARDWARE STORE. IMAGINE THE DANGER IN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR AND SPONTANEOUSLY BLOWING A PISTON AND THE ENGINE BECOMING COMPLETELY NON-FUNCTIONAL AND POSSIBLY BLOWING UP ENTIRELY WHILE MOVING AT THOSE SPEEDS WITH OTHER CARS AROUND YOU. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB UPDATED 07/27/10. *JB *TR