NHTSA Complaint #10352583 — 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

ON 7/27 BEFORE LEAVING HOME, CAR WAS SERVICED BY PALMER DODGE (ROSWELL, GA ). EXPLAINED THAT I WAS GOING ON TRIP FROM ALPHARETTA, GA-OSSINING, NY (2000 MILES ROUNDTRIP). TOLD DEALER CAR HAD APPROX. 85,000 & WAS WILLING TO RENT A CAR. "PLEASE GO OVER CAR & TELL ME IF I WAS YOUR WIFE...WOULD YOU HAVE ME RENT A CAR OR TAKE MY 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LTD. TO NY & BACK."LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH AN OIL CHANGE & A 24 POINT SAFETY CHECK W/NO CONCERNS ABOUT CAR. WE ARRIVED IN NY ON 7/29 SAFELY (9 YR. OLD TWINS & MALTESE ARRIVED IN NY). ON JULY 31 WE DROVE FROM THE HOTEL IN TARRYTOWN TO OSSINING VISITED MY MOTHER, FATHER GRAVES. WHILE AT THE LAST GRAVE THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED WHILE THE CAR SAT RUNNING. I PRESSED GAS PEDAL IT WENT OUT. WE STARTED BACK TO HOTEL VIA ROUTE 9., A NARROW, 2 LANE HIGHWAY. GOT ABOUT 3 MILES TO BRIARCLIFF MANOR WHEN I HEARD THE CAR MAKE A TAPPING SOUND. DESPITE TRAFFIC AND NO WARNING...NO OIL LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT ETC. I MAKE A SHARP TURN TO SIDE STREET & TURNED OFF CAR. MY CHILDREN ARE CRYING, MY SISTER & DOG ARE FREAKED OUT & THERE WE ARE STRANDED WITH 1.5 HRS BEFORE MY NEPHEWS BABY DEDICATION. I START THE CAR BACK UP & PUT THE FLASHERS ON /DRIVE THE CAR MOSTLY IN NEUTRAL PRAYING ALL THE WAY TO THE ENTRANCE TO SLEEPY HOLLOW AUTOMOTIVE WHO QUICKLY TOLD ME THE ENGINE IS SHOT & THE CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS WORTH AT LEAST $5000 WAS NOT WORTH FIXING. I CALLED JENKIN ENGINES & WAS TOLD ME THERE ARE 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CHRYSLER 2.7 ENGINE AND IT WOULD COST $3600 FOR A REMAN. ENGINE & $1800 FOR LABOR (MINIMUM)- 3 WEEKS TO FIX... I WAS NOW STRANDED IN NY, VACATION RUINED, CHILDREN FREAKED OUT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. HOW IN 2010 CAN AN ENGINE "DIE" WITH NO WARNING? THIS IS RECALL CAND. & NHTSA SHOULD MAKE CHRYSLER REPAIR OR REIMBURSE CAR OWNERS. MY CAR IS STILL IN NY...GA DEALER NOT RETURNING CALLS. RECOM OIL TOO THIN? OIL SLUDGE? EASY TO BLAME OWNERS FOR OIL CHANGES WHEN CHRYSLER THIS IS YOUR FAULT. BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR