NHTSA Complaint #10362550 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IT JUST SUDDENLY STARTED COUGHING AND CHOKING AND REVVING UP AND SLOWING DOWN - IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT-OF-CONTROL! I HAD TO PULL OVER ON A MAJOR FREEWAY (INTERSTATE 5 IN OREGON) AND WAITED ON THE SIDE FOR A TOW. WHEN I GOT IT HOME I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS TO GET THE ENGINE ANALYZER ON IT, BUT IT SOUNDED HORRIBLE, THE VALVES WERE KNOCKING FIERCELY AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF OIL, WHICH I CHECK FREQUENTLY. THE GUY THAT CHECKED IT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN ANSWER EXCEPT A RELAY SWITCH. WE REPLACED IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE WANTED ABOUT $4500 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - WHERE THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS AND SOME SORT OF BOLT THAT THEY COULDN'T GET TO DOWN IN THE VALVE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ANYTHING ON THIS CAR AND I AM AMAZED AND DISGUSTED THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PUT THIS KIND OF ENGINE OUT TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS NOW ABOUT THE 2.7 L ENGINE - WITH PEOPLE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. AND IT'S NOT JUST ONLINE - I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WITH ONE THAT HAS THE ALTERNATIVE ENGINE AND HE'S HEARD THE SAME THING. HIS CAR RUNS GREAT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE 2.7L....CHRYSLER SHOULD PICK UP THE PIECES FOR ALL THESE POOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAULTY CARS AND AT LEAST REPLACE THE VALUE OF THEIR CAR AS IT STANDS TODAY. PLEASE HELP. *TR