NHTSA Complaint #10454721 — 2002 DODGE RAM 1500

MY 2002 RAM VAN 1500 6 CYL ENGINE FAILED STATE REQUIRED SMOG CHECK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON PRIOR TO THIS. THE SMOG REPORT SHOWED 3 CYLINDERS OUT OF 6 WERE MISFIRING. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS DAMAGED VALVES AND LOST COMPRESSION. AFTER THE MECHANIC OPENED THE ENGINE HE FOUND BOTH HEADS TO BE CRACKED. HE ALSO FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $3100. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 1500 ENGINES THAT FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON. AS WITH THE OTHER OWNERS I CHANGED MY OIL AT REGULAR INTERVALS AND MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. I HAD A 1997 1500 IN WHICH THE SAME THING HAPPENED. DODGE DENIES RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAMES THE SLUDGE BUILD UP ON POOR MAINTENANCE. SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I WAS FORCED TO REPAIR IT. THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND I SHOULD GET REIMBURSED BY DODGE FOR THE REPAIRS. I UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO REPAIR THE ENGINE BUT FEAR THAT THE DESIGN DEFECT WILL RESULT IN SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE SAME NATURE. DODGE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE HELP. *TR