NHTSA Complaint #10473073 — 2010 DODGE JOURNEY

THIS 2010 DODGE JOURNEY SXT WHICH WAS DELIVERED TO ME ON 18 MARCH 2010. ON 19 JULY 2010 I HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO TUCSON DODGE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO SHUDDER. EXAMINATION BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE # 1 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING AND THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES WERE NOT SEALING PROPERLY.ALSO, THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLUG WAS SEEPING COOLANT. THE EXPANSION COOLANT TANK WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAM. THESE PROBLEMS NECESSITATED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD,AND EXPANSION COOLANT TANK. AFTER REPAIR AND RETURN OF THE VEHICLE TO ME, 26 JULY 2012 , UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A DISTINCT CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD . WHICH I REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO WERE QUITE DISMISSIVE ABOUT IT . ON OR ABOUT 27 AUGUST I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CLICKING WAS GETTING LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHUDDERING AGAIN. THIS NECESSITATED A SECOND ENGINE REPAIR. "THE ROCKER ARMS ARE WALKING DUE TO WORN BLOCKS AND ROCKERS". ERGO THE LEFT AND RIGHT BANK ROCKER ARMS/SHAFTS/TAPPETS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER HAS FAILED.NEGLECTED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN ITS ENTIRETY DESPITE MY DEMAND THAT THEY DO BECAUSE OF REPEATED DOCUMENTED DEFECTS THEREWITH. THIS ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BROKEN DOWN AND REPAIRED. EVIDENCE THE SECOND ENGINE PARTS FAILURE. ALSO, WHY SHOULD THE BLOCKS BE WORN AT 32K MILES? I AM THINKING THAT THEY WERE WORN WHEN THEY WERE PUT IN AT THE FACTORY AND AN INSPECTOR MISSED THIS IF IN FACT THEY WERE EVEN INSPECTED AT ASSEMBLY.I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE IN THE ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS ENGINE PRESENTS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF ME AND/OR MY WIFE AND GRANDCHILDREN WHILE WE ARE OUT IN THE VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE NEXT WILL SEIZE OR SHUT DOWN PUTTING ME OR THEM IN HARMS WAY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR *JS