NHTSA Complaint #10511780 — 2005 DODGE MAGNUM

I OWN A 2005 DODGE MAGNUM R/T WITH THE 5.7L HEMI. I WAS DRIVING FROM UTAH TO MISSOURI FOR WORK. ONCE I GOT TO LINCOLN, NEBRASKA IT WAS RAINING AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND MY ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A VERY BAD KNOCKING NOISE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE FOUND THAT A VALVE SEAL DROPPED IN CYLINDER 6. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO SMALL TICKING NOISE FROM THE VALVE HITTING THE SEAL, NO WATER IN THE OIL, NO OIL IN THE WATER, NO METAL FLAKES IN THE OIL. FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF MYSELF, MY DAD (12 YEAR DIESEL MECHANIC), THE MECHANIC THAT I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO WHO (HAS AN A+ BBB RATING AND HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 14 YEARS), AND FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ONLINE A VALVE SEAT DOESN'T JUST DROP OUT OF NO WHERE WITHOUT WARNING. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE LIKE THIS WITH THE 2004-05 DODGE DURANGO WITH THE 5.7L HEMI AS WELL. I AM NOT 100% SURE MY ISSUE IS RELATED, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THIS ENGINE IS NOW ON BACK ORDER THROUGH CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T ORDER THE ENGINE FROM CHRYSLER AND WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEW ENGINE THROUGH A 3RD PARTY COMPANY. I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF MY CAR AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND MY SELF HAVE BOTH KEPT UP ON REGULAR MAINTENANCE VERY WELL (OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES). THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ENOUGH PEOPLE FOR THE ENGINE TO BE ON BACK ORDER! *TR