NHTSA Complaint #10512441 — 2010 DODGE CHALLENGER

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH WHEN A SMALL POP WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BAY. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TRIED RESTARTING THE ENGINE, WHICH JUST CAUSED THE STARTER TO RUN FOR 5+ SECONDS BEFORE TURNING OFF THE START SEQUENCE (PUSH BUTTON START). THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAUSE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A SNAPPED TIMING CHAIN AND BROKEN PLASTIC CHAIN GUIDE. THIS IS A 2010 5.7L MDS AUTO TRANSMISSION CHALLENGER. DODGE'S RESPONSE IS TO REPLACE THE CHAIN AND GUIDE AND SEE IF THAT ENABLES THE ENGINE TO RUN. THIS IS AN INTERFERENCE FIT ENGINE WHICH WILL MEAN SEVERAL VALVES WILL HAVE STRUCK THE PISTON HEADS AS A RESULT OF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING. IN ADDITION, THE VALVE HEADS AND PISTON HEADS MAY HAVE SUSTAIN ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD RECOMMENDED TO DODGE A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WHILE, I FIND DODGE'S SOLUTION TO BE WHOLE INAPPROPRIATE, THE FAILURE OF THE CHAIN IS OF MORE CONCERN. APPROXIMATELY 40 OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AT HTTP://WWW.CHALLENGERTALK.COM/FORUMS/F188/TIMING-CHAIN-FAILURE-DODGE-CHALLENGER-69216/ WITH NO SOLUTION BEING PRESENTED BY DODGE TO STOP THE GUIDES FROM BREAKING AND THUS THE CHAINS SNAPPING. DODGE'S INABILITY TO ADEQUATELY AND PREEMPTIVELY ADDRESS THIS SITUATION WILL RESULT IN MORE INSTANCES OF CHALLENGERS BEING DISABLED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A CROWDED INTERSTATE, SUCH AS I-75/85 THROUGH ATLANTA. I AM LUCKY MY INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR DURING HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR WORSE. *TR