NHTSA Complaint #10577822 — 2006 CHRYSLER 300C

2006 CHRYSLER 300C, 5.7L HEMI ENGINE, I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE APPROX, 25 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS. STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT, WENT INTO THE BUSINESS. WHEN I CAME OUT TO START MY ENGINE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT RUN. I CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR HELP. THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO RUN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE SHOP REPORTED TO ME THAT 3 CYLINDERS HAD NO COMPRESSION, THE VALVES HAD DROPPED DOWN INTO THE MOTOR, THREE SPARK PLUGS WERE CRUSHED. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS MODEL ENGINE, THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER 5.7 HEMI'S. THE VALVE RETAINERS FAIL AND LET THE VALVE DROP AND CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE IS A RETRO-FIT AVAILABLE TO CHANGE THE VALVE RETAINERS. I NOW HAVE A CURRENT BILL FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, REMOVAL AND INSTALL A USED ENGINE FOR $8,063.26. THIS CHARGE CAN GO UP IF THE RETRO-FIT HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET. I AM WAITING TO FIND OUT IF THE REPLACEMENT USED ENGINE HAS BEEN RETRO-FITTED. *TR