NHTSA Complaint #10622207 — 2006 DODGE CHARGER

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED IT AND PERFORMED ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED INTERVALS. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY, WITH NO INDICATIONS OF ANY ISSUES. ON 8/12/14, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT MADE A HORRENDOUS BANGING NOISE BEFORE IMMEDIATELY SHUTTING DOWN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME (AS I WAS THIRTY MILES AWAY) AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE VALVE IN PISTON #2 HAD BROKEN AND SHATTERED, CAUSING AN ENGINE FAILURE, WITH THE ONLY REPAIR BEING A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT. A CHECK ON-LINE SHOWED THIS IS A COMMON AND RECURRING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND ENGINE TYPE (2006 DODGE CHARGER R/T). I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO DODGE, AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE OF VALVES, HOWEVER THE DODGE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE EVIDENCE TO THIS IS THE ENGINE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX THIS (BLOCK, VALVES, ETC.) ARE ON A 2 TO 6 MONTH BACK-ORDER. PLEASE HELP! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BASICALLY PAY FOR A NEW CAR FOR A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR