NHTSA Complaint #10779598 — 2014 CHRYSLER 200

AT ABOUT 18,000 MILES, A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL SUDDENLY FORMED UNDERNEATH MY CAR ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK AS THE ENGINE OIL COOLER/HOUSING MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT. THE EXACT SOURCE OF THE LEAK WAS NOT IDENTIFIED, BUT REPLACING THE UNIT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES OTHERS HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR PENTASTAR ENGINES (CHRYSLER, JEEP, AND DODGE VEHICLES). A VIDEO DESCRIBING THE UNIT AND ITS POSSIBLE FAILURE MECHANISMS CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=JJGNEI1HMNY THE DEALER ASKED IF AN INCORRECT FILTER HAD BEEN INSERTED INTO THE UNIT. HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAD DONE ALL BUT ONE FILTER REPLACEMENT, AND THE ONE FILTER THAT WAS NOT REPLACED BY THEM WAS INDEED THE CORRECT FILTER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME THE DEALER DID THE REPLACEMENT. THE UNIT REPLACEMENT COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $340, BUT LOCATION OF THE REPAIR MEANS THAT IT TAKES AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC ABOUT 3 HOURS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. ALTHOUGH THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, IT CONCERNS ME THAT SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT WOULD BREAK AFTER ONLY 18K MILES AND REQUIRES SUCH AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR EFFORT.