NHTSA Complaint #10852310 — 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

MY 2007 PT CRUISER WITH 17,340 MILES (YES, THAT'S CORRECT), STARTED LEAKING A GOOD AMOUNT OF OIL. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SOME FOLKS GETTING STRANDED ON HIGHWAY WHEN CAR DROPPED ALL OF ITS OIL, BROUGHT TO DEALER. THE INVOICE STATES THE FOLLOWING: "CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. VERIFIED THE CONCERN. FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM CAM AND CRANK SEALS. DISASSEMBLED ENGINE TO REPLACE SEALS, AND FOUND EXCESSIVE CRANK SHAFT END PLAY, CAUSING THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL TO PUSH OUT. INSPECTED MOTOR, FOUND BROKEN THRUST WASHERS AND DAMAGE TO THE CRANKSHAFT. REPLACE THE ENGINE AND RECHECK, NO MORE OIL LEAKS." AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID...TOTAL COST, INCLUDING TAX WAS $6,055. THIS WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION. CHECKING ONLINE, I FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT I READ, I ASKED DEALER TO REPLACE WITH A SHORT BLOCK. SAID THEY ARE NO LONGER MADE. CAR IS ONLY WORTH ABOUT 6K BUT THERE'S NO WAY I COULD AFFORD A NEW CAR. THIS WAY I DO HAVE A 3 YR WARRANTY ON THE NEW ENGINE.