NHTSA Complaint #10863909 — 2005 DODGE MAGNUM

ON MAY 2, 1016 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LUBE SHOP TO HAVE MY FLUIDS TOPPED OFF AND MY AIR PRESSURE CHECKED BEFORE I LEFT TOWN. I DROVE MY CAR IN AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED OUT. AFTER LOOKING AT MY VEHICLE, DODGE TOLD ME I HAVE A BLOWN VALVE SEAT. MY CAR PURRED LIKE A KITTEN. IT NEVER OVERHEATED, DIDN'T BURN OIL, NEVER SMOKED, DIDN'T MAKE ANY KNOCKING NOISES...NOTHING. THERE WAS NO WARNING! THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED ME SQUARE IN THE FACE AND LIED TO ME SAYING, THIS PROBLEM IS "REALLY, REALLY, REALLY RARE" BUT THAT I WAS BASICALLY SCREWED SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ALL WEEK AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT RARE AND DODGE IS FULLY AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THE VALVE SEAT. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. SO YOU BUY A CAR AND EXPECT THAT SINCE YOU KEEP IT WELL MAINTAINED WITH ALL MAINTENANCE ROUTINELY DONE AND IT DOESN'T MATTER...IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE...CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHEN DODGE TOLD ME THIS WAS "REALLY, REALLY, REALLY RARE" THEY ADMITTED TO BEING AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAW IN THE HEMI WITH THE VALVE SEATS DROPPING. I PLAN ON STARTING A PETITION THAT WOULD CAUSE DODGE TO HAVE TO INITIATE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE MOTOR. THIS IS NOT FAIR. I HAD MY CAR AT DODGE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO FOR A HEMI TUNE-UP AND WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF HE SAW ANY FOREWARNING OF THIS HE SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT. THIS CAR WAS SO PERFECTLY MAINTAINED THAT AFTER I HAD IT THERE FOR SERVICE, THE SALES DEPARTMENT CALLED ME TWO DIFFERENT TIMES ASKING IF I WANTED TO SELL MY CAR TO THEM. I AM GOING TO GET SATISFACTION FOR THIS FAILURE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.