NHTSA Complaint #10873712 — 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING

I PURCHASED A 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH A 2.7 LITER LH ENGINE FROM MEADOR JEEP DEALERSHIP IN APPROXIMATELY 2014. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 32K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS I AM RETIRED, AND NO LONGER HAVE A COMMUTE TO WORK, I DO NOT DRIVE MORE THAN 8K A YEAR. IN FEBRUARY 2016 I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. ON FEBRUARY 25, 2016 THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN ("TIMING TENSIONER") FOR A COST OF $795.83. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, CHRIS, ONE OF THE SERVICE WRITERS, ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE CAR MORE OFTEN, AND TO BE HARD ON THE ENGINE. ON APPROXIMATELY MAY 5, 2016 I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART IT, I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MEADOR JEEP FOR DIAGNOSIS. ACCORDING TO CHRIS, THE SERVICE WRITER, THE ENGINE WAS "BLOWN" AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR $12,000. THE ENGINE HAD ONLY 40K MILES ON IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CHRYSLER 2.7 LITER V6 ENGINE ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE ENGINES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR WATER SEEPING INTO THE OIL, CREATING A THICK SLUDGE THAT LEADS TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.