NHTSA Complaint #10885955 — 2006 DODGE CHARGER

DURING TRAVEL FROM FT. BELVOIR, VA TO FAYETTEVILLE, NC THE CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING AND ACTING LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL. IT HAD 3/4 OF A TANK. MADE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. ABLE TO GIVE IT THROTTLE AND GET IT STARTED YOU CAN HEAR RATTLING IN THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR. HAD IT TOWED TO CROWN DODGE IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BROKEN VALVE SEAT WHICH FELL INSIDE THE CYLINDER SCARRING THE CYLINDER WALLS. THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS ON THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED BY A MECHANIC WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE POWDERED METAL VALVE SEATS EXPAND AT A DIFFERENT RATE THAN THE ALUMINUM HEAD LEADING TO SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. DODGE KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIXED THEIR DESIGN IN THE 2010-UP MODELS, HOWEVER HAS FAILED THE PUBLIC IN COMPENSATING THOSE THAT HAVE HAD ENGINE FAILURE IN 2006-2009 MODELS.