NHTSA Complaint #11354271 — 2009 CHRYSLER 300C

CAR HAD 98,474 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENGINE IS MERCEDES DESIGN AND GUARANTEED FOR 100,000. ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OR ANY KIND OF ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING 73 MPH ON I-10 WHEN I HEARD A LOW "KA-THUNK", ELECTRIC AND OIL LIGHTS LIT ON DASH, AND CAR BEGAN DECELERATING. AT TIME, I WAS BEING TAILGATED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HIT EMERGENCY LIGHTS, DRIVER BEHIND ME APPARENTLY GOT THE MESSAGE TO DRIVE AROUND MY VEHICLE ALTHOUGH HE/SHE HAD PLENTY OF TIME PRIOR TO INCIDENT TO DO THIS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF SAFELY TO SIDE OF I-10 HIGHWAY AND PARK VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. AFTER RAISING THE HOOD AND CHECKING THE FLUIDS, THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL AND ALL OTHER FLUIDS WERE PROPER AMOUNTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO LEAKAGE OF ANY KIND OF FLUIDS PRIOR TO OR AFTER INCIDENT. I SPOKE WITH A DEALER SATURDAY AT FORD PEACH MOTORS IN BREWTON, AL ABOUT THE SITUATION. SHE SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE HAD HAD A CHRYSLER 300 WHICH DID THE EXACT SAME THING WHEN IT GOT TO BE AROUND 98,000. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THE 2006 CHRYSLER 300C HAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN WHICH THE MOTOR GETS AROUND 98,000 MILES AND THE MOTOR/ENGINE BLOWS WITH NO APPARENT WARNING JUST AS MINE DID. ALSO, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, MOPAR HAS 3 RECALLS ON 2009 300C. IT STATES THAT ALL 3 ON MY VIN# WERE REPAIRED. ACCORDING TO NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE 5 RECALLS FOR EXACT SAME VIN# AND NO REPAIRS. I SPOKE WITH BOBBY SPAINHOWARD, A MECHANIC, AT FORD PEACH. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM WAS THE PIN IN THE CAMSHAFT BROKE IN HALF FOR NO REASON, CAUSING TIMING ASYNCHRONIZATION. THIS LED TO THE RODS BENDING AND STRONG POSSIBILITY OF VALVE AND PISTON DAMAGE. HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED A BRAND NEW MOTOR DUE TO THE DAMAGE.