NHTSA Complaint #709684 — 1994 DODGE INTREPID

GENTLEMEN: I JUST BOUGHT RECENTLY A DODGE INTREPID 1994 USED OF COURSE. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT IN GUADALAJARA MEXICO AND WAS WHEN NEW IMPORTED FROM THE USA. THE PROBLEM IS THE FOLLOWING: YESTERDAY, WE HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SO WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, WHO IN ORDER TO TEST IT AND HEAR THE NOISE, DROVE THE CAR TWO BLOCKS, AND WHEN TURNING IN A CORNER, SUDDENLY THE FRONT RIGHT SHAFT CAME OUT AND BROKE DOWN LEAKING OIL AND SPREADING SMALL METAL PARTS. WE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR BACK TO THE WORK SHOP AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REALLY IN THE SHAFT IN ITSELF, BUT THE MAIN FRAME OR (BASTIDOR) AS WE CALL IT IN MEXICO, WHO WAS TEARED OFF WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON, AS IT WAS NOT BEATEN, HITTED OR RUSTY IT HAS NO SHOW OF ANY HARM. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE SEES SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS THIS CAR WAS USED IN A HIGHWAY THE DAY BEFORE WITH MY FAMILY AND IF THIS SITUATION WAS PRESENT AT THAT TIME, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE RISK WE RAN ON AND THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH THE FRAME AND THE SHAFT, MEANING A STRONG DISBURSEMENT FOR ME, THEREFORE I WANT TO PRESENT MY CLAIM, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO BUY THE CAR A FRIEND CAME BY AND TOLD ME "REMEMBER, IT IS A CHRYSLER" MEANING WARNING. I SOLD A 1992 THUNDERBIRD SC IN GOOD CONDITIONS TO BUY THIS CAR AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BY FAR. MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO, ?DO I SELL THE CAR OR WHAT? BEST REGARDS AND THANKS...LUIS F. ASCENCIO