NHTSA Complaint #721515 — 1996 DODGE STRATUS

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THROUGH LASSEN COUNTY PARK IN CALIFORNIA, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW INTERNALLY AND I LOST ALL POWER, ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAILED TO GIVE ME ANY NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, MY FIRST NOTICE WAS THE VECHILE ACTUALLY LOSING ALL POWER. DURING THE INITIAL SEIZE UP, A FULL SIZE CHEVY PICK UP WAS BEHIND ME AND QUICKLY CAME UP ON ME AS I QUICKLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CHEVY WAS INCHES FROM HITTING MY LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL. (AT THIS MOMENT I WAS TERRIFIED, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE PROBLEM!). AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING INTERALLY IT CAUSED THE RODBEARINGS TO SPIN. I ULTIMATELY HAD TO HAVE THE RODS, RODBEARINGS, HEADGASKET, OIL FILTER, OIL PAN PICKUP, TIMING BELTS, INJECTION SEALS, OIL PAN, AIR FILTER, PCV VALVE, THERMOSTATE, EGR VALVE GASKET, EGR TUBE, CV SHAFT, SPARKPLUGS, FUEL FILTER REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $925.38. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MACHINE WORK DONE ON THE BOTTOM END OF MOTOR FOR A TOTAL OF $1,000. A GRAND TOTAL OF ALMOST $2,000! *AK