NHTSA Complaint #739622 — 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING APPROX. 1 QT. OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER SAID FAILURE WAS DUE TO INCOMPATABLE METALS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE DESIGN FLAW WAS IN THE WAY THE GASKET WAS MANUFACTURED USING MULTIPLE LAYERS. AFTER TIME THE LAYERS WILL SEPERATE AND ALLOW LEAKAGE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $451.00, COST OF PARTS IS $136.00 FOR TWO GASKETS (HEAD AND VALVE COVER) AND OIL CHANGE, THE REMAINDER BEING LABOR. I FEEL THIS FAILURE IS FROM A DESIGN FLAW AND NOT FROM NORMALLY WEAR AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE RESPONCIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, SINCE IT WAS AN ENGINEERING FAILURE.*AK