NHTSA Complaint #754621 — 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING, ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SHOP, THEY TOLD US THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. WE HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SHOP THAT CONFIRMED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED US OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND TOLD US TO CONTACT CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER TOLD US THE CAR NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT AT A DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO RAINIER DODGE. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND TOLD US THE CAR HAD THROWN A ROD, THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE HEAD GASKETS. IT WILL COST BETWEEN 2500.00 AND 4000.00 TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN THE CAR. WE FEEL THAT CHRYSLER IS RESPONSIBLE AND THEIR DEALER IS ONLY COVERING FOR THEM. WE STILL OWE 5900.00 ON THE CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT NEW MOTOR IN. WHEN WE ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT AT RAINIER WHY A CAR WOULD THROW A ROD WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ANSWER WE REC'D WAS IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AND THEY CAN GUARANTEE THAT IT WAS NOT THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING THAT CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SEIZE. CAN YOU HELP?*AK