Dodge Intrepid Oil Sludge
Engine Failure and the Dodge Intrepid 2.7-liter V6 engine
May, 2005 - Chrysler spokesman Sam Locricchio said the automaker has only 600 complaints, and some of those may be duplicates. About 750,000 1998-2002 vehicles have the 2.7-liter V-6, and sludge failures are not "a widespread problem."
Oh, really?
click here for NEW CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INFORMATION
FILE COMPLAINTS
This step is crucial. Don't just complain on forums. The sites below actually manage your complaint in ways that allow useful statistics, and they report dangerous trends to the authorities. Law firms contact these sites for help with Class Action lawsuits.
Make sure to file your complaint on all three sites. We can't stress that enough.
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Make sure to add your complaint to each of these web sites.
RESEARCH THE PROBLEM
I own and manage CarComplaints.com, a website for looking up car problems.
Since 2001, the most commonly reported problem has been engine failure or timing chain problems with Chrysler's 2.7l engine, all caused by oil sludge. The oil sludge is produced by an apparent design defect with the 2.7-liter engine.
Here is a sample problem graph for the 2000 Dodge Intrepid. Not surprisingly, the category on the left with by far the most complaints - 17 times more than any other category - is Engine Problems.
The same defective 2.7l engine is used in these vehicles:
.. as well as the 1998-2002 Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Concorde, Sebring & 300M.
The Center for Auto Safety - "Sludged" -
Founded by Ralph Nader, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a powerful pro-consumer organization that lobbies Congress & gets involved in legal battles with automakers.
The CAS has written several high-profile letters to Daimler Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche in regard to the oil sludge problem with the Dodge Intrepid.
START / JOIN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
As far as we know, the only class action lawsuit filed so far was on September 24, 2007 for residents of New Jersey. Click here for more information.
CALL / MAIL CHRYSLER
If you have the patience, lodge a complaint with Daimler Chrysler Customer Service.
Specifically mention that you're responding to their spokesperson's comments that they only have 600 complaints on the record.
1-800-992-1997 or 1-800-521-9922
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM EST
If you don't have the patience for the phone, send your complaint by mail to:
Dieter Zetsche
President & Chief Executive Officer
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills MI 48326-2766
REPLACE YOUR BLOWN 2.7L ENGINE
However you decide to fix your blown 2.7L V6 engine, do not put in another defective 2.7L engine. Find a mechanic to swap up to a 3.2/3.5L engine instead. Here's why:
- The 3.2/3.5L engine doesn't have the design defect that causes oil sludge to form in the 2.7L V6.
- The 3.2/3.5L engines are less expensive than the 2.7L, sometimes by $1,000 or more.
- The 2.7L to 3.x swap is fairly straightforward & does not require any custom parts or other major components be replaced.
Here's a thread about a successful 2.7 to 3.2L engine swap & what's involved.
Some companies sell "fixed" 2.7L V6 replacement engines that supposedly have been modified to fix the oil sludge defect. We have not heard back from enough owners who have gone this route to be able to form an educated opinion on this method. Usually though, the cost of the modified 2.7L engine is prohibitive.
CHRYSLER ON THE RECORD
May 2005 -
Chrysler spokesman Sam Locricchio said the automaker has only 600 complaints, and some of those may be duplicates. About 750,000 1998-2002 vehicles have the 2.7-liter V-6, and sludge failures are not "a widespread problem."
April 2005 -
Chrysler says many of the complaints are duplicates, don't have vehicle identification numbers that match the complainant's name, or simply have "bad data."
"We can help or review cases of those who come to us directly, or if we are provided data to find the customer," says Chrysler group spokesman Sam Locricchio. "If we don't have records, we can't begin to help."
Dealers also are reluctant to talk about sludge for fear of angering the manufacturer. When queried about sludge, one Chrysler dealer in the Northeast snorted, "Don't ask."
In contrast to what Chrysler says, this is a typical response from Chrysler Customer Service:
Thank you for your email to DaimlerChrysler regarding your 2000 Dodge Intrepid.
Your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience involved in
this issue, are understandable. However, your request for consideration in this
matter must be declined, because the vehicle in question has exceeded the time and
mileage limitations of the manufacturer's warranty at the time the expense was incurred.
OTHER OIL SLUDGE SITES
OIL SLUDGE IN THE NEWS
- Automotive News: Sludged - April 18, 2005
- AutoWeek: Consumer advocacy group says Chrysler V6 has sludge problems - Sept. 3, 2004
click here for NEW CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INFORMATION
FILE COMPLAINTS
RESEARCH THE PROBLEM
I own and manage CarComplaints.com, a website for looking up car problems.
Since 2001, the most commonly reported problem has been engine failure or timing chain problems with Chrysler's 2.7l engine, all caused by oil sludge. The oil sludge is produced by an apparent design defect with the 2.7-liter engine.
Here is a sample problem graph for the 2000 Dodge Intrepid. Not surprisingly, the category on the left with by far the most complaints - 17 times more than any other category - is Engine Problems.
The same defective 2.7l engine is used in these vehicles:
.. as well as the 1998-2002 Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Concorde, Sebring & 300M.
The Center for Auto Safety - "Sludged" - Founded by Ralph Nader, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a powerful pro-consumer organization that lobbies Congress & gets involved in legal battles with automakers.
The CAS has written several high-profile letters to Daimler Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche in regard to the oil sludge problem with the Dodge Intrepid.
START / JOIN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
As far as we know, the only class action lawsuit filed so far was on September 24, 2007 for residents of New Jersey. Click here for more information.
CALL / MAIL CHRYSLER
If you have the patience, lodge a complaint with Daimler Chrysler Customer Service.
Specifically mention that you're responding to their spokesperson's comments that they only have 600 complaints on the record.
1-800-992-1997 or 1-800-521-9922
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM EST
If you don't have the patience for the phone, send your complaint by mail to:
Dieter Zetsche
President & Chief Executive Officer
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills MI 48326-2766
REPLACE YOUR BLOWN 2.7L ENGINE
However you decide to fix your blown 2.7L V6 engine, do not put in another defective 2.7L engine. Find a mechanic to swap up to a 3.2/3.5L engine instead. Here's why:
- The 3.2/3.5L engine doesn't have the design defect that causes oil sludge to form in the 2.7L V6.
- The 3.2/3.5L engines are less expensive than the 2.7L, sometimes by $1,000 or more.
- The 2.7L to 3.x swap is fairly straightforward & does not require any custom parts or other major components be replaced.
Some companies sell "fixed" 2.7L V6 replacement engines that supposedly have been modified to fix the oil sludge defect. We have not heard back from enough owners who have gone this route to be able to form an educated opinion on this method. Usually though, the cost of the modified 2.7L engine is prohibitive.
CHRYSLER ON THE RECORD
May 2005 - Chrysler spokesman Sam Locricchio said the automaker has only 600 complaints, and some of those may be duplicates. About 750,000 1998-2002 vehicles have the 2.7-liter V-6, and sludge failures are not "a widespread problem."
April 2005 - Chrysler says many of the complaints are duplicates, don't have vehicle identification numbers that match the complainant's name, or simply have "bad data." "We can help or review cases of those who come to us directly, or if we are provided data to find the customer," says Chrysler group spokesman Sam Locricchio. "If we don't have records, we can't begin to help." Dealers also are reluctant to talk about sludge for fear of angering the manufacturer. When queried about sludge, one Chrysler dealer in the Northeast snorted, "Don't ask."
In contrast to what Chrysler says, this is a typical response from Chrysler Customer Service:
Thank you for your email to DaimlerChrysler regarding your 2000 Dodge Intrepid. Your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience involved in this issue, are understandable. However, your request for consideration in this matter must be declined, because the vehicle in question has exceeded the time and mileage limitations of the manufacturer's warranty at the time the expense was incurred.
OTHER OIL SLUDGE SITES
OIL SLUDGE IN THE NEWS
- Automotive News: Sludged - April 18, 2005
- AutoWeek: Consumer advocacy group says Chrysler V6 has sludge problems - Sept. 3, 2004