Issues
Two Owners Battle With Chrysler Over Sludge
Sunday, March 06, 2005 Christopher JensenPlain Dealer Columnist
Judy Elardo is from Brook Park and Karen Suchy is from Pittsburgh. They’ve been sludged, each has lost thousands of dollars and each is way beyond angry.
Their stories, which center on Chrysler’s 2.7-liter V-6, provide some lessons for consumers, lessons Elardo and Suchy learned at great expense.
Elardo bought her 1999 Dodge Intrepid in May 2002 with about 43,000 miles on it. Suchy bought her 2001 Dodge Stratus new.
Saab Extends Engine Warranty After Finding Sludge Problems
Thursday, March 03, 2005 Christopher Jensen
Plain Dealer Auto Editor
Saab is the latest automaker to acknowledge some of its engines could fail because of problems with sludge, a thickening of the oil.
Saab plans to inform the owners of about 132,000 vehicles this month that it is extending the warranty on its engines to eight years and unlimited miles from the time the vehicle was new, spokesman Tom Beaman said Wednesday.
Ditlow Urges Chrysler Recall
By Harry Stoffer
Automotive News / January 10, 2005
WASHINGTON — A consumer advocate wants the Chrysler group to extend warranties on hundreds of thousands of engines that he contends are prone to fail because of sludge buildup.
The engines are 2.7-liter V-6s, most of them in 1998-2002 Dodge and Chrysler cars.
VW Will Improve Guidelines for Sludge Repairs
By Ralph KisielAutomotive News / February 07, 2005
NEW ORLEANS — Volkswagen of America Inc. will work with dealers to develop less-stringent guidelines on free repairs for vehicles with oil-sludge problems.
Dealers have been asking VW for more lenient guidelines for owners who encounter problems with engine sludge even though they have maintained vehicles properly. The topic arose at VW’s make meeting.
2001-2003 Toyota Prius Battery Capacity Improvement
Click here for a copy of the Technical Service Bulletin.
1999-2003 Ford 4.6 & 5.4L Engine Cylinder Head/Gasket Oil Leak
1999-2003 Ford E Series, Expedition, F-150, Super Duty F-Series
2000-2001 Ford Excursion
1998-1999 Lincoln Navigator
Investigation Request to NHTSA – 1/24/05
Ford TSB – 2/6/02
Ford Service Dialogue – 8/03
What Call Is Worth a Life?
By Dan Carney
Washington Post
February 9, 2005
Phone driving is the drunken driving of the new millennium. Seemingly everyone does it, and all of them seem to believe that they are skilled in a way that prevents their powers of perception from being clouded by the fog of isolation that envelops drivers who talk oÂn the phone.
Father Dies from Pechanga Truck-Accident Burns
By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT
The Californian/North County Times
1/31/05
General Motors Fined $1 Million Over Windshield Wipers
On July 22, 2004, General Motors entered a settlement agreement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. General Motors paid a civil penalty of $1 million to settle charges that it failed to conduct a timely recall to correct a safety defect. The problem involved windshield wiper failure in 581,344 Trailblazers, Bravadas, Envoys and Isuzu Ascenders manufactured in 2002 and 2003.
Chrysler Doesn’t Budge on Sludge
Drivers complain that the 2.7-liter engine is prone to seizing up, but the auto maker blames poor maintenance
By Ralph Vartabedian
L.A. Times Staff Writer
December 15, 2004
Lisa Spilker has a shiny white 2001 Chrysler Concorde parked in her driveway, but it isn’t going anywhere. The car’s 2.7-liter engine was destroyed by oil sludge several months ago and now Spilker can’t afford the $6,500 cost of a new engine.