: the contact stated while driving at 30mph, a pinging sound was heard coming from the engine. The engine was turned off for 45 minutes. When the engine was restarted the pinging noise remained. Again, the engine was shut off. However, the engine would not restart the second time. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection. The repairman determined the engine failed due to oil sludge buildup.

- West Newton, PA, USA

I am the unfortunate owner of a 2001 Chrysler Concorde with a burned out 2.7 liter engine, the same one you are investigating on this web site. I was driving to work on the morning of 7/25/05 on the northbound I90 expressway on grand island, N.Y. traveling at approx. 60 mph when the engine temperature indicated an engine overheating condition and began to shut down. I was fortunate to have good driving skills as this catastrophic engine failure shut down all power accessories on the vehicle. I had no power steering or power brakes at this point and was fortunate to be at the whitehaven rd. Exit. With much difficulty I was able to shift the car into neutral and coast onto the exit ramp and parked the Concorde on the shoulder of the road. Attempts to restart produced a grating metal on metal sound and I new the engine was shot. The same day I called around for the best price on the cost of an engine replacement and decided my best option was not to go to a Chrysler dealer as they do not honor any warranty for replacement of this engine and opted to have aaa deliver the car to my local garage for an engine replacement. It is now 11/27/2005 and I am unable to find an affordable engine replacement and still paying insurance and loan payments on the vehicle(I still owe $4.5K). My engine failed at 95K miles and I am told that this one of the better 2.7 liter engines, nonetheless I am stuck paying for a dead horse.

- Gowanda, NY, USA

Engine failure. We are looking for an engine to replace the 2.7 that was in our 2001 Chrysler Concorde.

- Wapakoneta, OH, USA

I purchased my car in Oct. 2004, with around 32,000 miles on it. May, 2005 ( with 54,000 miles) my engine gave up on me. I was driving highway speed on my way to work when my engine light popped on, two minutes later my engine stalled in the middle of traffic. I was able to restart my engine after about 15 min later. I had my vehicle towed to the nearest Chrysler dealer, I was told that I had low oil, resulting in sludge build up. I'd just received an a oil change on April 22, 2005. The dealership told me to see a salesman and purchase a new vehicle. I questioned him by asking how to fix my car, he said to purchase a new engine. I had my vehicle towed to 4 other dealerships and mechanics, they all said that I have some type of internal engine malfunction that can not be fixed. I contacted daimler, I was told that I was out of warranty, and they could not help me. Mean while, I have been paying on a vehicle that does not work, I have been missing work due to not having transportation, and I just got my vehicle eight months prior to failure, so I still owe more that four years on my car. Please enlighten me on what to do. I understand that there is a problem that needs to be addressed on behalf of daimler, why is there nothing being done about it?

- Port St. Lucie, FL, USA

I own a 2001 Chrysler Concorde with approximately 63,000. My wife was driving the car, when the engine seized up. We had it towed to a Chrysler garage in shinnston, wv where one technician admitted to many problems with the 2.7L engine. The garage manager, however, denied any problems. Although there were no injuries from this engine failure while driving, we have suffered severe economic injuries, as we have a car that is not paid for, not drivable, and will cost, at a minimum, $6,000 to fix. Although many internet sites tell of how many people are suffering the same consequences as we are, no one at Chrysler corporation will admit to this problem.

- Bridgeport, WV, USA

My car's performance had suffered a little. I was coming up on 60000 miles and decided to get some routine maintenance done. That was on Aug 13th, 2005. I went to start the car and it would not start. It worked fine the day before. I had it towed to a midas repair shop and they told me that it is a jumped timing issue. Basically it is an internal engine problem and they cannot fix it. I am having it looked at by another auto shop now to verify.

- North Charleston, SC, USA

2001 Chrysler Concorde developed a rattle in the engine.** answer required***. the consumer was informed the engine was full of sludge and needed to be replaced.

- Hudson, NC, USA

Consumer stated he ended up stranded on the side of the road on July 4, 2005 for two hours because the 2.7 liter engine in his car spun rod bearings. This was the first incident. He was climbing a hill going approx. 50 mph when the engine died. He dropped the oil pan and saw where the bearings had gone out. He hasn't talked to neither the dealer nor the manufacturer. The car has 85,000 miles on it. He has been on line and saw where people are having a sludge (buildup) problem similar to his problem. The consumer does have the old bearings and he is sure that is the problem.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

Caller's car died on side street without warning. Car was towed. Dealer said the engine was shot, and it will have to be replaced. Dealer did not tell caller what happened to engine. Other dealerships have told her that car was a lemon. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

Consumer states: The engine has a design failure that causes oil to sludge up inside motor, temperature gauge spiked. Drove 2 miles to the dealer and lost all coolant.

- Clermont, FL, USA

While driving driver heard a ping noise, the timing chain broke. Owner had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and was informed that there was an excess of motor sludge at the base of the motor. Owner stated that the oil was changed on time, every time. Also, owner was informed that the valves were bent.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

2001 Chrysler Concorde. Engine cut out while driving on a busy road with no warning! car had to be towed to Chrysler dealer. Chrysler service manager suggested a jasper motor ($7270.54) because the Chrysler 2.7 liter engine that came with the car was known to seize with sludge at 50,000 miles. Chrysler has not amended the current sludge problems with their 2.7 liter engine. They have not recalled the flawed 2.7 liter engine even though it was a safety hazard. Daimler Chrysler did, however extend the warranty on their Mercedes cars for engine sludge, and paid for engine replacements on Mercedes with sludge engines.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

While driving 25 mph the engine failed. Vehicle had to be towed to the nearest dealer, where the owner learned that the entire engine needed to be replaced.

- Shawnee Mission, KS, USA

The 2.7 liter original engine failed due to sludge build up. Consumer stated the engine would knock. Contacted the dealer. This engine was replaced with a new redesigned engine. Dealer sent an investigator to test the sludge.

- Hudson, NC, USA

Engine started knocking, returned 1/4 mile to repair shop, engine blown after 2nd start at repair shop. Everyone I have talked to about this 2.7L engine say that it is junk. This includes a person from a Chrysler dealership. Just look at the complaints on the internet for this engine.

- Carroll, OH, USA

I was driving my 2001 Chrysler Concorde from my home to go shopping in town, when the engine oil light came on, and my car suddenly died. It was towed to bob ridings Ford dealership, where I was told the engine had spun 3 rod bearings, due to engine sludge in motor. My vehicle has only 49,000 miles on it, and I have records of my oil changes. What am I supposed to do with this car. I have been told it is not under warranty, due to owner neglect. So now I am responsible for paying to have a replacement motor put in my car. Which is only 2 years old, and only had 23,217 miles on it when I bought it. If this is how Chrysler cars hold up, then I would suggest to other consumers to buy Japanese, as my husband has a 1985 Nissan 300zx, with 157,000 miles and has never had a motor problem, same oil, same oil changes as my Concorde.

- Taylorville, IL, USA

While driving 35 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front. Suddenly, vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined at that the engine needed to be replaced.

- Vernon, NJ, USA

12/29/03 took car to dealership to check out intermittant clicking noise in engine. Upon inspection found sludge. Service department recommended replacing engine with the long block. I asked the service manger what would cause this and he stated 'it just happens". the replacement estimate was $6500. We could not afford to pay $6500 out of our pocket and continued to drive and maintain the car. It continued to make the noise intermittantly. In May 2004 while driving the car it began making an awful noise. Upon pulling over the car died and the motor had seized. This has had a huge economic impact on our livelyhood. As this car was our only reliable form of transportation, we were forced to purchase a used car that we could make small payments on as we needed transportation. We are required to maintain monthly car payments on the Concorde and keep full coverage insurance on this useless car sitting in my drive way. I still owe two and a half years worth of payments. This car will sit in my driveway until I can save enough money to replace the engine which probably will be after the car is paid off in 2 1/2 years.

- Medical Lake, WA, USA

While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer was able to restart vehicle five minutes later. Then vehicle stopped again. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that engine needed to be replaced due to sludge built up.

- Cokato, MN, USA

FOIA email fwd fm tis request information re Chrysler's 2001 concord 2.7L engine.

- Uknown, DC, USA