Chrysler's 2.7 Liter engine might be defective allowing sludge build up leading to catastrophic engine failure.

This is an investigation which began based upon numerous consumer complaints alleging engine failure in Chrysler's 2.7 Liter engines, which are found in over 750,000 Chrysler vehicles manufactured between 1998 and 2004.

Consumers have complained that there are multiple design defects in these engines allowing engine sludge to buildup eventually causing catastrophic engine failure. Specifically, that in many 1998-2000 2.7L Engines a defectively designed Timing Chain Tensioner is responsible for catastrophic engine failure. In 1998-2004 Dodge / Chrysler 2.7L Engines a defectively designed water pump allows coolant to enter the Engine over time and cause oil sludge. Also in the 1998-2004 2.7L engines, there can be a build up of engine sludge due to poor oil circulation caused by oil passages that are too narrow causing the oil to wear down more rapidly unlike normal engines. Chrysler has received hundreds of complaints about the premature failure of these engines. Despite these complaints, Chrysler asserts the 2.7L engine is not defective and that most of these engine failures are due to improper maintenance by the vehicles' owners.