While you expect legitimate companiesto put all their effort in serving their customers, a major company like Chrysler
is inevitably going to create one or two stinkers. They just make too many things to always produce winners every time. Even Tesla has had autopilot flaws
. However, some problems, like a car having the worst engine, are more memorable than others.
The making of the worst engine: The Chrysler 2.7 liter V6
According to MotorBiscuit
, Chrysler put six cylinders in a small displacement V6. It had 24 valves, aluminum block and cylinder heads. It also included chain-driven dual overhead camshafts and a forged steel crankshaft. This made it small enough to wedge near the firewall, which gave it a lower center of gravity. It got about 200 hp, though it lost power over the years.
Marspeed
says Chrysler built this engine in 1998. The company thought it needed a lightweight and efficient engine. Chrysler re-engineered it in 2004 to fit the LX.It had about 190 pounds of torque, and it was put in many Dodge and Chrysler cars between 1998 and 2009. The first car that got this engine was a Dodge Concorde.
Other cars that used this engine were 300M, Stratus, Sebring, Magnum SE, and Avenger. Some, like the Journey and 300M, were sold only in the non-US markets.
Redditors
commented that this was the worst engine in their Dodge Charger, though someone did manage to nurse a 2002 Dodge Intrepid with it.MORE: The Worst Dodge Caliber SRT4 Modifications
Symptoms of the worst engine
Unfortunately, they put the 2.7 liter V6 in heavy cars. Chargers are 3,800 pounds, and the Sebrings were 3,100 pounds. The lack of power in the engine meant that the acceleration from 0 to 60 was in the 9.5 to 17 seconds range.
It wasn't just the worst engine for speed, though. It was the worst engine for reliability because it clogged easily.
The water seeping into the engine would turn it into a gel-like substance. A commenter on Reddit called it a sludge machine.
Owners spent a lot of money on regular oil changes with this engine. The sludge would reduce oil flow, and this made the engine operate at higher temperatures.
Its water pump leaked into the crankshaft, too. The metal separator plate failed to seal it, and the water diluting the oil damaged the engine. It would often die when cars reached 63,000 miles.
There were five court cases in February 2009 over these problems. Customers sued for money spent on engine repair.
MORE: Kia Sedona vs. Chrysler Pacifica: a Recent Recall Just Made the Choice for You
What do you do with it?
The water pump problem could be fixed if you caught it early. Chrysler issued a conventional gasket, and you could install that before the car stalled.
Chrysler also claimed to fix the engine's problems in 2004. Complaints about the engine keep piling up, though. In fact, the five cars that get the most complaints about sludge are still cars with this engine.
Mostly, people replace the subpar engine with a 3.5-liter V6. It doesn't leak, and it is stronger.
However, replacing the worst engine may cost quite a bit. The engine costs about $1,000.
Insurance that saves money for better engines
If you do get a car with an engine like the 2.71 V6, you might want to save up for a replacement. A great way of doing that is to get a cheap insurance policy.
Jerry
can find a cheap policy for you with its app
by scouring big insurance companies for the best deals. In fact, it saves the average user over $800 a year.