TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY DECELERATE WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS STILL DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR DURING THE FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND BROWN SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY $4,500. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE HAS COMMON ENGINE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,049.