2000 Dodge Intrepid review from North America

This car has been very wonderful to drive until this past weekend. I got great gas mileage and it was a smooth, very comfortable drive, no matter where I took it. I had no problems with anything on the car until last Saturday morning. I dropped off my grandson and the engine died. This was the first time this had ever happened, so I thought it seemed rather strange. I took it in to have the oil changed right away - it had just passed the 3,000 mile mark and I am faithful about having it changed regularly. As the oil was draining from the engine, the technician remarked that there were metallic flakes in the oil and this was not a good sign. He claimed he had never seen anything like this in a car so well taken care of and he recommended that I take it in and have it checked immediately. I left the station and drove about a mile and a half when this horrible thunk sounded and the car died. I phone my family and we re-started the engine, but it was shot. I was told by the dealer that this is a common problem now among 2.7 liter engines and that there is no repair available under $5,000.00. I have only had the car for 6 months and I still owe $4300.00 on it, so I cannot afford a $5,000. engine that will probably do the same thing again in a short period of time. Dodge needs to own up to the fact that this is a critical problem. I imagine it will take someone's life to cause them to start paying attention to what the consumers are saying. It simply isn't fair to not stand behind one's product. Is there any recourse available?