NHTSA Complaint #10030490 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

I HAD A COMPLETE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT JUST OVER 60,000 MILES. I CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY ACTED AS IF IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. COST ME $2000 DOLLARS FOR A COMPLETE REBUILD. THEN AFTER ONE MONTH OF HAVING TRANSMISSION REDONE THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT AND COST ME ANOTHER $800 DOLLARS. I COMPLAINED AGAIN AND AGAIN WAS TREATED AS IF IT WERE MY FAULT. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT WORKS FOR A LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD ME THAT DODGE DOES KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ARE DENYING IT EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF RECALLS THAT WOULD RESULT. HE SAID THEY DID A STUDY AND FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE INSTALLED FROM '97 UNTIL 2000 WERE TO SMALL TO HANDLE THE PAYLOAD OF THE DURANGO. THEY HAVE SINCE FIXED THAT PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ADMIT TO EARLIER DAMAGES TO THE EARLIER MODELS. BY THE WAY, DODGE ONLY CHARGES THE DEALERS $400 DOLLARS FOR THE REBUILD KITS. *PH