NHTSA Complaint #10041082 — 2003 DODGE DURANGO

ON JUNE SIXTH, MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM. I LOWERED MY SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 M.P.H. DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN WHEN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC SLOWED. I DECELERATED KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND WHEN I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, I SAW A BLUE FORD RANGER APPROACHING. I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE APPROACHING WAS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME. THE RANGER STRUCK OUR VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 M.P.H. OUR VEHICLE WAS STILL TRAVELING FORWARD SO THE IMPACT WAS DISSIPATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 M.P.H. THE INSTANT THE VEHICLE STRUCK OURS, THE REAR HATCH POPPED OPEN DEPOSITING SOME OF OUR LUGGAGE AND ARTICLES ONTO THE ROADWAY WHERE THEY WERE STUCK BY THE VEHICLE THAT STRUCK OURS, DAMAGING THE ITEMS. MY CONCERN WAS THAT IF I HAD AN UNSECURED OCCUPANT IN THE THIRD SEAT, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CONDUCTED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION BUT TO MY DISMAY, THEY HAVE OBSTRUCTED ME IN EVERY INQUIRY OF THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION. I AM REQUESTING AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION IN THE HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE THERE ARE ANY INJURIES. *JB