NHTSA Complaint #10049391 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN MIAMI, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE OIL PRESURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AND ALL POWER TO CAR WAS LOST. NO STEERING, BRAKING OR CONTROL OF ANY NATURE OVER THE VEHICLE WAS POSSILBE. THIS I MAY ADD OCCURRED WHILE HEADING FOR A TOLL BOOTH.WHILE STILL COASTING I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS AS IF I WERE PUSHING ON A CONCRETE WALL. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE TOLL BOOTH I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, I COULD ONLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 1/2 INCH, LUCKILY THIS WAS ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE CAR TO GRADUALLY MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER. I COASTED TO A STOP ABOUT 1/4 MILE OR MORE PAST THE TOLL BOOTH. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AS IT WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I DID HAVE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE LIGHTS AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS. I RAISED THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, IT WAS FINE, THE MOTOR WAS NOT EXCESIVELY HOT, IN FACT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT ABOVE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE. THE CAR IS AT MY MECHANICS NOW BEING CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. I DID NOT TAKE TO THE DEALER AS I DO NOT TRUST THEIR HONESTY NOR WORK, AFTER ALL THEY BUILT THIS INFERIOR DEATH TRAP CALLED A DURANGO. I TRULY BELEIVE THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, NO CAR SHOULD LOOSE COMPLETE STEERAGE AND STOPPING ABILITY UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. I WAS TRAVELING AT 60MPH IN A HEAVILY CONGESTED CITY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE A 2 TON HUNK OF STEEL. HOW LUCKY WAS I AND OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD TO BE ALIVE AND UNINJURED? *AK