NHTSA Complaint #10060386 — 2001 DODGE DURANGO

IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, I WAS DRIVNG MY 2001 DURANGO HOME FROM WORK AND HEARD A "CLUNKY" NOISE. THINKING I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I STOPPED AND LOOKED AND SAW NOTHING. WHEN I GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES. THE NEXT MORNING, HE DROVE TO MCKINNEY DODGE (ABOUT 10 MILES ON THE FREEWAY) AND AS HE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO THEIR PARKING LOT, THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL TURNED COMPLETELY SIDEWAYS AND BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN ON THAT SIDE. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SAW MY VEHICLE WITH THE WHEEL TURNED OUTWARDS AND FRONT END DOWN ON TOP OF IT. THEY FIXED THIS UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE MAG WHEEL TO BEND AND THE TIRE NOT TO HOLD AIR, SO WE HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $50 TO HAVE THAT FIXED BEFORE WE COULD EVEN DRIVE IT. THE SERVICE MAN HAD CALLED ME AT WORK AND TOLD ME HOW FORTUNATE WE WERE THAT MY HUSBAND WAS NOT STILL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THIS WAS A VERY UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE. I NOW FEEL THAT WE WERE DECEIVED BY DODGE TRYING TO COVER UP THIS PROBLEM AND WORRY ABOUT OUR DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN IN THEIR NEW 2003 DURANGO. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY AND THE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. OUR DURANGO HAD ABOUT 39,400 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.*AK