NHTSA Complaint #10086789 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

2000 DODGE DURANG: I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE, 2 CHILDREN, A FRIEND OF ONE OF MY CHILREN, AND MY FAMILY DOG, WHEN THE OIL GAUGE NEEDLE STARTED TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. IT INDICATED THAT I WAS LOOSING PRESURE AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. AFTER 2 MINUTES OF THIS, I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL. IT WAS FULL....... I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I WENT FURTHER DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ENTERED A SINGLE LANE CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHEN IT STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING. THIS TIME IT FINALLY WENT TO ZERO. HAVING NO WHERE TO GO FOR 2 MORE MILES, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT EXIT. I PUT ON MY HAZRD LIGHTS, AND DROVE 35MPH WHILE COASTING AS OFTEN AS I COULD. ONCE I GOT OFF THE EXIT, THE CAR STARTING TO MAKE A TICKING SOUND (LIFTERS) AND EVENTUALLY STOPED RUNNING. MY DODGE DURANGO HAD ONLY 44,000 MI. ON IT. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3-4,000 MI. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. NOW I AM TOLD I NEED A COMPLETELY REBUILT ENGINE. IT WILL COST ME $4,000+ TO REPAIR IT. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THIS PROBLEM TO BE TO COMMON. I CANNOT GET MY DEALERSHIP TO ACKNOWLEDGE SUCH AN OCCURANCE. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 90,000 MI WITH THE PROPER AMOUNT OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR RECALL IS IN ORDER. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE EVEN A CLASE ACTION LAW SUITE WILL COME OUT OF IT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN.*AK