NHTSA Complaint #10102659 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS CONTACTED IN JULY BY CHRYSLER WHO SAID THAT MY 04 DODGE DURANGO SLT HAD A "HOT BAKE PAINT PROBLEM." THE FEMALE REP. ASKED IF I HAD NOTICED ANY PAINT FADING OR OTHER PROBLEMS. I TOLD HER "NO, NOT YET." I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE TRUCK BACK TO USA DODGE ALSO KNOWN AS MACK DODGE AND RETURN IT FOR ANOTHER TRUCK. THE SAME LEASE AGREEMENT STILL IN EFFECT, THE NEW TRUCK WOULD HAVE TO BE MSRP TO MSRP. I ASKED WHY THEY JUST WOULD NOT REPAINT IT AND PUT US IN A LOANER, SHE SAID, "SIR WOULDN'T YOU LIKE A NEW TRUCK !" I SAID, "YES !", ALREADY HAVING ABOUT 5,000 MILES I WOULD BE STARTING THE MILEAGE CLOCK TO ZERO. THEN I ASKED HOW DO I KNOW THAT THE NEW TRUCK I PICK OUT WON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD RUN THE VIN TO MAKE SURE. WELL I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER TRUCK MSRP TO MSRP EVEN AFTER CHECKING A FEW DEALERSHIPS. THE TRUCK GAVE US PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, STALL, NO START, NO STORED CODES ETC. THEY EVEN BLAMED IT ON THE KEY FOB ONCE. AFTER WHAT'S BEEN ON THE NEWS I AM GLAD THEY BOUGHT ME OUT OF THE TRUCK. I PRAY TO GOD THAT MY WIFE & 3 KIDS NEVER GOT HURT AND I WILL PRAY THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES EITHER. *JB