NHTSA Complaint #10102847 — 2003 DODGE DURANGO

DODGE DURANGO 2003 BROUGHT OCTOBER 2003. ON OCTOBER 21, 2004 WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK (A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL), A WOMAN FELL ASLEEP AND HIT THE DURANGO FROM BEHIND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE ONCOMING LANE OF A TWO-LANE MINOR HIGHWAY (RTE 187) AND WENT INTO THE FRONT YARD OF A HOME AND HIT A TREE. SPEED LIMIT IS 35. THE FRONT PASSENGER NOSE OF THE DURANGO IMPACTED WITH THE TREE. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY (STATE FARM). THE ITEM WE WISH TO DRAW TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR INVOLVED THE SUSPENSION ROD, WHICH CAME OFF AND UP THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CARAND THROUGH THE ROOF. HAD ANYONE BEEN SITTING THERE THEY WOULD HAVE MOST CERTAINLY BEEN SKEWERED. THANKFULLY, I HAD JUST DROPPED MY CHILDREN OFF . MY 16 YEAR OLD NORMALLY SITS UP FRONT. ONE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY AS WELL. THE SHOULDER PART OF THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY UPPER BODY WAS ALLOWED TO BANG AROUND. I SPENT 4 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 5 WEEKS. I AM STILL ONLY ON LIGHT DUTY DUE TO THE CONDITION OF MY KNEE AND THE POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME I AM HAVING. THE WAY THE DURANGO CAME APART SEEMED UNUSUAL, ESPECIALLY THE ROD THROUGHT THE FLOOR AND SEAT. WE WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT.*AK