NHTSA Complaint #10121628 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

AT CHRISTMASTIME OUR TRANSMISSION BEGAN ACTING UP. WE BELIEVED THE HARSH WINTER WEATHER WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM BC ONCE THE ENGINE HEATED UP, THE VEHICLE DROVE JUST FINE. AT ANY RATE, WE TOOK IN TO BE SERVICED IN MARCH AND HAD THE 4X4 REAR DIFFERENTIALS FLUSHED AND SERVICED AND THE FLUID CHANGED. WHILE IT WAS IN FOR THAT REPAIR (AT A DEALERSHIP) THEY CALLED AND SAID THE 2 FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL, SO ASKED THEM ABOUT IT, BUT IT JUST FIGURES OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. SO, $1600 LATER, WE WENT AND PICKED IT UP AND SEEMED TO DRIVE JUST FINE. WELL, THEN 3 WKS. LATER I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE. I WAS STOPPED A RED LIGHT, AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I WENT TO GO AND IT JUST BARELY ACCELERATED. LUCKILY, THE RED LIGHT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND AND GET IT TO WHERE I WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. I WENT IN AND TOLD THE MECHANIC WHAT HAPPENED. THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WKS. IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER HAVING JUST BEEN SERVICED! IT COST $3300! OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS WE HAVE SPENT $4600 IN REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE THAT WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR! I AM IRRATE! WE EVEN BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 5 YRS. AGO, BUT NOW WITH 108,000 MILES IT'S NOT COVERED ANY LONGER (WARRANTY ONLY WENT TO 100,000). 2 YRS. AGO I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH DURANGO WHERE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL POPPED OFF AFTER ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT IT. WE DON'T BELIEVE HE COULD HAVE HIT IT WITH ENOUGH FORCE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. HIS WIFE EVEN SPOKE TO ME ABOUT THIS LAST CHRISTMAS AFTER THE RECALL CAME OUT. I AM FED UP WITH THIS TRUCK AND I WANT DODGE TO KNOW IT.