NHTSA Complaint #10129650 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

1. YEAR: 2004, MODEL/TYPE: DODGE/DURANGO (TWO WHEEL DRIVE, HEMI, V8) PURCHASED DATE/LOCATION: JUN 2003/AUGUSTA DODGE DEALER, AUGUSTA, GA. 30907 2. DEFEATED ELECTRONIC AND/OR WIRING CAUSING A HIGH SAFETY RISK WHILE DRIVING OR TO DRIVE. ISSUE: VEHICLE DEFEATED ELECTRONIC/WIRING CAUSES THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (KEY), THE OVER HEAD CONSOLE (COMPASS, TEMPERATURE, MINI-TRIP COMPUTER), AND THE HEATER/AC TO BECOMES INOPERATIVE. THE DEFEATED SYSTEMS, WHICH FIRST OCCURRED THREE WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE DATE AND RANDOM AFTERWARDS UNTIL NOW, ARE AS FOLLOW: WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATER/AC UNIT ON OR OFF, ALL THREE AREAS IDENTIFIED IN THE ISSUE ABOVE BECOMES INOPERATIVE OR SHUTS OFF. THEN SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE (HEATER/AC) BLOWER UNIT STARTS BLOWING, ON HIGH, HOT AIR (20 MINUTES DURATION UNTIL NOW). VEHICLE HAVE TO BE MANUALLY OPEN BY KEY AND ALARM TURN OFF BY TURNING THE IGNITION (WHICH WILL START THE DEFAULT BLOWER TO BLOW HIGH HOT AIR). NOTE: VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUGUSTA DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE WITH THE FIRST VISIT FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE DATE AND AGAIN TO THE LIPSENCE DODGE, WOODBRIDGE, VA IN JUNE 2005, (703) 494-1900/492-3619 (POCS: MR. PETE, SERVICE MANAGER), HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM/DEFEAT COULDN'T BE IDENTIFY BECAUSE OF THE RANDOM OCCURRENCE. AS OF 20 JULY 2005, I RETURNED MY VEHICLE BACK TO LIPSENCE DODGE BECAUSE THE DEFEATED PROBLEM IS CONTINUOS AND NOW CAUSING A HIGH SAFETY RISK FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. 3. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM (THREE TIMES) TO THE DODGE/CHYLSER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT 1800-992-1997 (REF# 1372540) AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY CALL AFTER BEING TOLD. I'M NOT GETTING ANY ASSISTANCE BUT REMINDED THAT MY WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT AND IT'S ON ME. I REQUEST THIS SAFETY ISSUE/VEHICLE DEFEAT BE INVESTIGATED. I HOPE NO ONE ELSE IS EXPERIENCING THIS AFTER GETTING A LOAN TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE FOR $41,000.00 AND OWE AROUND $31,000.000 AND BE DITCHED BY THE PRODUCT MAKER (DODGE/CHYSLER). JEROME W. LACY SR.