NHTSA Complaint #10136533 — 2001 DODGE DURANGO

ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 28, 2005 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INDIANA TOLL ROAD NEAR MICHIGAN CITY, IN., MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, SHORTLY AFTER THAT WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. IT WAS AT THAT POINT WE DISCOVERED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD BEEN SMOKING AND AS WE WERE SLOWING DOWN WE COULD HEAR CLUNKING COMING FROM THE REAR-END. THAT NIGHT THE DURANGO WAS TOWED TO MICHIGAN CITY, AND THE NEXT DAY IT WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP LOCHMANDY MOTORS IN ELKHART, IN FOR REPAIR. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND INSPECTION FROM AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR FROM HIRED BY INSURANCE COMPANY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING IN THE REAR-END FAILED AND CAUSED THE REAR AXLE TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1795.60. MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO ONLY HAS 59736 MILES ON IT, BUT NONE THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY NOT TO MENTION THE TOWING COSTS. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR AGREED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING BREAKING WAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I FEEL ALL COSTS FOR THE REPAIR AND TOWING OF MY DODGE DURANGO SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER. *NM