NHTSA Complaint #10140153 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 600 FROM MY HOUSE IN MY 1999 GREEN DODGE DURANGO 4 DOOR THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH A PARKED CAR. I HAD THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN WARREN MICHIGAN I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING SEAL BLEW CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING. THE LOSS OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AS YOU KNOW MAKES DRIVING HARDER THAT A CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING AT ALL. I ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE DCC LOOK INTO THE CAUSE OF THIS FAILURE WHICH CAUSE THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR LEAKS OR LOSS OF FLUID. THE INVESTIGATION LETTER STATED THAT A VEHICLE THAT WAS BUILT JUNE 23, 1999 AND HAD 66,006 MILES WOULD HAVE THESE KINDS OF FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED LESS THAN 3000 MILES PRIOR WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR AIR CONDITIONING CORE ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP DID AN INSPECTION AND FOUND OTHER LEAKS BUT DID NOT FIND ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I HAVE LOOKED ALL AROUND THE VEHICLE AND OPERATOR'S MANUAL WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION THAT STEERING CAN BE HAMPERED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OLDER THAN 50K MILES. THE COST OF THE WORK TO GET HE SUSPENSION , BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS , CONTROL ARMS, YOU NAME IT WILL BE JUST LESS THAN $5,000 DOLLARS. DOES DCC KNOW PEOPLE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. I HOPE THIS WILL NOT GO ON UNFOUND EARS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!! STACY SCICLUNA, WARREN MICHIGAN 586-757-7947 . *NM