NHTSA Complaint #10140206 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO THAT EXPERIENCED AN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. THE OIL WAS DISAPPEARING NEARLY EVERY 500 MILES. THERE WAS NO SMOKING OR ANY TYPE OF LEAKS. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS USING FOUR OR FIVE QUARTS OF OIL RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE UPPER PLENUM AND THROTTLE BODY WAS REMOVED TO DETERMINE THE LEAK SITE. THE GASKET THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SEAL THE INTAKE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD APPARENTLY NOT ADHERED TO THE BOTTOM ON THE INTAKE AND ALONG THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT CHRYSLER MADE SOME DESIGN CORRECTIONS, BUT THE CYLINDER HEADS WILL COLLECT AND BLOW OVER INTO THE ENGINE, AND EVENTUALLY WILL BE EXPELLED FROM THE VEHICLE ON THE GROUND OR BURNED OUT. IT COULD COLLECT EIGHT TO TEN QUARTS BEFORE EXPELLING. THE REPAIR WAS MADE , AND A GASKET WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT WAS REPLACED. THE GASKET DID NOT NECESSARILY FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE GASKET DID NOT PERMANENTLY ADHERED TO THAT AREA. THEY RETRACTED IT DUE TO HOT AND COLD TEMPERATURES, AND COULD NOT ADHERE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAS ANOTHER 1999 DODGE DURANGO THAT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS A PINHOLE ON THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR THAT ALLOWED THE FREON TO ESCAPE AND ENTER IN TO OTHER DURANGOS. *AK