NHTSA Complaint #10152833 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE DRIVING ON I-91 SOUTH IN MA (IN THE EVENING, WITH TWO OF MY KIDS AGES 5 & 7) IN MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO SUV THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CUT OUT - TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT DARK. THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON AND THE RADIO CONTINUED TO FUNCTION. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND THE IGNITION KEY WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION - THIS WAS NOT CAUSED THE MY HAVING INADVERTENTLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, ETC OR BY THE CAR HAVING BEEN INADVERTENTLY TURNED OFF. THIS WAS A SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FLASHERS ON (THEY WORKED) AND COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO PARK. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. I CHECKED THE HEADLIGHTS -- THEY WENT ON AND OFF. I CHECKED THE RADIO IT WENT ON AND OFF. I WAITED A MOMENT TO COLLECT MY THOUGHTS. THEN, I TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP NO PROBLEM. I LET THE ENGINE IDLE FOR A MOMENT AND CHECKED FOR ANY ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS - THERE WERE NONE. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND PROCEEDED ON THE SHOULDER FOR A SHORT DISTANCE TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD GO. IT DID. I WAS ABLE TO ENTER BACK ON TO THE INTERSTATE AND RESUME BY TRIP. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PERFECTLY NORMALLY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. I VEHICLE HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY SINCE THEN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS ENGINE CUT OUT PROBLEM HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROBLEM COULD RECUR AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. WHILE FORTUNATELY THIS TIME THAT AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR AND NO ONE WAS INJURED, IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT GIVEN A DIFFERENT SITUATION AND THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED THERE COULD EASILY BE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH AND/OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, AS WELL AS PROPERTY DAMAGE. A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB