NHTSA Complaint #10154395 — 2002 DODGE DURANGO

NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEAD UP TO THIS FAILURE. THIS IS SIMPLY A DEFECTIVE, POORLY MANUFACTURER'S PART. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A SERIOUS INCIDENT IN THIS CASE, OTHERS MAY NOT BE. THE MAIN LEAF OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS BREAK AT THE FRONT EYE WHICH IS WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE REAR END IS FREE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH AS MUCH AS THE SHACKLE WILL LET IT, EFFECTIVELY ALLOWING YOUR REAR AXLE TO STEER THE REAR OF YOUR VEHICLE WHEREVER IT MAY CHOOSE (READ: VERY DANGEROUS.) I REPLACED THE LEAF SPRING WITH THE ISSUE (THE DRIVER'S SIDE) WITH A DODGE OEM PART ($175 FOR THE PART, 1.9 LABOR HOURS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IF I WERE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE IT.) I'M A VERY COMPETENT MECHANIC, SO THE LABOR HOUR INQUIRY WAS JUST FOR MY RECORDS. UPON COMPLETING THE CORRECTION TO THE SIDE WITH THE FAILURE, AND DURING THE TEST DRIVE, I EXPERIENCED LITERALLY AN IDENTICAL FAILURE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. AGAIN, I WAS LUCKY TO BE DRIVING SLOW AND PAYING ATTENTION ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE ISSUE BEFORE IT TURNED INTO A SERIOUS INCIDENT. I HAVE BOTH DEFECTIVE LEAF SPRINGS IN MY POSSESSION. THEY ARE BOTH OFF OF THE SAME VEHICLE, A 2002 DODGE DURANGO WITH JUST 60,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW, HAUL, OR COMPLETE ANY OTHER STRENUOUS ACTIVITY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WHEN JUST ONE BREAKS, THE REAR END HAS ENOUGH MOVEMENT TO STEER INTO THE CAR NEXT TO YOU. IF BOTH WERE TO BREAK, THIS COULD VERY POSSIBLY LEAD TO A CHAIN OF FAILURES RESULTING IN A SERIOUS INCIDENT. *NM