NHTSA Complaint #10184863 — 2005 DODGE DURANGO

WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 DODGE DURANGO IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. WE WERE DRIVING ONE DAY A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT AND NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT GO OUT AFTER THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. I THINK THERE IS A TYPE OF "SWITCH" WHICH SHUTS OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE AFTER (I BELIEVE) 15 MINUTES, SO EACH TIME WE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE THE LIGHTS STAYED ON A FEW MINUTES. AFTER ABOUT 4 DAYS OF THIS, I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP ONE DAY AND IT DID NOT START. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND WERE TOLD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK A FEW DAYS TO HAVE THE WORK DONE SINCE THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THEY DO NOT TYPICALLY KEEP THE PARTS IN STOCK FOR A 2005 SINCE IT IS NOT A PROBLEM GENERALLY SEEN ON A NEWER VEHICLE. WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE WITH THE RECENT RECALL WAS "THE COMPANY SAID IF DRIVERS NOTICE PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. IN SOME CASES, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT PROPERLY DIM AFTER THE DOORS ARE CLOSED." WELL, THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WE HAVE, BUT OUR VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB