NHTSA Complaint #10188184 — 2006 DODGE DURANGO

ISSUE I: STALL VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN A SLOPING ROAD THAT CURVED TO THE RIGHT APPROX 35-45 MPH. STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND I REALIZED MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS NO LONGER RUNNING. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I RECENTLY WENT ONLINE TO DISCOVER TO MY HORROR THAT I AM NOT ALONE. IN FACT, ON ONE DISCUSSION GROUP OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE REPORTED EXPERIENCING STALLS. I HAVE A PREGNANT WIFE. I AM CONCERNED THAT WERE THIS TO HAPPEN TO HER SHE WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO CONTROL SUCH A LARGE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. ISSUE II: REPEATED WARPING OF BRAKES. HAD VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 6,000 MILES WHEN NOTED PULSATION OF BRAKES. AT NEXT SERVICE I INQUIRED ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE GROUND DOWN. I FELT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER DECLINED. APPROX. 4,000 MILES LATER THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO RE-OCCUR. I NOTED PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP AT NEXT SERVICE. THEY EXPRESSED THE ROTORS ARE WARPED. DEALERSHIP ACCUSED ME OF DRIVING TO AGGRESSIVELY AS BEING THE ONLY CAUSE. I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS AS VALID. I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER. I HAVE SEEN THAT NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE SINCE READ THAT IMPROPERLY TORQUING THE LUG NUTS MAY BE A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK IT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT BREAKS ON A NEW VEHICLE TO LAST MORE THAN 4K-6K MILES BEFORE NEEDING MAINTENANCE. MY LAST SUV REQUIRED ONE SIGNIFICANT BREAK SERVICE DURING THE 115,000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ENDANGER THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I FEEL THAT NEITHER ISSUE HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY ADDRESSED BY DODGE. *JB