NHTSA Complaint #10206371 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

AFTER LOADING OUR BOAT AT A RESERVOIR AND PREPPING THE BOAT ON THE TRAILER, I STARTED THE DURANGO TO LEAVE THE LAKE, AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. A GUY FROM THE MARINA CAME BY AND SAID "IT'S KNOCKING ISN'T IT, THAT IS THE THIRD DODGE THIS SUMMER. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND WAITING A WEEK FOR A DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN EVACUATION CANISTER MOUNTED ON THE FRAME RAIL ABOUT MID-VEHICLE. IF THE VENT TO THIS CANISTER GETS IN THE WATER IT WILL SUCK WATER INTO THE INTAKE OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD HYDRO-LOCKED AND WAS DESTROYED. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, CHRYSLER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED SUBMERGED.6 WEEKS AND $7000.00 IN REPAIRS AND RENTAL CAR FEES, WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN OUR VEHICLE BACK. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT GETTING IN WATER UP TO THE HUBS OF THE REAR WHEELS, I WOULD BE AT RISK OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. I AM NOT SURE THAT IT WAS EVEN IN THAT DEEP WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME. I AM GOING TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. *TR