NHTSA Complaint #10238960 — 2002 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE RETURNING FROM A FAMILY VACATION(APP. 600MI. ROUND TRIP) THE DURANGO CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH, I FOUND THE TEMP GAUGE WAS HOT, WHILE LOOKING FOR A WIDE PLACE TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY THE MOTOR DIED. I OPENED THE HOOD TO TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS STILL FULL OF COOL FLUID, AND THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO COOL(ABOUT BODY TEMP) ALSO FOUND THE TOP RADIATOR HOSE WAS WAY TOO HOT TO TOUCH. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, ABOUT 30 MIN. LATER, I HEARD BUBBLING, AND GURGLES FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM, THEN THE RADIATOR WAS REALLY HOT. AFTER HAVING THE TOW TRUCK DROP IT OFF AT MY MECHANIC, HE SAID THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN(NO COMPRESSION IN CYLINDERS 2, 4, AND 6) PROBABLY CAUSED BY A STUCK THERMOSTAT. ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL FOR A REMANUFACTURED MOTOR APP. $6,000. *TR