NHTSA Complaint #10243312 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONE TO WORK. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED, LIGHTS WENT OFF AND POWER STEERING WENT OFF. SHE MANAGED TO USE THE CAR MOMENTUM TO DIRECT THE CAR INTO A SIDE ROAD, WITHOUT HITTING ANY OTHER CARS. SHE WAS 30 SECS. FROM THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE). SHE MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR ( ALL OTHER DOORS TO THE CAR WERE LOCKED EXCEPT THE DRIVER DOOR - WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BACK SEAT ?)) AND NOTICED BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. SHE CALLED AAA AND WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO STATELINE DODGE IN FORT MILL. THE BATTERY AND CONNECTIONS WERE SO HOT THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULD NOT TOUCH THEM..AND STILL SMOKING. THE GARAGE EXAMINED THE BATTERY CABLES AND VERIFIED THEY WERE MELTED TOGETHER(SEE INVOICE). WE WOULD NEED A NEW BATTERY AND CABLE. I CALLED THE GARAGE TO INFORM THEM THAT A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL D40 WAS ISSUED IN 2004, CONCERNING RE-ROUTING THE BATTERY CABLE AS IT COULD LEAD TO AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. I WAS EXPECTING NOT TO BE CHARGED WITH THE BATTERY AND REPLACEMENT CABLE. HOWEVER THE RECALL NOTICE TALKS ABOUT CABLE CONTACT WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM OF THE SUSPENSION AND IN MY CASE THE CONTACT WAS WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECYCLE TUBE, WHICH IS 1" AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ARM. I WAS CHARGED $460 FOR THE WORK AND AM NOW WRITING TO CHRYSLER FOR RECOMPENSE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SERIOUS ISSUE FOR DURANGO OWNERS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON A FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE CUTS OUT OR YOUR CAR IS PARKED IN YOUR GARAGE AT NIGHT AND THE BATTERY IS RED HOT. THIS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO CABLES CONTACTING THE EGR TUBE. *TR