NHTSA Complaint #10256596 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

1999 DODGE DURANGO. BOUGHT USED IN 2003 W/70K MILES. BEFORE IT HIT 80K THE MOTOR HAD BLOWN AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN I-95. NO WARNINGS. TOWED TO GARAGE AND NEEDED TOP END REBUILT DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICANT IN THE TOP END. PRIVATE WARRANTY COMPANY COVERED HALF THE COST CLAIMING MY LACK OF MAINTANACE. JUST BEFORE 100K IT WOULD LOSE OIL PRESSURE WHEN WARMED UP AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND THEY REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT CLAIMING IT WAS BLOCKED WITH SLUDGE. WITHIN 500 MILES THE MOTOR BLEW AGAIN. HAD ENTIRE MOTOR REBUILT WITH NEW TOP END AND BOTTOM END, NEW BEARINGS ETC. FLUSHED AND CHANGED OIL EVERY 3K MILES FROM THEN TILL IT REACHED 125K MILES. ONCE AGAIN WHILE STOP AT TOLL BOOTH VEHICLE LOST OIL PRESSURE BUT WOULD COME BACK UP WHEN I APPLIED A LITTLE THROTTLE. TRIED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BUT WITHIN 100 FEET THE MOTOR STARTED BANGING AND THEN LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. TOWED IT BACK HOME AND CHECKED OIL. DIPSTICK SHOWED NOTHING. 2 DAYS LATER WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL THE LEVEL WAS GOOD. OIL MUST HAVE GOTTEN TRAPPED IN THE TOP END AND CAUSED THE BOTTOM END TO BE UNLUBRICATED AND FAIL. WHAT A POORLY DESIGNED ENGINE. VEHICLE SITS IN MY BACKYARD WITH ANOTHER BLOWN MOTOR. THANKS CHRYSLER. *TR