NHTSA Complaint #10257784 — 2003 DODGE DURANGO

AFTER REMOVING IGNITION KEY FROM VEHICLE, OWNER RETURNS TO VEHICLE TO FIND THAT IGNITION KEY WILL NOT STAY IN KEY SLOT OR TURN. VEHICLE IS IN PARK, BUT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY, SO STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED MULTIPLE COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS (IF YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH, THINK NON-POWER STEERING). AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE IS EFFECTIVELY DISABLED. STRIKING THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A RUBBER MALLET DIRECTLY ON IGNITION KEY SLOT RESOLVES PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. BASED ON MY RESEARCH (EXAMPLE HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/16154/DODGE/1999-DODGE-1500-VAN-KEY-WONT-TURN-IN-IGNITION/INDEX.HTML) THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT OCCURS ON ALL DODGE VANS AND SUVS FROM 1999 TO AT LEAST 2003 MODEL YEAR. THIS TYPE OF DEFECT CAN RESULT IN DRIVER BEING STRANDED IN REMOTE LOCATIONS UNEXPECTEDLY. WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS CERTAINLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT DODGE SHOULD BE REPAIRING FOR FREE. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS OF THIS DEFECT OCCURRING (SOMETIMES UP THE 6-7 TIMES ON THE SAME VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE YEAR) THERE IS NOT A SINGLE TSB. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR FOR FREE. *TR