NHTSA Complaint #10290039 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

CAR AUTO-STOPPED WHILE CONDUCTING DRIVING LESSON FOR MY 15-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER. WE WERE TRAVELING 40MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT THE TIME. SHE DRIFTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK. I TOLD HER TO APPLY THE BRAKES. SHE SAID SHE WAS AND THEY WEREN'T WORKING EITHER. WE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND WERE VERY NEARLY T-BONED BY CARS FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS. MY STEPDAUGHTER SENSIBLY DID AS I INSTRUCTED AND PUSHED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE, MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE PLUNGING INTO THE RIVER IN FRONT OF US. I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT. TWO DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AUTO-STOPPING BUT NOT WHY THIS WAS OCCURRING. A LOCAL MECHANIC SUGGESTED IT WAS PROBABLY THE GAS GAUGE SENSOR IN THE FUEL PUMP WHICH MADE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE EVERYTHING BUT THE GAS GAUGE WORKED WHENEVER THE CAR AUTO-STOPPED. IT WOULD TYPICALLY RESTART WITHIN 15 MINUTES OR SO. I ASSUMED WE HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. I KNOW NOW THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME DIFFICULTIES WITH 1999 DODGE DURANGOS. MY WIFE, STEPDAUGHTER AND I WERE VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DURING THE DRIVING LESSON. THIS SITUATION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT (IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY). *TR