NHTSA Complaint #10336683 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DURANGO SLT 4WD. THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 75 DEGREES. I HAVE TRACED THE ISSUE TO THE PCM OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH BECOMES SO HOT THAT YOU CANNOT TOUCH ITS METAL HOUSING WITH YOUR HANDS. THE PCM IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BOLTED ABOVE THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. THE PCM HAS THREE WIRE HARNESSES ATTACHED TO IT, AND ONCE THE PCM HEATS UP, A "KILL" SWITCH IS TRIGGERED AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. SHORTLY AFTER, THE ODOMETER READS "NO BUS" AND THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THE PCM IS TO LEAVE THE IGNITION KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION, PULL THE PCM WIRE HARNESS THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, RE-SEAT THE HARNESS AND HOPE THAT YOU HEAR A "CLICKING" SOUND. THE VEHICLE NORMALLY RE-STARTS, BUT WILL AGAIN TURN OFF AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. ON A TYPICAL DAY OF 80*, I WILL PERFORM THIS PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES IN MY 22-MILE ROUND-TRIP TO WORK. MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME EVENTS, THUS CAUSING NIGHTMARES FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE A SAFE PULL-OFF FROM ROADS, OR THOSE THAT ARE IN INTERSECTIONS OR NEAR CROSSWALKS, SINCE THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN SPORADICALLY. *TR