NHTSA Complaint #10365316 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

I OWN A 2004 DODGE DURANGO 4.7. THE MILES ARE 117,000. MY WIFE NOTICED A LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE DURANGO I CAME OPEN ANOTHER OWNER THAT REPORTED IT BEING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I BOUGHT A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET AND WHEN I WENT TO INSTALL IT I NOTICED THAT 6 OF THE BOLTS HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF. ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE HEAT SHIELD WAS COMPLETELY MISSING. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED A NEW HEAT SHIELD AND REPLACEMENT BOLTS. AFTER I INSTALLED THEM THE TICKING CONTINUED, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD HE WAS SURE IT WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK AND TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE MANIFOLD. I PURCHASED THE MANIFOLD FROM THE DODGE DEALER AND ONCE I GOT THE OLD ONE OUT I NOTICED THEY DID NOT MATCH. THE FACTORY EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE TWO HOLES CLOSEST TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THIS IT CAUSE EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSING THE BOLTS TO BREAK OFF. I BELIEVE IT ALSO TO BE A FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK YET. *TR