NHTSA Complaint #10396919 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

I USE OUR 2004 DODGE DURANGO WITH 5.7 HEMI ENGINE TO TAKE OUR 3 CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. WE HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE, MAINTAINING EVERYTHING! 4 DAYS AGO WE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO GO TO THE STORE AND AT START UP THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE SOUND. WE STOPPED TRYING TO START IT THEN TRIED ONCE AGAIN. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD SMELLED OIL AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WE HAD NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE VEHICLE MADE NO OTHER SOUND PRIOR AND DROVE 100% FINE THE DAY BEFORE. AFTER SEARCHING, WE HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. NOW WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF ANY TYPE OF JUSTICE FROM THIS. OUR EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS AGO. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US WE WERE TOLD "NO" AND WERE ALSO TOLD WE WERE THE 2ND PEOPLE TO CALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE DURANGO ALONE...BUT THE 5.7 HEMI ENGINE BETWEEN CERTAIN YEARS. *TR