NHTSA Complaint #10416489 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

1999 DODGE DURANGO---WHILE OUT DRIVING DURING THE HOTTER MONTHS, THE TRUCK WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING AND THE ODOMETER READ "NO BUS". WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR BY RUNNING INTO A CURB, IT WOULD NOT START FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES. FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER DURANGO OWNERS, I WAS DIRECTED TO CHANGE THE PCM. WELL THAT IS A $1000.00 JOB. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PCM BOX OVER HEATS BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS PLACED UNDER THE HOOD. THAT SECTION WHERE THE PCM BOX IS IS NOT RECEIVING ANY AIR FLOW TO KEEP IT COOL. THE COOLING FINS ARE NESTED TOO CLOSE TO THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE CAR WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN. YOU ALSO HAVE NO WARNING THAT THE CAR IS GETTING READY TO SHUT DOWN. THE FIRST TIME IT SHUT DOWN MY KIDS WHERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WE WERE ON A VERY BUSY EXPRESSWAY. WE WERE ALMOST REAR-ENDED. AND WE ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. PLEASE, PLEASE I BEG DODGE TO CHECK INTO THIS. I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE SOMEONE'S DEATH BEFORE THE COMPANY STEPS UP AND TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE. *KB