NHTSA Complaint #10427727 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO (71,300MI 5.7L HEMI) WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. I HAD PULLED ONTO THE STREET AND WAS ACCELERATING TO 45MPH. I WAS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP, MORE LIKE AN EXPLOSION, FOLLOWED BY VERY LOUD ''SLAPPING'' NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BURST, FOLLOWED BY DRIVING ON A DEAD FLAT TIRE. THE CAR WAS SLOWING VERY QUICKLY, AND IT HAD NO POWER. WITHIN SECONDS I REALIZED IT WAS A MAJOR ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND I WAS GOING TO BE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BEFORE SO, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST OFF TO THE SIDE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE SAME. THEY WOULD HAVE STOPPED WITHIN SECONDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS VERY BUSY ROAD. THE LOUD SLAPPING NOISES STOPPED ONCE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND VISUALLY CHECK AROUND. I SAW NOTHING OTHER THAN A SMALL TRAIL OF OIL BEHIND THE CAR, A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE DRIVER''S SIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL ON THE UNDERSIDE AND ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER''S SIDE. I HAVE MUCH MORE DETAILS TO THIS STORY, PLEASE REQUEST IF NEEDED, BUT THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD THROWN A ROD, WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. NO HELP FROM THE DEALER OR CHRYSLER, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A HEMI (SUPPOSED QUALITY) AND THE WARRANTY ONLY EXPIRED 1300 MILES AGO. *TR