NHTSA Complaint #10436290 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH (OUT OF TOWN) WHEN HE HEARD A VERY LOUD "POP". THE ENGINE FAILED AND HE HAD TO MAKE HIS WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND VERY LITTLE CONTROL DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. HE SAID THE TRUCK JERKED SO HARD IT ACTUALLY FELT LIKE HE HIT SOMETHING. WHEN HE MADE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A GARAGE. AFTER THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE SAID IT BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE COSTS ME NEARLY $30,000.00 AND HAD 129,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS I WAS TOLD THAT THESE ENGINES ARE KNOW FOR THIS PROBLEM. A JASPER REPLACEMENT ENGINE COST ABOUT $7000.00!!!! I TELEPHONED DODGE ON A FEW DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP BECAUSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY I PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR EXPIRED. I SURELY THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A QUALITY VEHICLE BUT APPARENTLY I AM WRONG. I AM SURE GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING WITH MY KIDS WHEN THIS HAPPENED, ONE WRONG MOVE AND THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR! THANK GOD NOBODY GOT HURT. NOW I AM STUCK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE????? I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE $7000.00 DOLLARS AND A USED ENGINE IS VERY HARD TO FIND DUE TO SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THEM! WHEN I WENT INTO WORK THE NEXT DAY, MY CO-WORKER WHO HAS THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COLOR, INFORMED ME HIS ENGINE BLEW TOO! COME ON DODGE-GET A CLUE! ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR HEMI'S HAVING PROBLEMS! I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU STAY IN BUSINESS! *TR