NHTSA Complaint #10441649 — 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X2

ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO ON 05 DECEMBER 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X2 UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD MY BLINKER ON AND WAS READY TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I LIGHTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD AND FELT IN THE VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE'S DRIVE SHAFT HAD EXPLODED UPWARDS, HITTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THEN DROPPING TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DRIVELINE FELL OFF. MY DAUGHTER AND NIECE FELT THE HIT IN GREATER MAGNITUDE AS THEY WERE SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT. MY INSURANCE COVERED THE WRECKER AND TRANSPORTED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY HEATSHIELD THAT FELL OFF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT. SINCE THE HEATSHIELD IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND FIBERGLASS, THE RUBBING OF ALUMINUM AGAINST ALUMINUM HAS A CUTTING EFFECT THAT CAUSED THE DRIVESHAFT TO CUT OPEN AND THEN EXPLODE CUTTING IT IN HALF. LUCKILY, I WAS MAKING A TURN GOING NO MORE THAN 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE LIKELY CAUSED A FATAL AND CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO RECALL THAT I KNOW OF. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIR AS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POLICY. MY CAR INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIRS AS IT IS CONSIDERED A MECHANICAL FAILURE AND NOT A COLLISION. DODGE SHOULD CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CAUSE OF THE HEATSHIELD COMING OFF FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND RECALL VEHICLES TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. *KB