NHTSA Complaint #10460108 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

WE EXPERIENCED WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASE (MARCH 2011) THE FREQUENT STALLING OUT, ALONG WITH TOTAL LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF 1999 OWNERS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN PRIMARILY HOT SUMMER WEATHER, BUT HAS ALSO OCCURRED IN SPRING AND FALL WEATHER WITH ANY TEMPS OVER 70 DEGREES, ALTHOUGH LESS FREQUENTLY.THE ACTIONS REQUIRED ARE TO RAISE THE HOOD, WAIT FOR THE UNIT TO COOL (OR COOL IT ARTIFICIALLY WITH COLD WATER OR ICE PACK) UNTIL THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. OVER A YEAR PERIOD OF EXPERIMENTING, I HAVE LESSENED BUT NOT CURED THE PROBLEM. ALL THE SOLUTIONS ARE RELATED TO INCREASING THE AIRFLOW TO THE CPU/PCM AREA, WHICH CHRONICALLY OVERHEATS DUE TO ITS LOCATION. IF DODGE WOULD RECALL THE 1999 MODEL, I CAN IMAGINE EITHER OF TWO SOLUTIONS AT MINIMAL COST. (PHOTOS OF MY SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.) IF THE AIR GUARD TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE RADIATOR HAS THE TOP HALF REMOVED, THEN IT IS SIMPLE TO INSTALL AN INTAKE TUBE OR SHAFT TO DIRECT AIR THRU THE GRILLE TO THE PCM. A PLASTIC, EASY INSTALLED UNIT WOULD BE THE LOWEST COST SOLUTION. FAILING THIS, THE RELOCATION OF THE PCM WITH A MOUNTING BRACKET KIT AND A HARNESS EXTENSION WOULD ALLOW PLACEMENT OF THE UNIT IN A COOLER LOCATION (LIKE RIGHT BEHIND THE NEW GRILLE OPENING). MY WIFE LOSES ALL BRAKING AND STEERING POWER ASSIST WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK IN HOT WEATHER FOR A YEAR NOW, AND ON MAY 28TH, 2012, IT OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN 40 MILES DURING A 120 MILE TRIP. *TR