NHTSA Complaint #10478659 — 2006 DODGE DURANGO

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WHEN LEAVING WORK BY SIMPLY UNLOCKING MY 06 DURANGO (ALL WHEEL DRIVE/ 4 WHEEL DRIVE) WITH THE KEY FOB THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MOTOR STARTS SHIFTING THE TRUCK IN AND OUT FROM AWD TO 4WD AND I HAVEN'T EVEN OPENED THE DOOR!! AS THE WEEKS PASS IT DOES THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES BUT WHAT IS MORE UNNERVING IS THAT AS I AM DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS, 60 TO 70 MPH, OR ANY SPEED REALLY, MY "4 WHEEL LOW" LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL START TO FLICKER AS IF IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL LOW UN-COMMANDED. AFTER SEARCHING SEVERAL FORUMS I FIND THIS TO BE A COMMON CHRONIC ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH DURANGOS AND A HUGE SAFETY RISK. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MAX SPEED FOR A 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT IS IN 4 WHEEL LOW IS ABOUT 10 TO 15 MPH, THE GEAR RATIO IS EXTREMELY LOW AND INTENDED FOR MAXIMUM TRACTION WHEN OFF ROAD. IF THIS VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO 4 WHEEL LOW AT 70 MPH ALL 4 WHEELS WILL COME TO A STOP AND THE DRIVER WILL MOST LIKELY LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL. AT THAT SPEED THIS IS A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. I HAVE READ OF THIS HAPPENING TO DURANGOS WITH SERIOUS DAMAGE AND HUGE EXPENSE FOR THE OWNER. THIS VERY SCENARIO HAPPENED TO A CO-WORKERS WIFE WITH HIS KIDS IN THEIR 06 DURANGO, LUCKILY SHE WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NOW MY KEY FOB WONT EVEN OPEN THE DOOR, IT ACTS AS IF ITS DEAD OR BROKEN. I HAVE TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE TRUCK MANUALLY WHICH SETS OFF THE ALARM EVERY TIME I UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I STARTED WITH IS TIED TO THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ELECTRICALLY, ANOTHER COMMON CHRONIC PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER DENIES HAVING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM OR A FIX AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ DODGE DENIES IT AS WELL. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FAMILY'S DEATH FROM ONE OF THESE VEHICLES FOR DODGE TO OWN UP TO THIS AND RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM OVER SEVERAL YEARS MANUFACTURING! *TR