NHTSA Complaint #10490653 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

STARTED MY DURANGO AS I HAD THE DAY BEFORE, TO A SOUND SIMILAR OF ROCKS HAVING BEEN THROWN INTO THE MOTOR. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF THINKING THERE WAS SOMETHING, ANIMAL OR STICK, STUCK IN MOTOR OR FAN. OPEN HOOD ONLY TO FIND NOTHING VISIBLY SEEN TO CAUSE SUCH A NOISE. STARTED AGAIN TO THE SAME HORRIBLE SOUND AND TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY. CALLED A VERY REPUTABLE NEIGHBOR WITH LIFETIME EXPERIENCE AND WORKING EXPERIENCE IN THE MOTOR VEHICLE FIELD. UPON STARTING HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE PROBLEM...THAT MY 81,000 FULLY MAINTAINED DODGE DURANGO THAT I OWE 4 MONTHS PAYMENTS ON YET, DRIVE 1/2 MILE TO WORK DAILY,WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER HAD A BLOWN MOTOR DUE TO THE FACT THAT A CHEAP PART, BELOW PREVIOUS DODGE QUALITY HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN.WE HAD PLANNED ON DRIVING OUT OF TOWN TO GET MY DAUGHTERS EYES CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE BUT WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE GAS DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR DUE TO BEING UNEMPLOYED LOSING HOME AND HAVING TO TAKE A JOB THREE TIMES LESS PAY THAN PREVIOUS. THANK GOD DAILY THAT WE DID NOT BECAUSE THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE KNOWING WE COULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AND HAD THIS HAPPEN. MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BOUGHT AND SUPPORTED DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLES BUT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD WE WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT, QUALITY AND CARE OF THE DODGE/ CHRYSLER INDUSTRY TODAY! PAID FOR YOUR BUYOUT AGAIN! *TR