NHTSA Complaint #10507197 — 2007 DODGE NITRO

TOOK MY 2007 DODGE NITRO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE LIGHTS. AFTER ALL ISSUES WERE REPAIRED RELATED TO ENGINE LIGHTS, I WAS TOLD THE HEAT SHIELD HAD FALLEN AND WAS RESTING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. THIS CAUSED A SHAVING OFF OF THE METAL ALONG A 6-8 INCH SPACE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD NO LONGER HONOR THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. THE ONLY WAY THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WAS FOR THE CAR TO BE IN HIGH WATER THUS DAMAGING THE HEAT SHIELD CAUSING IT TO WEAR DOWN THE METAL ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NO FACTORY-INSTALLED FASTENERS HOLDING THE HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE. I HAVE NOT EVER HAD MY CAR IN HIGH WATER AND UPON MY FURTHER EXAMINATION INCLUDING VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE, I POINTED OUT TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT THE FACTORY LABEL ON THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, MY OIL PAN LACKED DENTS OR DINGS, AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE, NOR DID I HAVE ANY WATER RELATED INTERIOR ISSUES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STILL REFUSED TO COVER THE DRIVE SHAFT AND HEAT SHIELD REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I MAKE A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TO CONTACT CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD OPEN A CLAIM. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEIR SERVICE TECH DETERMINED THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY WATER DAMAGE AND AFTER ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION I WAS TOLD, "I AM NOT TECHNICALLY TRAINED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.? I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, BASED ON THEIR REVIEW/EVIDENCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY CLAIM OF WATER DAMAGE. I ALSO RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND DETERMINED THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES. THE REPAIRS WILL COST OVER $1K. THIS SEEMS TO BE EITHER DEFECTIVE OR A FAULTY DESIGN AS THERE ARE NO FACTORY FASTENERS HOLDING THE HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE. *TR