NHTSA Complaint #10508523 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

AFTER A SNOW STORM AND THE SNOW MELTED, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE STARTER WAS GRINDING. THE ENGINE WAS HYDROLOCKED AND BROKE THE CONNECTING ROD FOR #3 CYLINDER. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION TURNED UP A TECH BULLETIN (NOT MANDATORY RECALL) TO REPLACE COWL AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE ONTO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHICH CAN CAUSE MISFIRING. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS TECH BULLETIN OR THE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES OF NOT IMPLEMENTING IT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THE DEFECTIVE COWL COULD CAUSE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE IN THE TECH BULLETIN. THE MELTING SNOW SEEPED INTO THE #3 CYLINDER, POSSIBLY FROM A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL OR WARPED INTAKE MANIFOLD (YET TO BE DETERMINED), AND CAUSED HYDROLOCK. I FOUND EVIDENCE OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE OIL PAN WHICH LEAKED FROM #3 CYLINDER. I ALSO FOUND WATER UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE #3 CYLINDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD USUALLY PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE BLOCK CAUSING OIL TO SPILL ON THE ROAD! THIS WAS A 5.7L HEMI. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. *TR