NHTSA Complaint #10510870 — 2006 DODGE DURANGO

CONTROLLER THAT TURNS BETWEEN DEFROST, FLOOR, AND FRONT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY A FEW YEARS AGO. IT WAS RAINING, AND A TURNED THE KNOB TO DEFROST....AND NOTHING HAPPENED! THE SWITCH THAT OPENS AND CLOSES THE COMPARTMENTS FROM FACE TO DEFROST HAD BROKEN. THE BLOWER STILL WORKS, BUT ALL COMES OUT ON THE FACE...NO DEFROST OR FLOOR. THERE ARE 1000'S OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME, 2,000 TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC PIECE A MANUFACTURER USED RECYCLED PLASTIC WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO BREAK. NOW IN RAIN, I ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS, USE MC DONALDS NAPKINS TO CONTINUE TO WIPE OFF THE WINDSHIELD SO I CAN SEE TO DRIVE, WHILE IN ROUTE TO MY JOB IN A SUITE. I CAN DEAL WITH THE 2=3 GALLONS OF GAS ON THE GROUND WHILE PUMPING GAS INTO THE FAULTY TANK BY STOPPING AT 50, BUT THIS IS RIDICIOUS!! I REAR-ENDING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SLIGHT INJURIES, AND A HUGE INSURANCE BILL WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHILE PARAELL PARKING TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO QUESTION THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. UNFORTUNATELY INSURANCE COMPANIES DO NOT SEE A FAULTY POORLY COMPILED DEFROSTING COMPONENT SWITCH AS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE COLLISION POLICY. *TR