NHTSA Complaint #10511163 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON AN INTERSTATE DURING A PRETTY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM. I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO HESITATE AND LOSE POWER. AS I STARTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO PULL OVER THE ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT PART OF THE ROAD AND WITHOUT POWER I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH OUT AN INCIDENT. AFTER WAITING OUT THE STORM TO PASS ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE, WITH TRAFFIC FLYING BY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SOME HESITATION AND DRIVE IT HOME. DURING THE NIGHT THE VEHICLE SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY WHILE WE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD RAINFALL IN THE AREA. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER, IT STARTED, FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE AND THEN THE MOTOR QUIT AND HASN'T STARTED SINCE. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE LOOKED OVER WE HAVE FOUND THAT TWO OF THE CYLINDERS HAD QUITE A BIT OF WATER IN THEM WHICH HAD APPEARED TO HYDRO LOCK THE ENGINE. DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND STOP PUSHING THE BLAME AND COST OFF ON TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. THIS IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR