NHTSA Complaint #10549486 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

THE ELECTRICAL PORTION STARTED AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE WORSENED AFTER SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WOULDN'T STAY CHARGED, AND I ENDED UP NEEDING A TOW EVERY OTHER WEEK. MY CAR INSURANCE WENT UP TO $550.00 A MONTH. I WAS ALWAYS STRANDED. THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE IN THE RAIN. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, IT DID IT ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I SAW A SEMI COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD. I GOT IT STARTED AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO GET OUT THE WAY. EVENTUALLY IT COULDN'T' START ANYMORE. I HAD IT SITTING FOR A YEAR AS I KEPT MAKING LOAN PAYMENTS. I FIXED ONE THING AFTER THE OTHER...THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM...THE CAR WOULD START AND DIE A FEW DAYS LATER. THIS LAST TIME I CHANGED THE STARTER FOR THE THIRD TIME. A ROD WAS THROWN AND THE ENGINE IS LOCKED. I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED AFTER 3RD STARTER WAS INSTALLED AND A CRUNCH NOISE SOUNDED A FEW MINUTES LATER WHILE TRYING TO GIVE THE BATTERY SOME JUICE. I TOWED IT INTO ANOTHER SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE ENGINE IS GONE. I HAD TO PAY FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE BECAUSE IT'S FINANCED AND A CAR NOTE FOR A TRUCK THAT'S GONE. I'VE SEARCHED ONLINE AND DODGE KNOWS AND HASN'T TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY. INVOLUNTARY REPOSSESSION WOULD BE FUTILE BECAUSE AFTER THE FEE FOR REPO, TOWING, STORAGE..I WILL OWE MORE THAN WHAT I HAVE LEFT TO PAY, $5000.00 AND STILL NOT EVEN SCRAP METAL. I'VE READ SO MANY DISCUSSION BOARD POST, CONSUMER BLOGS ON THIS MODEL AND 'M FLOORED. I GUESS THE COMPLAINTS ARE RECENT BECAUSE ONE YOU GET TO LIKE 70,00 MILE YOU ARE TOAST. I DON'T DRIVE TO WORK, ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY TRUCK AND NOW I HAVE NOTHING BUT PAYMENTS AND METAL THAT LOOKS PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE. *TR