NHTSA Complaint #10552017 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

AFTER RETURNING FROM A WEEK LONG BUSINESS TRIP, I WENT TO MY DURANGO THAT WAS PARKED AT THE AIRPORT. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD FOR SOME REASON, AND USED A JUMP BOX TO START THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LONG RATTLING NOISE, THEN SHUT DOWN. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND A PIECE OF METAL AS WELL. AFTER HAVING THE DURANGO TOWED TO MY HOME, I CHECKED OUT THE ENGINE TO FIND A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK JUST IN FRONT OF THE STARTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE FOR THE 2004 5.7L HEMI ENGINE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED YET. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS IT HAS WITH SOME, BUT I SUPPOSE IT WILL TAKE A FATALITY UNTIL IT IS DEEMED SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. *TR