NHTSA Complaint #10557443 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

DROVE VEHICLE ON 12-22-13 EVERYTHING RUNNING FINE WENT TO DRIVE ON 12-23-13 AND STARTED TRUCK JUST TO HEAR A LOUD BANG AND THUMP CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC AND IT HAS A BUSTED CONNECTING ROD AND ENGINE BLOCK IS SHOT AND CANT EVEN REBUILD THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE ANY MORE HARD WORKING AMERICANS HAVE TO DUMP $7K DOLLARS IN THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE SOME ONE WANTS TO COVER UP A REAL PROBLEM. DODGE RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AS WELL WHEN DO THE REPAIRS. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ENGINES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF A ROD FAILURE. UPON DOING RESEARCH THERE SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE WINDSHIELD COWL THAT LEAKS DOWN DIRECTLY TO THE MANIFOLD THAT MAY CRACK BECAUSE IS FAULTY WHICH IN TURN ALLOWS WATER TO DRAIN ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. WELL EVEN THOUGH THERE IS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND WITH DODGE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. A V8 ENGINE SHOULD NOT FAIL BETWEEN 60-80,000 MILES IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED LIKE OURS WAS. OIL CHANGES RELIGIOUSLY AND ALL MAINTENANCE DONE TO DEALERSHIP SPECS. IF THIS ROD WOULD HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED DEATH OR INJURY. WHY HASN'T ANYONE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A TREND HERE IF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE'S ENGINES ARE FAILING AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR