NHTSA Complaint #10564226 — 2006 DODGE DURANGO

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN ON PASSENGER SIDE, WITH HEAT SHIELD DETACHED. DEALER REPORTS THAT DRIVERS SIDE ARE DETERIORATED AND MAY FAIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF ALL BOLTS/STUDS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY BREAK OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE MATERIAL USED BY CHRYSLER. WILL REQUIRE DRILLING OUT BOLTS FROM HEADS AT A MINIMUM COST OF OVER $1400 PER THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DEALER. CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY CONSIDER THIS NORMAL WEAR... EVEN WHEN THE OWNER IS REQUIRED TO DRILL THE BOLTS OUT. THIS IS A FAILURE IN THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN OF A VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT CREATES DANGERS DUE TO EXTREME EXHAUST TEMPERATURE, EXHAUST GASES AND THE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF AN ENGINE ... ALL DUE TO THE DETERIORATION OF INEXPENSIVE BOLTS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF CUTTING CORNERS TO SAVE A DOLLAR WHILE COSTING THE OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM EXIST ON FORUMS AND DISCUSSION BOARDS BUT THE MANUFACTURER IGNORES THE DEFECT AND DOES NOT ISSUE A RECALL. *TR