NHTSA Complaint #10573828 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

AFTER MAKING A CLICKING NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THAT WE HAD BEEN TOLD WAS THE STARTER FAN (AND HAVING IT REPLACED), WE LOADED UP OUR DURANGO FOR A WEEK LONG CAMPING TRIP 8 HOURS AWAY. 45 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE THE DURANGO STARTED "DRAGGING" LIKE IT WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME MAINTAINING SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, A HORRIBLE METAL ON METAL BANGING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I LOST ALL POWER. ON THE INTERSTATE, AT 4 A.M. I DROPPED FROM 72 MPH TO 0 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OIL JUST POURED FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. WE HAD THE DURANGO TOWED HOME AND CALLED OUR LOCAL MECHANIC. HE TOOK A LOOK AND INFORMED US WE HAD THROWN A ROD AND COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE NEEDED. WE VERIFIED THIS THROUGH 3 DIFFERENT DODGE TECHNICIANS WHO ALL STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITHIN THE COMPANY. THEY KNOW AND HAVE KNOWN THAT THE SKIRTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS. THEY KNOW THAT THOSE LEAKS DRIP WATER ONTO THE INTAKE VALVE RESULTING IN WATER BEING DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE THROUGH A ROD BEING THROWN. THIS IS NOT A CHEAP FIX. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH RECALL OR EVEN NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS. IT COULD HAVE ONLY COST ABOUT $400. BUT NOW IT DOESN'T. NOW IT COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $4-6000. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR