NHTSA Complaint #10584440 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

2004 DODGE DURANGO LIMITED, 5.7L HEMI, PURCHASED ON 5/15/13. EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE AT TIME OF SALE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED FOR SERVICE FIVE TIMES TO DATE FOR SAME ROOT ISSUE. IN UNDER ONE YEAR, ONLY APPROXIMATELY 2600 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN DUE TO LACK OF RELIABILITY AND SERVICE RELATED PROBLEMS. IN THIS CASE, THE ROOT PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IS NOT UNIQUE TO THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE, BUT RATHER A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. CHRYSLER IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECTION OR ANY TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH SOLVING THE ISSUE. IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS CHRYSLER DIRECTLY, THAT THIS MATTER INVOLVES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND WAS NEVER ISSUED AS A RECALL. MOST RECENTLY, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT ENGINE DAMAGE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. IN THE SAME CONVERSATION, HOWEVER, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE, BEING THE DEFECT THAT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING HEAVY RAIN OR CAR WASHES, WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THIS ISSUE IS CLEARLY UNRESOLVED AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER MOTORISTS COULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR. CHRYSLER HAS OPTED TO IGNORE THIS FREQUENTLY REPORTED ISSUE AND SIMPLY PUSH THOSE WHO COMPLAIN AWAY. *TR