NHTSA Complaint #10639356 — 2005 DODGE DURANGO

MY 2005 DODGE DURANGO SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 4WD AND AWD RANDOMLY. THE 4WD LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT AND BACKUPS JUMPY AND JERKY. IT WILL SHIFT BACK AND RUN PROPERLY, BUT DOES NOT STAY FUNCTIONING LONG. THERE IS A 'DRAG'' FEELING TO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SLIPS INTO 4WD. THIS HAS MADE DRIVING THE DURANGO A CONCERN AND NEARLY TRIPLED THE AMOUNT OF GAS USED FOR SIMILAR MILEAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. IT GOES INTO 4WD-LO AND THE TIRES LOCK UP. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AT 70 MPH, THIS COULD CAUSE A SPIN OUT. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT THE CAR OCCASIONALLY 'SHIFTS' WITHOUT NOTICE AND THEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN. WHEN EXPECTING THE CAR TO MOVE PROPERLY ON A BUSY ROAD, THIS ''SLUGGISH' RESPONSE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. PULLING OUT WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO TURN BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGES ISN'T A GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY MAKE THE TURN BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNS RED. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRUST MY VEHICLE, WHICH I USED TO BE ABLE TO DO. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING FOR OTHER 2005 DURANGO OWNERS. CLEARLY, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN REPORTS THAT PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE ARE ALSO HAVING REMOTE DOOR LOCK ISSUES, WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE IS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR