NHTSA Complaint #10664322 — 2006 DODGE MAGNUM

AFTER FUELING CAR TO NEAR THE FULL MARK I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC FLOW ON INTERSTATE 75 AT OCALA. THE CAR LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE DIED ( NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING) ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF CAR. TRAFFIC WAS RUNNING 70MPH AND I WAS MERGING INTO THE TRAFFIC FLOW. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART ACTING AS IF FLOODED. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE WHO HAS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY DODGE AND IS RELATED TO A PURGE VENT VALVE IN THE FUEL TANK. IT SEEMS THE VELVET STICKS OPEN AND ALLOWS GAS , NOT JUST THE FUMES TO BE RECIRCULATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY (INTAKE) AND FLOODS THE ENGINE. DODGE STATES THIS PROBLEM CAN AFFECT ALL DODGE CHARGER, MAGNUM AND 300 MODEL CARS. IT REQUIRES A FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT AS THE PURGE VALVE IS INCORPORATED INTO THE TANK ITSELF. *TR