NHTSA Complaint #10676883 — 2012 DODGE DURANGO

I INITIALLY BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED ON 11/4/14 FOR FAILURE TO START & STALLING WHILE IN PARK OR REVERSE. I TALKED WITH AN ATTENDANT WHO SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS & IT WOULD BE $300+ TO INVESTIGATE, I OPTED FOR A LOWER COST OPTION, A REPLACEMENT START BUTTON ($20). I SUSPECT NOW, SINCE THEY WERE BUSY & I WAS INQUIRING ABOUT OTHER RECALL FIXES (COST TO THEM) THIS WAS A WAY TO GET ME OUT OF THE SHOP QUICKLY. SKIP FORWARD A FEW WEEKS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. FROM 12/2/14-1/9/14, I LEFT MULTIPLE MESSAGES FOR SERVICE TO SCHEDULE AN APPT. MY MESSAGES WERE NEVER RETURNED. THE PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, & BY CHRISTMAS THE CAR FAILED TO START ALL TOGETHER. TO CONTINUE WITH OUR FAMILY PLANS FOR VACATION, WE HAD TO RENT A CAR ($480); THERE WERE ALSO A FEW DAYS JUST AFTER THE NEW YEAR WHERE A RENTAL WAS REQUIRED SO WE COULD FUNCTION ($280). I FINALLY RESORTED TO SIMPLY HAVING THE CAR TOWED ($100) TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 1/10/14 IN HOPES I COULD FINALLY GET A RETURN CALL. IT STILL TOOK 2 MORE DAYS (1/12/15) BEFORE SOMEONE RESPONDED. THIS TIME, I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF ONLY $114 TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE LEAD ON 1/14/15 WHO GAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF TIPM AND STARTER REPLACEMENT, PLUS 3 HRS LABOR COST (APPROX $1550). I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THE TIPM, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE PRODUCED IN NOV 2011 FELL JUST OUTSIDE THE JUL 2011 WINDOW. I POINTED OUT IT WAS CLEARLY THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WAS ADVISED MY BEST ROUTE WAS TO DEAL WITH CORPORATE. I CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE ON 1/15/15 WITH NO SUCCESS AT GETTING CHRYSLER TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR LONGTIME, REPEAT CUSTOMER (THIS IS MY 5TH AND LAST CHRYSLER). AFTER 2+ GRUELING MTHS & NEARLY $2500 LATER, I FINALLY HAVE A CAR THAT STARTS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT...HOPEFULLY (NO GUARANTEES, RIGHT). I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM A SUPERVISOR AT CORPORATE. *TR