NHTSA Complaint #10683550 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

AFTER A RAINSTORM, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THINKING IT WAS THE STARTER, I REPLACED THE STARTER AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. AFTER MANUALLY ROTATING THE ENGINE BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, THE ENGINE STARTED BUT THEN HAD A VERY LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC BUT ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT IS ENGINE ROD FAILURE DUE TO HYDROLOCK CONDITION. THIS IS SUPPORTED BY THE IDEA THAT THE ENGINE WOULD FREQUENTLY STALL DURING THE RAIN AND IN THE CAR WASH, AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. IT HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS-IS FOR REPAIR OR ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR FRACTION OF RETAIL VALUE. *TR