NHTSA Complaint #10692857 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS ENTERING INTERSTATE 25 NORTH FROM DENVER COLORADO'S 19TH STREET WHEN I HEARD A BANG AND MY 04 DURANGO BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I BELIEVED IT WAS A TIRE THAT POPPED EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEW ONES AND SO I CONTINUED DOWN THE RAMP TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SHAKING AND I THEN BELIEVED IT TO BE A SERPENTINE BELT UNTIL I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE BELT INTACT. I THEN LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND COULD SEE ENGINE OIL DRIPPING OFF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK & ONTO THE GROUND FROM SOME UNKNOWN LOCATION OF THE MOTOR. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE DIPSTICK OUT OF THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK UNTIL I TRIED CRANKING THE MOTOR ONCE AGAIN WHICH ALLOWED ME TO THEN PULL THE DIPSTICK OUT, BUT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET IT BACK IN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO A DEALERSHIP AFTER THE MOTOR WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED AGAIN. FLAME SHOT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKE AND A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE ENGINE IS BLOWN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND I HAD 12 PAYMENTS LEFT FOR ABOUT $5000. I WAS IN A NEGATIVE EQUITY SITUATION WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW & I DIDN'T HAVE WARRANTIES OR ANY ABILITY TO GET HELP FROM CHRYSLER OR DODGE. THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST A THOUSAND OTHER PEOPLE TO REGISTER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED BECAUSE WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE COWLING BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HOOD AND DRAINS ALL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE. IT HAPPENS AT APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND MILES, ALLOWING WATER TO GET INSIDE THE MOTOR EVENTUALLY. I TOOK CARE OF THIS VEHICLE BETTER THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'D EVER OWNED. *TR