NHTSA Complaint #10702319 — 2005 DODGE DAKOTA

I'M LEFT WITH A DILEMMA. I OWN A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHES FROM 2 WHEEL DRIVE TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S CONSENT. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ACROSS THE INTERNET WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. WE'VE KNOWN THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD ISSUES FOR A WHILE, BUT (WARRANTY COMPANY) HAS A THEORY OF CAN'T REPLICATE IT, WON'T FIX IT .AND THAT IS WHAT OCCURRED. ON 3/23 WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ELECTRONICALLY SHIFT INTO 4LO FROM 2WD, A SYSTEM THAT SHOULD ONLY FUNCTION UNDER 20MPH. IT FAILED TO ENGAGE, CAUSING GRINDING NOISES FROM THE TRANSAXLE CASE AND A SLOW STOP ON SIDE OF INTERSTATE. UPON LATER INSPECTION BY A IN NETWORK REPAIR FACILITY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PRODUCE A PCM CODE AND MECHANICALLY COULD NOT BE REPLICATED IN THE 2 HRS AT THE SHOP. WE WERE CHARGED A $112.51 AND SENT ON OUR WAY. TODAY 3/28, IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IN WORSE FORMAT, THE TRANSMISSION DID ENGAGE 4LO AT 70MPH AND IT CAUSED REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND FREEZE. WE WERE FORCED TO SWERVE UNDER CONTROL TO A STOP IN THE MEDIAN OF THE INTERSTATE AGAIN. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE DRIVE TO US WHERE HE WAS ONCE AGAIN UNABLE TO PULL ANY PCM CODES. HE TESTED THE VEHICLE IN THE MEDIAN AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR