NHTSA Complaint #10716158 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

OUR 2004 DODGE DURANGO WAS PURCHASE USED, FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. ALL SERVICE RECORDS WERE GIVEN TO US, SHOWING PROPER MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLE. I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A HORRIBLE SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, I LEARNED THE ENGINE THREW 2 RODS AND PUT HOLES IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE TO THE ENGINE, WITH THE ONLY SOLUTION BEING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. BASED ON MY MECHANICS OBSERVATION, THIS IS A RESULT OF WATER BEING DIRECTED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THEREFORE RUSTING AND DESTROYING NECESSARY COMPONENTS. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS PULLED FROM MY VEHICLE, IT HAD BEEN SITTING IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER, EVEN AFTER HAVING BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. AFTER READING ONLINE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE 2004 DURANGOS. AT THAT, DODGE HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. I AM NOW OUT $7900 FOR A NEW ENGINE. ALL I CAN SAY, IS THANK GOD I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM SO FEARFUL THIS WILL HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING, RESULTING IN SOMETHING TRAGIC. DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE AND DODGE IGNORING IT, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE DODGE ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM.