NHTSA Complaint #10723586 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS AGO NOTED SEVERE RUST THROUGH BEGINNING ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ROCKER PANELS AND REAR QUARTER PANELS/WHEEL WELLS. ESTIMATE AT THAT TIME FOR FULL REPAIR WAS OVER $4000 DUE TO EXTENT OF RUST. RUST AFFECTS ROCKER PANELS, DRIVER COMPARTMENT FLOOR AT DOOR ENTRY POINTS AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER QUARTER PANELS. DEALERSHIP BODY SHOT PERSONNEL NOTED THAT 'THESE DURANGO'S AND DAKOTAS ALL RUST OUT BAD - AND IT HAPPENS FAST'. VERY TELLING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FULLY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP AND HAS BEEN GARAGED CONTINUALLY. WE DO LIVE IN THE 'RUST-BELT' AREA - BUT WE ARE IN NO WAY PLEASED WITH THE CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE. TO DATE - THE RUST IS EXPANDING TO MOST LOWER BODY PARTS EXPOSED TO WEATHER AND THE SPEED AT WHICH ITS - LITERALLY - DISINTEGRATING IS RIDICULOUS. THE REPAIR NOW WILL COST NEARLY $6000 AND WE SIMPLY DO NOT FEEL IT IS WORTH DOING. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT (REFERRING TO THE DEALERSHIP DODGE REPRESENTATIVE'S COMMENTS AS WELL AS OBSERVING OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES IN OUR REGION. SHAMEFUL.