NHTSA Complaint #10734019 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO LIMITED 4X4 5.7 HEMI HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSFER CASE ISSUES THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY TRY TO SHIFT ITSELF INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW WITHOUT THE DRIVER CHANGING THE SWITCH FROM THE AWD TO THE 4LO POSITION. FORTUNATELY WE WERE MOVING SLOWLY WHEN IT OCCURRED BUT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS AS ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE TURNED. AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE I DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS MANY OWNERS HAVE STATED THAT DEALERS HAVE REPLACED VERY EXPENSIVE PARTS SUCH AS THE TRANSFER CASE, TRANSFER CASE SHIFT MOTOR, AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING RESOLVED. I ELECTED TO DISCONNECT THE TRANSFER CASE WIRING HARNESS AS I WAS 1000 MILES AWAY FROM HOME ON VACATION WITH MY FAMILY AT THE TIME AND NEEDED TO DRIVE HOME SAFELY. IT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED EVER SINCE THEN AND I AM AFRAID TO RECONNECT IT AS I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF IT OCCURS AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. IF I COULD BE SURE THAT THE DEALER COULD DEFINITELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM I WOULD CONSIDER PAYING TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT IT IS EVIDENT THAT DODGE/CHRYSLER IS REALLY NOT SURE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM REALLY IS AND IS JUST GUESSING AT THE PROPER REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL AS IT POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE IF ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS HAVE RESULTED FROM THIS ISSUE BUT IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A FATALITY OR SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS.