NHTSA Complaint #10917445 — 2003 DODGE DURANGO

THE SPARE TIRE WINCH ON MY VEHICLE FAILED AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL TO THE PAVEMENT. IN MY CASE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ALMOST SURELY RESULTED. THE SPARE TIRE ON THESE VEHICLES IS QUITE LARGE AND HEAVY AND COULD CAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IF HIT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SPARE TIRE WINCH USES A STRANDED STEEL CABLE TO LIFT AND LOCK THE SPARE TIRE UP AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLES FRAME. THIS STRANDED STEEL CABLE FAILED RIGHT WHERE IT PASSED THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE RIM. THIS STRANDED STEEL CABLE IS GOING TO FAIL EVENTUALLY ON EVERY DODGE TRUCK THAT USED THIS DESIGN OF WINCH. EVERYONE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. CHRYSLER HAS USED THIS DESIGN IN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE 90S OR BEFORE. IT AMAZES ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE OF THE WINCH. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED MANY INSTANCES OF THE SPARE TIRE FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CABLE FAILING.