NHTSA Complaint #10971128 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COWL BECAME DEFECTIVE AND LET WATER INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE FUEL INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER ABOUT 5 YEARS OF RANDOM WATER RELATED STALLS (RAIN,DEW,CAR WASHES) WHICH COULD NEVER BE REPLICATED BY NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND THEREFORE NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED, WATER EVENTUALLY FOUND ITS WAY INTO A PISTON CHAMBER. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IN SAN FRANCISCO ON MARCH 31,2017, HYDROLOCK ENSUED AND CAUSED THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON ROD TO SNAP AND BREAK THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I WAS AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN COLMA A FEW WEEKS PRIOR FOR AN UNRELATED AIRBAG RECALL FIX AND SPOKE TO THE A SERVICE SUPERVISOR ABOUT THE WATER RELATED STALLING ISSUE. HE BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY ONLY USE OE PARTS AND EVEN IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM (NO GUARANTEE), THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T GET ORIGINAL PARTS. HE ACTED LIKE HE WAS DOING ME A FAVOR! I FEEL AS THE DODGE AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NEGLIGENT. I HAVE FOUND OUT SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY KNOW AMONGST PARTS SUPPLIERS (SPECIFICALLY USED AND REBUILT ENGINE SUPPLIERS) AND HAS A HIGH RATE OF INCIDENCE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS. I HAVE LODGED A FORMAL NOTICE/COMPLAINT WITH DODGE AS HAVE MANY, MANY OTHERS. I GOT THREE QUOTES FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE, ALL WERE OVER $6000. THE VEHICLE PROVED TO NOT BE WIORTH THAT COST TO FIX. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DONATED IT TO A LOCAL CHARITY. THIS PROBLEM DEFINITELY DESERVES A RECALL, AND CUSTOMERS SUCH AS MYSELF WHO HAVE INCURRED FINANCIAL LOSSES SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. THANKS