NHTSA Complaint #11019201 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

1. RECALL FAILED TO REPAIR AIR BAG FAILURE. CURRENTLY - AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL (DASH WARNING LIGHT). 2. AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES - VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUST THROUGH AT BOTH REAR QUARTER PANELS AND BOTH ROCKER PANELS. BY 85000 MILES - COMPLETE BODY RUST THROUGH FAILURE WAS IRREPARABLE - VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN. 3. AT 100000 MILES - NOTED BY WAY OF MECHANIC THAT THE ENGINE WAS 'SLUDGED UP' TO THE POINT THAT THE VALVE TRAIN WAS STARVED OF LUBRICATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY - THE ENGINE HAS ENCOUNTERED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VALVES, LASH ADJUSTER, PISTON ROD OR BEARINGS MAY ALL BE DESTROYED DIRECTLY DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND LOW QUALITY COMPONENTS FROM FCA. THERE ARE HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS) OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ACROSS MULTIPLE MEDIA REGARDING THIS 'FAMILIAR' DODGE ENGINE BREAKDOWN. FCA - OF COURSE - DENIES CULPABILITY CITING POOR USER MAINTENANCE. I HAVE RECORDS OF ALL OIL CHANGES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE AT 3000 MILE INTERVALS CONSISTENTLY FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (5/2004), I SAY - 'FCA? TIME TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND DO THE RIGHT THING.