NHTSA Complaint #11031743 — 2015 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS BACKING A SMALL TRAILER INTO ITS STORAGE LOCATION IN MY YARD. I WAS ON A SLIGHT DOWNWARD INCLINE WITH CHOCKS ALIGNED WITH THE TRAILER WHEELS. IT WAS EVENING AND DARK OUT. AS I APPROACHED THE CHOCKS, I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. I KNOW BECAUSE THE REAR REVERSE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I GOT OUT TO SEE HOW FAR I NEEDED TO GO BACK BEFORE REACHING THE CHOCKS. WHEN I EXITED THE CAR IT STARTED GOING BACKWARD DOWN THE SLIGHT INCLINE FAST ENOUGH FOR THE TRAILER WHEELS TO GO EVER THE CHOCKS. I BARELY GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK BEFORE BEING KNOCK OVER BY THE OPEN DOOR. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE TRUCK DOOR HAD STRUCK THE CORNER OF A GREENHOUSE, BENDING THE METAL GREENHOUSE FRAME AND FORCING THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN TOO FAR CAUSING HINGE AND BODY DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND FRONT LEFT FENDER. LUCKILY,, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE DOOR NOW CLOSES WITH DIFFICULTY. THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY OFFICE WHEN I PULLED THE CAR INTO A SPOT, PUT IT IN PARK AND WAS GETTING OUT TO RUN INSIDE FOR AN ITEM THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. I BRAKED AND SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE THEN TO PARK AGAIN AND MADE SURE IT WASN'T MOVING BEFORE I GOT OUT. THIS FIRST TIME I ATTRIBUTED IT TO ME NOT TURNING THE KNOB ALL THE WAY TO PARK, BUT NOW I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME DEFECT.