NHTSA Complaint #11252885 — 2012 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE 4WD LOW LIGHT COME ON WITHOUT HAVING SWITCHED TO THAT SETTING. THE CAR ENGINE WAS RACING. I CAME TO A STOP AT A SAFE SPOT, SHIFTED INTO PARK AND SWITCHED THE 4WD LOW KNOB TO THE NORMAL POSITION OF AWD. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY ISSUES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS; THE CAR WAS OPERATIONAL. THEN, I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH IN 2WD ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY. THE CAR SHIFTED INTO AWD FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS ON A MUDDY SPOT, THEN THE AWD OFF LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH THE SERVICE AWD LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RUNNING IN 2WD AND I DIDN'T SWITCH IT TO 4WD LOW. THE REPAIR PERSON SHIFTED IT INTO 4WD LOW AND IT GOT STUCK THERE. THE REPAIR PERSON SAID IT WAS THE TRANSFER MOTOR CASE OR A SENSOR, WITHOUT 100 CERTAINTY. I'M CONCERNED THAT, EVEN IF REPLACED AND REPAIRED WITH CURRENT MODELS OF THE TRANSFER MOTOR CASE, THE CAR WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT INTO 4WD LOW WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND CASE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND AN ACCIDENT.