NHTSA Complaint #11269033 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2014. ALWAYS HAD MISFIRE/ROUGH RUNNING PROBLEMS IN HEAVY RAIN OR A CAR WASH. IN MAY 2019, DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE ENGINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. RESEARCH ON LINE AND MY OWN REPAIRS DISCOVERED A FLAW IN THE FIRST GENERATION COWL GRILL. IT ALLOWED WATER TO FLOOD THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ALLOWED THE WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO HYDROLOCK. IT BROKE A CONNECTING ROD. IT DID HOWEVER STILL RUN, BUT WAS VERY NOISY. THE INTAKE LEAK WAS NOT NOTICED IN ANY OTHER CONDITIONS, NOR WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ON PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THE ENGINE DID NOT USE OIL OR MAKE ANY OTHER NOISES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. IT HAS ABOUT 175000 MILES.