NHTSA Complaint #11406986 — 2014 DODGE JOURNEY

WHILE DRIVING FROM FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND ARRIVING TO MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, I HEAR A NOISE THAT MIMICKED THAT OF A FLAT TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT TO CHECK EACH ONE OF MY TIRES, BUT NONE OF THEM WERE LOW OR COMPLETELY DEFLATED. I DROVE UP A BIT TO PARK MY VEHICLE, SO I COULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE AND IT STALLED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I SMELLED A LIGHT BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDERNEATH TBE VEHICLE AND I JUST LET IT SIT, WHILE CALLING MY INSURANCE COMPANY'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN SUPPORT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO GRAND RAPIDS COSTING ME $401 BECAUSE MY INSURANCE ONLY PAID UP TO 15 MILES FOR TOWING AND THIS DRIVE WAS APPROXIMATELY A 125 MILE DRIVE. DUE TO COVID, I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A RIDE BACK TO GRAND RAPIDS AS WELL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN APRIL 2015 AND AFTER THE DELEARSHIP CHECKED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SAYING IT WAS MY ALL WHEEL DRIVE POWERTRAIN UNIT/SYSTEM AND IT HAD BUSTED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE QUOTE THAT THE GENTLEMAN GAVE WAS A WHOPPING $2200 AND SOME CHANGE. I REALLY THOUGHT I REMEMBERED PURCHASING A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO FIND OUT FOR SURE IF I DID? I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE GUIDANCE ON THIS SITUATION BECAUSE I AM OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, IF POSSIBLE. ALSO, I WANTED TO INITIATE A RECALL FOR THIS BECAUSE IF I HAD BEEN STILL ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING, THIS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT WAY DIFFERENT AND I WOULD HATE TO HEAR THAT OTHERS MAY NOT BE AS BLESSED AS I WAS. I DO NOT HAVE MY INVOICE YET BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING ON FIXING MY CAR STILL. I WILL SAVE IT ONCE I DO, IF NEEDED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR INVESTIGATING THIS SAFETY CONCERN AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!