NHTSA Complaint #707311 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM AND HIT A POCKET OF WATER ON THE HIGHWAY. I HYDRO-PLANED INTO A CONCRETE BARRICADE, HITTING THE WALL AT ABOUT A 40-45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE REAR END STARTED TO SPIN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE, SO I STEERED INTO THE SKID. THIS STOPPED THE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE SKID, BUT THREW ME BACK INTO THE BARRICADE - HITTING THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE REAR WHEEL. WHEN I HIT THE WALL, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING "WHIPLASHED" IN-BOARD AND CRACKED THE GAS TANK. THE CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 2-3 INCHES LONG. I DID NOT NOTICE THE CRACK RIGHT AWAY, AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE HOME. THE "LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT" CAME ON AND I STOPPED FOR GAS. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL WAS RUNNING OUT ON THE GROUND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND PERHAPS INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAULTY PLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS. THEY HAVE IGNORED THE SITUATION AND GAVE ME THE 800 NUMBER FOR CHRYSLER CUSTOMER RELATIONS. WHEN I CALLED THEM, I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND RECEIVED BASICALLY A "SO WHAT ??" ATTITUDE. I AM A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE AGENT AND WOULD NOT WANT ANY OF MY INSURANCE CARRIERS TO NEEDLESSLY PAY CLAIMS FOR FAULTY DESIGN. I FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THE UNNECESSARY LOSS OF LIFE AND NEEDLESS PROPERTY DAMAGE. I WAS LUCKY THAT IT WAS RAINING THE NIGHT THAT THIS HAPPENED WHICH LESSENED THE "SPARKS" POTENTIAL. HAD THERE BEEN SPARKS OF METAL ON CONCRETE, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN BURNED IN THE WRECKAGE. I AM REMINDED OF THE FAULTY PLACEMENT OF THE SADDLE TANKS ON THE GMC PICKUP TRUCKS WHICH CAUSED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CLAIMS AND SETTLEMENTS. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO CHRYSLER AND THEIR QUESTION WAS "WHAT DO YOU WANT CHRYSLER TO DO?". YOUR RESPONSE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK