NHTSA Complaint #712643 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS PROCEEDING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD ON A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY AT ABOUT 45MPH. I WENT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRES DID NOT RESPOND. I TURNED THE WHEEL AGAIN AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOPPING IN THE GRAVEL ON THE SHOULDER. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER 800 SERVICE NUMBER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO A REPRESENTATIVE. A WRECKER ARRIVED 30 MINUTES LATER AND THE DRIVER TURNED WHITE AS A GHOST WHEN HE SPUN THE STEERING WHEEL IN CIRCLES WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE. HE INDICATED HE WAS THINKING ABOUT BUYING A DURANGO BUT NOT ANYMORE. EVIDENTLY A 3-4 INCH BOLT HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN SOMEWHERE UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND THIS IS THE ONLY THING LINKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE FRONT WHEELS. IF THIS IS THE CASE, THIS REPRESENTS A FATAL DESIGN FLAW IN THE DURANGO, AND THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. MY SON AND I ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE. HAVING WORKED FOR FORD FOR 10 YEARS, I'M SURE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT HAS ESTIMATED THEY WILL PAY OUT LESS IN WRONGFUL DEATH SUITS THAN THE COST OF A RECALL. I AM OUTRAGED THAT A VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF DESIGN FLAW COULD BE MANUFACTURED.