NHTSA Complaint #744500 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE DIP STICK SMEARED HIS FINGER INSIDE AND SAID SLUDGE LACK OF MAINTENANCE. THE FACTORY REP CAME ON TUESDAY I WAITED FINALLY WENT TO WORK BUT THEY HAD THE HEAD GASKET LID OFF AND THE WHOLE THING WAS CRISPY SLUDGE AND BLACK. THE DEALER SAID IT WASN'T GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WINDOWS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT IF IT HAD HELD OFF A COULPE MORE MOUNTHS I WOULD BE PAYING FOR THAT!!! THIS IS A LEASED VEHICLE. MY WIFE PREGNAUNT WWEITH TWINS AND I AND ANOTHER COUPLE WERE ON OUR WAY ON A 45 MIN TRIP TO A COMEDY CLUB. ON I-75 THE CHECK GUAGES LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE DINGING BELL. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND AFTER CHECKING THE GUAGES I FOUND THE OIL PRESSURE WAS AT 0. JUST A FEW MILES AHEAD WAS A REST AREA AND THATS WERE I WAS HEADED BECAUSE IT WAS COLD AND WINDY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE GUAGE BECAUSE EAIRLER AT THE GAS STATION I KNOW SHE WAS GOOD. DID THE OLD, FILL UP WASH AND WAX JOB! SHE WAS LOOKING GOOD! THE SUV BEGAN LOOSING POWER AS WE HIT THE ON OFF RAMP TO THE REST STOP SHE WAS A TICKIN I THREW IT IN N. AND COASTED DOWN TO A PARKING SPOT BY THEN IT WAS KNOCKING. TURNED IT OFF AND POPPED THE HOOD PULLED THE DIP STICK OUT IT WAS STEAMIN HOT AND BLACK! I GAVE COPYS OF THE FOUR OIL CHANGES THAT I COULD ROUND UP THE OTHER THREE WERE AT A PLACE THAT WENT OUT OF BUISNESS AND NO LONGER HAD RECORDS, SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO KEEP THEM FOR THREE YEARS WELL THEY DONT HAVE THEM. I TALKED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT MY WIFE DRIVING IN TOWN MAYBE 5MILES TO WORK COULD PRODUCE SLUDGE. THE PLACES I GET MY OIL CHANGED ARE PROBABLLY 15- TO 25 CITY BLOCKS. THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO ALSO SAID IF I GOT MY OIL CHANGED AT DIFFERENT PLACES SOMETHING ABOUT TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF OIL COULD ALSO SLUDGE UP. I THEN ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER WHAT COULD MAKE AND ENGINE SLUDGE UP? HIS RESPONSE WAS " I BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS ONLY THING IS LACK OF MAINTAINCE." SO THATS WHY I WRITING TO YOU.*AK