NHTSA Complaint #758415 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

DROVE VEHICLE FROM PHILA, PA AREA TO SCRANTON AREA FOR SKI WEEKEND. EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS DURING THIS TRIP OR PREVIOUS TO THIS TRIP. RETURN RIDE BACK TO PHILA AREA, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE TO ZERO THEN NORMAL. IT DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HEARING A TICKING UNDER HE HOOD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE HAD 28,800 MILES AT THE TIME AND SIX MONTHS LEFT ON 3/36 WARRANTY. DISTRICT MANGER FOR CHRYSLER PLACED A RESTRICTION ON THE WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE SLUDE FOUND IN THE VALLEY OF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL HAS TWO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES FOR OIL CHANGE, EVERY 3K OR EVERY 7.5K; I PRODUCED MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR OIL CHANGES EVERY 7.5K. I HAVE SINCE FOUND SEVERAL TSB'S ON THIS VEHILCE REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION, ETC. I FINALLY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PHILA AREA WHERE MURRAY DODGE IN CONSHOHOCKEN, PA REPLACED THE ENGINE FOR $5.7K. THE OIL PUMP AND OIL PICK UP TUBE WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE, BUT NOT THE LONG BLOCK. IT IS DISTRESSING THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT WARRANT THE REPAIR EVEN WITH MAINTENANCE RECORDS. I HAVE FOUND AN ARTICLE IN A SYNDICATED NEWSPAPER COLUMN WHICH INDICATES THAT CHRYSLER IS AT FAULT FOR HAVING A MAINTEANCE SCHEDULE OF 7.5K MILES IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE ARTICLE ALSO MENTIONS A POSSIBLE VENTILATION DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES CONDENSATION AND SLUDGE TO BUILD UP. TSB # 9923 IS IN REGARDS TO OIL SEEPAGE PAST THE ENGINE OIL FILTER ADAPTER PLATE GASKET. MY MECHANIC INDICATED TO ME THAT THIS MAY CAUSE A VENTILATION PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. TSB#090699 IS IN REGARDS TO ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET OIL LEAK. TSB# 090500 IS REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO LEAK ALSO. I AM UNCERTAIN IF THIS IS AN ENGINE PROBLEM OR AN OIL PUMP PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT CHRYSLER, THEY INDICATED THERE WERE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE. SCRANTON DODGE AND MURRAY DODGE SERVICE MANAGERS ALSO DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE.*A