2004 Dodge Durango Complaint Log

DROVE VEHICLE ON 12-22-13 EVERYTHING RUNNING FINE WENT TO DRIVE ON 12-23-13 AND STARTED TRUCK JUST TO HEAR A LOUD BANG AND THUMP CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC AND IT HAS A BUSTED CONNECTING ROD AND ENGINE BLOCK IS SHOT AND CANT EVEN REBUILD THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE ANY MORE HARD WORKING AMERICANS HAVE TO DUMP $7K DOLLARS IN THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE SOME ONE WANTS TO COVER UP A REAL PROBLEM. DODGE RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AS WELL WHEN DO THE REPAIRS. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ENGINES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF A ROD FAILURE. UPON DOING RESEARCH THERE SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE WINDSHIELD COWL THAT LEAKS DOWN DIRECTLY TO THE MANIFOLD THAT MAY CRACK BECAUSE IS FAULTY WHICH IN TURN ALLOWS WATER TO DRAIN ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. WELL EVEN THOUGH THERE IS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND WITH DODGE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. A V8 ENGINE SHOULD NOT FAIL BETWEEN 60-80,000 MILES IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED LIKE OURS WAS. OIL CHANGES RELIGIOUSLY AND ALL MAINTENANCE DONE TO DEALERSHIP SPECS. IF THIS ROD WOULD HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED DEATH OR INJURY. WHY HASN'T ANYONE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A TREND HERE IF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE'S ENGINES ARE FAILING AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR

THE BLACK BOX ON THE INSIDE OF THE DASH GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED OFF THE ACTUATOR FOR THE BLEND DOOR. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO CONTROL OF MY AIR PLACEMENT. I WAS SITTING IDLE WITH THE HEAT ON THEN NOTICED A PLASTIC BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE DASH AREA.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE HEMI 5.7L ENGINE*** I HAVE MAINTAINED MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO IMMACULATELY, MECHANICALLY AND PHYSICALLY. I PURCHASED MY DURANGO IN 2006 FROM A DEALER WITH 36K MILES ON IT. IN 2010 WITH 155,000 MILES ON IT, THE PUSH ROD BROKE WHEN I WAS ON MY WAS TO THE OFFICE. THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE ENGINE, IT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THE PUSH ROD HAD BROKEN, OIL CHANGED ON REGULAR BASIS, ETC.. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED IN NOV 2010 WITH ANOTHER DODGE HEMI 5.7 L HEMI ENGINE. OVER 3 YEARS LATER GUESS WHAT????????? THE REPLACED DODGE HEMI ENGINE BLEW ON ME IN THE SAME DRIVEWAY 3 YEARS LATER DECEMBER 5, 2013. I AM POSTING THIS NOTE TO OTHER OWNERS TO STEER CLEAR OF REPLACING THE ENGINE AS IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN. AS OF DECEMBER 2013 MY DODGE HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE SHOP I HAD IT TOWED TO AND I REFUSE TO BUY ANOTHER ENGINE. ONE CONSISTENT ISSUE WHICH I HAVE READ FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS IS THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HARD IDLE (ACT LIKE IT WOULD STALL) DURING HEAVY RAIN STORMS. I AM PISSED BECAUSE I HAVE A EXCELLENT CONDITIONED VEHICLE APPEARANCE AND MECHANICALLY I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY/UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE IS PAID FOR. I AM GOING TO LODGE ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE. HOW CAN WE GET CHRSYLER/DODGE TO OWN THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE IT'S OWNERS OF ITS DODGE DURANGO'S WHOLE FOR FIXING THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. I AM A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF REPLACING THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE ONCE, AND 3 YEARS LATER THE EXACT ISSUE HAS OCCURRED AGAIN!!!!!!!!! *TR

BACKED VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY NEXT MORNING GOT IN TO CRANK AND IT MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND MOTOR WAS SHOT!! THIS IS NOT THE WAY I THOUGHT DODGE COMPANY WOULD BE; WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER. NO HELP FROM DODGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE ENGINE AND CAUSED A ROD TO BEND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WATER GOT INTO CYLINDER AND BENT ROD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2004 DURANGO HEMI DUE TO DESIGN ISSUE OF WATER DRAINING AROUND THE ENGINE. REQUIRED REBUILD OR NEW ENGINE. UNACCEPTABLE FOR A WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE TO HAVE THIS OCCUR, MUCH LESS, REPEATEDLY OCCUR FOR MANY VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HYDRO EXTENSION CYLINDER BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 4/28/14*CN *TR

WHEN STARTING IT MADE LOAD KNOCKING NOISE. HAD IT TOWED TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK. THEY FOUND THAT RAIN WATER WAS COMING THROUGH THE COWL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WATER STANDING ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE AND ALLOWED CYLINDER TO HYDRAULICALLY LOCK. *TR

TRANSFER CASE SHIFTED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LOCK WITHOUT INPUT OF THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS ON STRAIGHT LEVEL HARD SURFACE ROAD. TRANSFER CASE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LOCK. *TR

ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY (10 SECONDS) AFTER START-UP, MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THEN SEIZING TIGHT. ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED AS IT COULD NOT TURN-OVER. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED BEFORE REMOVAL, AND #7 PISTON WAS FOUND TO NOT BE MOVING WHEN THE CRANKSHAFT WAS ROTATED IN REVERSE ROTATION MANUALLY. ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND TORN DOWN FOR INSPECTION. CYLINDER #7 CONNECTING ROD WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN MIDWAY THROUGH THE I-BEAM SECTION, AND THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE CONNECTING ROD SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BEING BENT OR BUCKED PREVIOUS TO THE FAILURE BY ONE OR MORE HYDROLOCK EVENTS. ROOT CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE THROTTLE BODY TO INDUCTION RESONATOR JOINT THAT ALLOWS WINDSHIELD WATER RUNOFF TO BE DRAWN INTO THE ENGINES INDUCTION SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED ROUGH RUNNING IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS, WHICH WAS THOUGHT TO BE IGNITION RELATED PER A CHRYSLER TSB DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COWL DESIGN THAT ALLOWS RAIN WATER TO DEPOSIT DIRECTLY ON THE IGNITION COILS, AND THROTTLE BODY, IN LARGE VOLUMES. CHRYSLER RE-DESIGNED THE COWL PIECE BUT DID NOT MANDATE ITS REPLACEMENT. *TR

AFTER MAKING A CLICKING NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THAT WE HAD BEEN TOLD WAS THE STARTER FAN (AND HAVING IT REPLACED), WE LOADED UP OUR DURANGO FOR A WEEK LONG CAMPING TRIP 8 HOURS AWAY. 45 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE THE DURANGO STARTED "DRAGGING" LIKE IT WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME MAINTAINING SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, A HORRIBLE METAL ON METAL BANGING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I LOST ALL POWER. ON THE INTERSTATE, AT 4 A.M. I DROPPED FROM 72 MPH TO 0 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OIL JUST POURED FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. WE HAD THE DURANGO TOWED HOME AND CALLED OUR LOCAL MECHANIC. HE TOOK A LOOK AND INFORMED US WE HAD THROWN A ROD AND COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE NEEDED. WE VERIFIED THIS THROUGH 3 DIFFERENT DODGE TECHNICIANS WHO ALL STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITHIN THE COMPANY. THEY KNOW AND HAVE KNOWN THAT THE SKIRTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS. THEY KNOW THAT THOSE LEAKS DRIP WATER ONTO THE INTAKE VALVE RESULTING IN WATER BEING DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE THROUGH A ROD BEING THROWN. THIS IS NOT A CHEAP FIX. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH RECALL OR EVEN NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS. IT COULD HAVE ONLY COST ABOUT $400. BUT NOW IT DOESN'T. NOW IT COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $4-6000. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

I HAD DRIVEN MY VEHICLE ON SATURDAY, HAULING A LOAD OF HAY, WITHOUT INCIDENT, THEN PARKED THE CAR. MONDAY MORNING I WENT OUT TO DRIVE KIDS TO SCHOOL, THE ENGINE TURNED OVER AND STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, IMMEDIATELY I TURNED IT OFF AND CALLED A MECHANIC. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS SHOP THAT DAY, WHERE HE FOUND A PERFECT CIRCLE HOLE IN THE SIDE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A 50 CENT PIECE. I'VE SINCE REPLACED THE ENGINE, THEN THE OIL PUMP, AND THE HEAD GASKETS, AND THE OIL PAN, NOW THE BATTERY... *TR

AFTER RETURNING FROM A WEEK LONG BUSINESS TRIP, I WENT TO MY DURANGO THAT WAS PARKED AT THE AIRPORT. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD FOR SOME REASON, AND USED A JUMP BOX TO START THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LONG RATTLING NOISE, THEN SHUT DOWN. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND A PIECE OF METAL AS WELL. AFTER HAVING THE DURANGO TOWED TO MY HOME, I CHECKED OUT THE ENGINE TO FIND A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK JUST IN FRONT OF THE STARTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE FOR THE 2004 5.7L HEMI ENGINE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED YET. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS IT HAS WITH SOME, BUT I SUPPOSE IT WILL TAKE A FATALITY UNTIL IT IS DEEMED SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. *TR

VEHICLE STALLED OUT ON ME DURING A HEAVY RAIN. I WAS GOING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER HEAVY RAIN, I LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO PULL MY VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND RAIN BEGAN TO SLOW TO A DRIZZLE. VEHICLE CRANKED RIGHT UP AFTER THAT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE AS I HAVE HAD ROUGH IDLES AND STALL OUTS WHEN IN AUTOMATIC CAR WASHES. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE WITH THE COWL AND A REPLACEMENT COWL IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER AT OUR OWN COST. IF THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AS A DEFECT ON AN OEM PART THEN WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER WHO HAS ALREADY PAID FOR A VEHICLE BE LIABLE? I HOPE THAT THIS IS MORE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND IT DOES NOT TAKE THE FATALITY OF AN UNSUSPECTING CONSUMER FOR ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS RAINING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE LIGHTS TURNED ON AND SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM THE HOOD, THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION OR NO ONE WAS NEAR THE TRUCK AT THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED IN AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND $1000.00 WAS SPENT ON REPAIRS AND WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN FOR A CAR WASH THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN THE DODGE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE WATER TO GO IN TO THE ENGINE I WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND CABLES ANOTHER $600.00 BUT I WAS TOLD THAT AS WATER KEEPS GOING IN THE SAME PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. TESTS WERE DONE IN THE DODGE DEALER SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT WATER IS GOING IN TO THE ENGINE BUT CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY AND HOW TO RESOLVE IT. IF DRIVING AND IT RAINS THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE TRUCK TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JS

RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY SERVICE CONTRACT, I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN IT RAINS THE TRUCK WILL START SHAKING,STALLING AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, ALSO AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK THRU A CAR WASH IT WILL DO THE SAME THING, I NEED HELP BECAUSE I PAID 11,000 DOLLARS FOR THESE POS. *TR

MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT WAS RAINING AND THEN THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING WITHOUT THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED TO MOVE THE TRUCK TO THE INSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND THE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD AND FROM UNDER THE DASH. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING, WE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS SMOKING AND THE KEYS WERE OFF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND REMOVED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT MAY BE A SHORT WHEN IT RAINED. THE TRUCK IS IN THE GARAGE I CANT DRIVE IT WHEN IT RAINS BECAUSE WATER GOES IN TO THE TRUCK FROM THE FRONT I CAN ACTUALLY SEE WATER LEAKING INTO THE FLOOR. I OWNED THE TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT REACHED 100,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND MADE THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DURANGO 5.7 V8 IT WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS RAINING, THE LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING WITHOUT THE KEYS OR ANY POWER GOING TO THE TRUCK. I TRIED TO MOVE THE TRUCK INTO THE GARAGE TO CHECK ON IT AND IT STARTED SMOKING ON THE INTERIOR AND SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I OPENED THE HOOD AND REMOVED THE CABLES FROM THE BATTERY, THE FIRE AND POLICE WERE CALLED. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED THEY CHECKED THE TRUCK AND SAID THAT WATER WAS COMING IN FROM THE FRONT OF THE FUSE BOX AND THAT IT MAY HAVE CAUSED A SHORT THAT MADE THE LIGHTS BLINK. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN MY GARAGE AND I AM NOT DRIVING IT AT THIS TIME I TRIED TO TURN IT ON JUST TO WARM IT UP BUT THE BATTERY IS DEAD SO I AM NOT GOING TO TRY AND DRIVE IT BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM ENDED UP WITH A BLOWN MOTOR AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME. *TR

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2004 DODGE DURANGO ONE YEAR AGO. LUCKILY THE ENGINE WENT OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE ENGINE ONLY HAD 139,044 MILES ON IT. DODGE HAS A HISTORY OF THE HEMI ENGINE GOING OUT. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR IN TRAFFIC AND SOMEONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INJURED OR KILLED THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE WORLD TO FIX IT. WHY HASN'T DODGE ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND RECALLED THEM? *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND CONTINUED MY DRIVE. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER WHEN I WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH. I AGAIN HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART. THIS TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OVER SINCE I WAS ON A BUSY STREET. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME. ONE WEEK LATER THE ENGINE WENT OUT (PER ANOTHER COMPLAINT THAT I SENT IN LAST NIGHT). DODGE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPLACEMENTS. *TR

AS WITH MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES SERVICE 4WD LIGHT COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID TRANSFER CASE MOTOR WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR AND THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. VEHICLE GETS 'LOCKED' IN 4WD MODE AND CANNOT SELECT THE STANDARD AWD DRIVING OPTION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. OWNERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE IN HOPES IT RESOLVES THE ISSUE. DODGE/CHRYSLER NEEDS TO REALLY LOOK INTO THIS. *JS

THROUGH MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THE SECOND GENERATION DODGE DURANGO'S, HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT COWL, IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME THAT IT RAINS HEAVY OR I DRIVE THROUGH A AN AUTOMATIC CARWASH. DOING SO CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN PRETTY HORRIBLE.ON AUGUST 27 WE GOT A VERY BAD RAIN IN TOWN WHILE DRIVING HOME THAT NIGHT, I PARKED MY SUV WENT INTO MY HOUSE AND A FEW HRS LATER I GO TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND I START THE ENGINEER AND AFTER A FEW HARD KNOCKS THE ENGINE GOES BOOM. I SENT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT I BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK ON MY NUMBER 6 CYLINDER DUE TO HYDROLOCK. I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD MAKE A RECALL ON THE SECOND GENERATION DURANGO'S AND REPLACE THE FRONT COWL WITH A BETTER DESIGN THAT DOES NOT ALLOW WATER TO LEAK THROUGH THE COWL AND KILL MOTORS. AS SPEAKING FOR THE CUSTOMER THIS WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY 185 DOLLARS FOR A DESIGN UPDATE FOR FREE ALONG WITH LABOR. *TR

I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE SOME LOUD NOISES SOUNDING LIKE GRINDING AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, STEERING AND BRAKES. I HAD TO NAVIGATE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS WITH A TRAIN COMING AND ONTO A SIDE STREET AND A DITCH. I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE TRUCK AT THE TIME AND WAS NOT HURT AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF MY KIDS OR WIFE DRIVING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC DUE TO NO POWER AND TRYING TO STEER A 5000LB TRUCK ACROSS TRAFFIC AND RAILROAD TRACKS WITH A TRAIN COMING. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR THIS I HAD THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY GONE THRU BY DEALER MCINERNEY IN MI AND THEY GOT IT READY FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE THE NEXT 100,000 MILES. AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME DUE TO THE ESTIMATED $7000 REPAIR BILL, I CALLED SEVERAL CHRYSLER MECHANICS WHO TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THAT MODEL AND ENGINE YEAR DUE TO BOTH WATER LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (TSB ISSUED) AND A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK MAIN BEARING. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE (JOKE) AND BOTH THE PEOPLE I TALKED TOO "LITERALLY" ASKED WHY I WAS CALLING SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT WAS NO LONGER CHRYSLER'S PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM BECAUSE WARRANTY HAS NO BEARING ON A KNOWN DEFECT. THE SECOND PERSON I TALKED TO LITERALLY LAUGHED AT ME ON THE PHONE AND REFUSED TO LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE HIGHER THAN HIM STATING "I AM AS HIGH AS IT GETS" AND TOLD ME "CHRYSLER IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU". I ASKED HIS IF THIS IS THE NEW CHRYSLER AFTER "I" HELPED BAIL THEM OUT, HE SAID THEY BAILED THEMSELVES OUT. THIS IS THE SAME CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT TOLD ME THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL ISSUES, THEN 6 MONTHS LATER RECALLED MY TRUCK DUE TO ELECTRIC FIRES. IF THIS DOES NOT GET RESOLVED BY CHRYSLER, I NOR WILL A ANYONE IN MY FAMILY EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR

ON AUGUST 15, 2013, GOT UP GOT INTO MY 2004 DURANGO WITH A 5.7 LIT HEMI ENGINE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO WORK AS USUAL ON MY WEEK DAY THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNINGS ON THIS VEHICLE ARRIVED AT WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 A.M. AND PARKED IT , THE CAR SAT ALL DAY UNTIL 6:30 P.M. , I CAME OUT FROM WORK GOT INTO MY CAR STARTED IT UP AND IT SHUT BACK DOWN I TRIED TO START IT ONCE AGAIN , I ENDED UP CALLING MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP THE CAR SHOWED SYMPTOMS THAT IT MIGHT BE A STARTER , SO AN ATTEMPT TO DO AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE ON AUGUST 16, 2013 AT A LOCAL GOODYEAR AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL, THEY EVEN ATTEMPTED TO HAND TURN IT AND TO NO AVAIL IT WOULD NOT. AT THIS POINT THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FIX IT AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP THAT DOES MAJOR ENGINE WORK SO I DID HAVE IT TOWED ON AUGUST 16, 2013 TO CAR CZAR AND THE SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO A NO CRANK, NO START TEST ON MY CAR AND ON AUGUST 17, 2013 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY SEIZED AND WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THIS AUTO CARE CENTER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS SPECIAL BOLTS AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER ALSO IN MY RESEARCH FOR A NEW ENGINE I RAN ACROSS 41 PAGES OF COMPLAINT FROM OTHERS WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND STYLE OF VEHICLE AND THEY ALSO DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR , I NO SOME ONE WHO HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND MODEL , I BOUGHT MY CAR OFF A CARMAX CAR LOT A LITTLE SHY OF 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAD ONE OWNER BEFORE ME A VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE AND I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH CHILDREN I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THIS KIND OF LOSS PLUS I'M STILL PAYING ON IT THIS IS REALLY SAD. *TR

I WAS TAKING OFF FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HEARD A POP SOUND AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I GOT THE VEHICLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID ENGINE IS SHOT SOMETHING IN THE VALVE TRAIN BROKE LOOSE AND HIT THE PISTON. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER EVERY 3-4000 MILES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND BY CHECKING THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE FOR A 2004 DODGE DURANGO WITH 5.7L ENGINE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DODGE NEW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY IN 2005 MODELS. *TR

DROVE VEHICLE ON 7-26-13 EVERYTHING RUNNING FINE WENT TO DRIVE ON 7-29-13 AND STARTED TRUCK JUST TO HEAR A LOUD BANG AND THUMP CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC AND IT HAS A BUSTED #7 CONNECTING ROD AND ENGINE BLOCK IS SHOT AND CANT EVEN REBUILD THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE ANY MORE HARD WORKING AMERICANS HAVE TO DUMP 4500-6000 DOLLARS IN THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE SOME ONE WANTS TO COVER UP A REAL PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD UNUSUAL NOISE AND FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

I ONLY HAD THE DARN SUV SINCE 02/12.IT RAINED VERY BAD FRIDAY NIGHT 7-26-13 AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A HAMMER IS IN IT OR SOMETHING I KNOW I ALWAYS HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS WHENEVER I GOT A CARWASH BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS TIME IT'S NOT DRIVABLE AND I HOPE SOMEONE CAN GET EVERYONE A RECALL ON THESE NO GOOD ENGINES OR MOTORS WHATEVER NOW I'M STUCK IN DEBT!!! ITS TICKING AND I DON'T KNOW THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO HEMI FOR JUST OVER A YEAR. IT HAD 86K MILES. MY FAMILY RECENTLY WENT ON VACATION FOR A WEEK AND RETURNED HOME ON JULY 27TH, 2013. MY HUSBAND NEEDED TO MOVE MY DURANGO SO HE COULD GET TO AN ELECTRICAL CORD. WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY MY DURANGO MADE AN AWFUL NOISE THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS NUMEROUS PEOPLE SITTING THERE BANGING HAMMERS ON MY ENGINE. I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT VEHICLES BUT I KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT'S NEVER A GOOD NOISE. I STILL OWE MONEY ON MY VEHICLE, AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. NOT TO MENTION THE COST IT WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT REBUILDING THE MOTOR IS A POOR CHOICE BECAUSE SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THE ENGINE IS BUILT, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ALL THE PIECES OF MEDAL TO EXIT THE MOTOR AFTER A REBUILD, ONLY RESULTING IN A TICKING TIME BOMB FOR THE MOTOR TO FAIL AGAIN. THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE IS RAIN. OR CAR WASHES. I STOPPED DRIVING MY DURANGO IN THE CAR WASH AND DURING RAIN BECAUSE IT WOULD STALL OUT AND RUN EXTREMELY ROUGH. DODGE KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT BUT YET DODGE WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. IF DODGE WONT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, I WILL NEVER BE A DODGE OWNER AGAIN. ----2004 DODGE DURANGO LIMITED - ENGINE FAILURE AT 86,004 MILES. *TR

MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO SAT OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN WHILE I WAS AWAY ON A TRIP WHEN IT RETURNED AND RESTARTED IT, I HEARD A LOAD POP AND THE ENGINE IDLING ROUGH, GOT OUT TO CHECK AND SEEN AND SMELLED OIL COMING OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. MOTORS TOAST, GOOD JOB CHRYSLER FOR A QUALITY PRODUCT! *TR

I AM ALSO ADDING TO THE RAPIDLY GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO SLT 5.7 HEMI HAS WITH THE BLOWN ENGINE. AS MAJORITY ON THIS SITE HAVE EXPRESSED, MY DURANGO WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF WITH MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. I BOUGHT MY DURANGO USED IN 2007 WITH 1 OWNER PRIOR TO MYSELF. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL PANEL, ALONG WITH THE EGR VALVE 2 YEARS BACK AND ENGINE STALLING IN THE RAIN. THE FIRST TIME MY ENGINE IDLED POORLY WHILE IN THE RAIN WAS AROUND 2008. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED IN THEIR FORMAL COMPLAINTS, I DROVE HOME FROM WORK WITH NO PROBLEM. AS I RETURNED TO MY TRUCK 15MIN LATER I WENT TO START THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KNOCKED AND SHUT DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AGAIN, AND ONCE AGAIN THE ENGINE KNOCKED, SHAKED AND HAD SHUT DOWN ONCE MORE. AFTER THE 3RD TIME STARTING THE IGNITION, I GOT NO RESPONSE JUST A CLICK. I LET MY TRUCK SIT FOR A DAY AND HAD IT TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING MY FUEL PUMP, STARTED, BATTERY, AND ALTERNATOR, MY MECHANIC FIGURED THE ROOT OF MY PROBLEM HAD BEEN MY ENGINE HAD BLOWN. AFTERWARDS, I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH ENGINES IN THIS PARTICULAR MODELS DURANGE. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND VIEWING THIS WEBSITE, TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND I WASN'T THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS MODEL & YEAR TRUCK HAVING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. WHAT MAKES THIS MORE SURPRISING IS THE GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. AS A SINGLE PARENT OF 2 CHILDREN I RELY HEAVILY ON MY VEHICLE, THAT IT WHY I TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. THIS INCIDENT HAS CAUSED ME ALOT OF EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL STRAIN. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT VERY SOON THE COMPANY WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED.

I AM ADDING MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO SLT 5.7 HEMI TO THE GROWING LIST OF THOSE WITH BLOWN ENGINES. LIKE MANY ON THIS SITE MINE WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF WITH MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND WAS THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR NINE YEARS. BESIDES THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL PANEL, THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD WITH IT WAS DECREASED RELIABILITY OF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE ENGINE STALLING IN THE RAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE IDLED POORLY IN THE RAIN WAS AROUND 2009. IT SEEMED TO BE INTERMITTENT AND ANYONE I SPOKE TO ABOUT IT SAID THAT WATER COULD NOT GET IN THE ENGINE AND IT CHECKED OUT FINE. I TRULY ENJOYED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND PLANNED TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FELL APART, WHICH CAME SOONER THAN EXPECTED. I DROVE FROM FLORIDA TO OHIO AND BACK DEC 2012 AND HAD NO ISSUES AT ALL. ON JULY 12, 2013 I DROVE TO WORK AND HOME WITH A PERFECTLY PERFORMING DURANGO. ON JULY 13, 2013 IT RAINED HEAVILY FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND I STAYED HOME ALL DAY. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT OUT TO GO TO WORK IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT ONLY CLICKED AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF RESEARCH, A NEW BATTERY, STARTER, AND IGNITION FUSE, WE FINALLY TURNED THE ENGINE MANUALLY TO GET IT STARTED. THAT'S WHEN THE KNOCKING ENGINE WAS REVEALED. THE WATER ENTERING THE ENGINE DURING THE HEAVY RAIN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HYDRA LOCK AND THAT IS WHY IT WOULD NOT START. I AM TRULY AMAZED AFTER MY RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2004 DURANGOS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THAT CLEARLY PROVES THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE YEAR MODEL. THE OLDER MODELS LAST FOR 200,000 TO 300,000 MILES. MY HUSBAND HAS A RAM TRUCK WITH 175,000 MILES AND STILL RUNS FINE. I WOULD TRULY HOPE THE COMPANY WOULD RECOGNIZE THIS AND OFFER SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED ME MUCH EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL STRAIN. *TR

WHEN STARTING ENGINE PISTON CONNECTING ROD BROKE, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 DURANGO WITH THR 5.7 HEMI ENGINE. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT IN GOOD CONDITION OIL CHANGED ECT. VEHICLE THREW A ROD AT AROUND 30 MPH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT A ROD IN THE MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL STORM CAME THROUGH DUMPING CONTINUOUS RAIN ON VEHICLE. I WENT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE LATER THAT DAY AND NOTICED STANDING WATER ON DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD/CARPET. IT WAS SOAKED! I WENT TO START THE ENGINE IT DIDN'T RESPOND INITIALLY SO I TURNED IGNITION BACKWARDS (OFF DIRECTION) AND TRIED TO RESTART. AT THAT MOMENT IT STARTED VERY ROUGH AND MADE A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND CONTINUALLY DOES SO WHENEVER IT IS STARTED NOW. I CAN'T AND DON'T DRIVE IT. LOOKING CLOSER UNDER THE HOOD APPARENTLY WATER IS GETTING INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN IT RAINS. THE BLACK MATERIAL LINING UNDER THE HOOD WAS SOAKED ALSO. ON THE ENGINE THERE WERE WATER DROPLETS AND MOST COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE HAD DRIED WATER MARKS/STREAKS THROUGHOUT THE COMPARTMENT.

WE WERE DRIVING WITH THE FAMILY, THEN WE HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER PULLING OVER IN A PARKING LOT I NOTICE A HOLE ON THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. WE TAKE CARE OF THAT LIKE ONE IF OUR BABIES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I CAN'T BELIVE DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM 04 DURANGOS HAVE AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. WE STILL OWE 4K ON OURS AND NOW WHAT?? MY WIFE LOST HER JOB OVER THIS. *JS

2004 DODGE DURANGO LIMITED 5.7L HEMI HAD A KNOCKING NOISE, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND BASED ON THEIR VISUAL AND HEARING INSPECTION SUSPECTED TO BE THE FLYWHEEL RING; DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO TAKE THE TRANS OUT FOR A FINAL ASSESSMENT. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ISSUES WITH ENGINE. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST POWER BREAKS AND POWER STEERING. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK BY THE 8TH CYLINDER AND ENGINE WAS SIZED. DEALER FOUND METAL PARTS (PISTON ROD PARTS) ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED CHRYSLER HQ AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF SUCH FAILURE AND THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED INTO LOOKING AT THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 106K MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS THE REPAIRS (PARTS AND LABOR) EXCEEDED THE BOOK VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LOOKS LIKE A METALLURGY ISSUE OF THE PISTON ROD AND CHRYSLER SHOULD ADDRESS IT. *TR

WENT TO START MY DURANGO, HEARD A BUNCH OF THUMPING, TURNED IT OFF AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND 3 PIECES OF THE ENGINE. *TR

WENT TO START UP THE DURANGO TO GO TO THE DOCTORS. HEARD A LOT OF THUMPING AND SHUT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. MY DAD HEARD THE NOISE AND CAME OVER TO LOOK AT IT. LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE DURANGO AND SAW PIECES OF THE ENGINE SITTING IN THE STREET. ALSO SAW A SMALL CHILD'S FIST SIZE HOLE IN THE ENGINE. MY DAD IS A MECHANIC SO THIS DURANGO WAS KEPT IN GOOD SHAPE, OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE FLAW THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE IGNITION, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED EXCESSIVE OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

AFTER A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN, I WENT OUT TO START MY DURANGO, AND THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP. AFTER THREE OR FOUR TRIES, IT STARTED, BUT WAS BANGING AND KNOCKING. I HAD IT TOWED, AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD FAILED, WITH A BEND OR BROKEN ROD. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I HAD DONE THE OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES, AND TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHER'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ENGINE FAILURES ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. I AM WAITING TO FIND OUT IF WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE ENGINE SOMEHOW, OR IF A POOR QUALITY ROD WAS THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING OR JUST BEING PARKED. *TR

AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MY VEHICLE, I AM DISGUSTED TO FIND OUT HOW COMMON THEY ARE ON THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. BEING A PARENT OF FOUR CHILDREN, TWO SETS OF TWINS, WHO ARE OF TODDLER AND SCHOOL AGE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMPELLED TO MAINTAIN MY DURANGO. NOT TO MENTION BECAUSE IT HAD ALOT OF MILES, I FACTORED INTO MY BUDGET HIGH-MILEAGE MAINTENANCE AS SCHEDULED. SEVERAL TIMES MY DURANGO HAS STALLED OR HESITATED TO START DURING THE RAIN. THE PROBLEM COULD NEVER BE PIN POINTED, BUT READING WHAT I RESEARCHED I NOW UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE INVOLVED MY COWL PANEL. MOVING ON TO THE MOST MAJOR OF MY ADDED STRESS...I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE COMPLETED 2-3 WKS AGO. I WAS PICKING MY 2YR OLDS UP FROM DAYCARE ON FRIDAY. I PROCEEDED TO THE STOP LIGHT WHICH WAS LESS THAN 200 FEET AWAY WHEN I HEARD THIS LOUD BANGING/KNOCKING NOISE OUT OF NOWHERE!! I WAS HORRIFIED SO I PULLED OVER AND SHUT MY CAR OFF. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A TRAIL OF OIL ON THE GROUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. I THEN CALLED MY HUSBAND TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAD JUST OCCURRED, A FAMILY MEMBER FOR AN ALTERNATE RIDE, AND A TOWING COMPANY. AFTER HAVING THE SHOP THAT PERFORMED THE OIL CHANGE TAKE A LOOK AT IT, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOW A HOLE IN MY ENGINE FROM A ROD BEING THROWN. I WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ME OUT OF THE BLUE. NOT ONLY BECAUSE I AM NOT SITTING ON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SPEND ON A NEW ENGINE, BUT BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED ON AN EXTREMELY WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE...HOW?? I AM NOW HAVING TO PAY FOR A RENTAL EVERY WEEK. I TRULY BELIEVE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT SUCH A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES. IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MANUFACTURE, NOT THE DRIVERS. I FEEL THAT THESE ENGINES SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DEALER/MANUFACTURE. *TR

WHEN RAINING VEHICLE WANTS TO SHUT OFF DUE TO WATER RUNNING DOWN THE HOOD/ WINDSHIELD COWL AND DIRECTLY RUNNING ONTO ENGINE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. PERFORM A SEARCH FOR VEHICLE AND ISSUE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO 5.7 HEMI THE SVC 4X4 LIGHT WENT ON AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING 35MPG IN 70 DEGREE WEATHER AND DID NOT HAVE MY 4X4 ON. I TOOK IT THE MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE 4X4 SHIFT MOTOR, SO I BOUGHT A NEW 4X4 SHIFT MOTOR AND THEY REPLACED IT BUT MY 4X4 WAS STILL NOT WORKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS AND THEY KEEP SAYING ITS THE 4X4 SHIFT MOTOR SO I EXCHANGED THE NEW 4X4 SHIFT MOTOR THINKING IT WAS DEFECTED AND ONCE AGAIN BOUGHT A NEW ONE AND HAD IT REPLACED AND AT THIS POINT THE MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE BECAUSE IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I PRESSED THE GAS AND I HEARD THE LOUD NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE, I PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A LITTLE OIL SPLATTERED ON THE MOTOR (NO OIL DRIPPING) AND I HAD IT TOWED TO 2 DIFFERENT PLACES, THE FIRST PLACED SAID I NEEDED A MOTOR AND THEN I TOWED IT TO THE DODGE PLACE HERE IN TOWN. THEY SAID IT HYDROLOCKED, FROM WATER GETTING IN THE MOTOR FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED WATER HAD GOTTEN IN A HEAD GASKET. NOW I'M JUST WAITING FOR A ANSWER. *TR