2004 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

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

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

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER ACCELERATING TO FOR A SECOND, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STARTED SHAKING BADLY. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, OIL WAS DRIPPING OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE A LARGE HOLE (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A CHILD'S HAND) IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DURANGO SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE PISTON ROD HAS BROKEN AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND HAD BEEN RAINING A LOT IN THE PREVIOUS DAYS. ONLY AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I DID SOME CHECKING ON THE INTERNET. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2004-2005 DURANGOS WITH THE 5.7 HEMI ENGINE. THE WINDSHIELD COWL LEAKS WATER ONTO THE ENGINE, THE WATER LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSES THE PISTON RODS TO RUST AND WEAKEN. THIS CAUSES FAILURE WITHOUT NOTICE. DODGE KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND CHANGED THE WINDSHIELD COWL SOMETIME IN 2005-2006. THIS VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. NOTHING BUT SYNTHETIC OIL WENT INTO THIS ENGINE. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I TOOK MY DURANGO TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE I THOUGHT I COULD SMELL GASOLINE ON THE OIL CAP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL IS MOST LIKELY FROM WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. MOST LIKELY FROM THE INTAKE AND THAT I WAS NORMAL. NOW I KNOW THAT IT WAS WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE, A LOT MORE THAN A LITTLE MOISTURE COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW!! EVERY 2004 DURANGO WITH THE 5.7 WILL BLOW THE ENGINE IF IT GETS EXPOSED TO RAIN OR CAR WASH!! PLEASE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY DODGE. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE EXITING THE SUBDIVISION ON OUR WAY TO WORK AFTER DROPPING OUR CHILDREN OFF AT DAYCARE. WE MERGED THROUGH THE MIDDLE LANE AND ONTO THE MAIN STREET AT ABOUT 25-30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. AFTER WAITING FOREVER FOR ROADSIDE TO COME AND GET US AND TAKE OUR CAR TO THE SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS GONE. WE WERE VERY ACCURATE WITH OIL CHANGES AND GETTING OUR CAR SERVICED AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIPS SO THIS WAS NOT DUE TO ANYTHING WE FAILED TO GET SERVICED. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. WHAT IS THE POINT OF PAYING $30 FOR OIL CHANGES AND MANY OTHER SERVICES AND FEES IF THE ENGINE IS GOING TO LOCK UP ANYWAYS?! NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR NOTE WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING $600 A MONTH FOR A RENTAL. SO NOW THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE A REPOSSESION ON OUR CREDIT. WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?! WHERE IS THE DURABILITY IN THESE VEHICLES!!! *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN AUG 2012. THE FIRST TIME DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY TO WORK IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM MY DURANGO WANTED TO STALL EVERY TIME I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I FINALLY GOT OFF AT THE EXIT TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT I OF COURSE WAS STOPPED THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING AND TRYING TO STALL I HAD TO KEEP MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND MY OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO WORK IT DID ACTUALLY STALL. AFTER WORK THAT DAY IT MUST'VE DRIED UP ENOUGH BECAUSE IT STARTED AND RAN FINE. AFTER RESEARCHED WE READ YOU SILICONE THE COWL WHICH MY HUSBAND DID DO AND IT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. IT HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES NOW AFTER YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS ONE TIME IT STALLED. IN THE CAR WASH AND WOULDN'T RESTART UNTIL A COUPLE CRANKS LATER. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD I CAN NOT DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ALWAYS ON THE GAS. WE HAVE ASKED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY PRETEND LIKE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MY HUSBAND EVEN TOLD THEM HE'D BE HAPPY TO DRIVE IT UP THERE POUR WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET YOU DRIVE MY DURANGO IF YOU NEED A TEST VEHICLE. *TR

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE REPAIR REP CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING/TICKING SOUND WHEN HE STARTED THE ENGINE. I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THERE WAS NO KNOCKING OR TICKING SOUND. AFTER CONTACTING MY WARRANTY COMPANY AND GIVEN THE REPAIR SHOP PERMISSION TO BREAK DOWN THE VEHICLE OVER THE PAST 3 WEEKS THAT MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, THEY NOW ARE TELLING ME THAT THE PISTON/ROD IS BROKE AND IS LYING IN THE OIL PAN. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH DODGE DURANGO'S. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN AN INVESTIGATION DONE AND RECALLS ON THIS MATTER? IT CAN'T BE A COINCIDENCE THAT A WIDE SPREAD OF DURANGO OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS RESULTING IN SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE BECAUSE THESE WARRANTY COMPANIES ARE RIPPING PEOPLE OFF COVERING LITTLE OR NOTHING OF THE COST IN REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE WINDSHIELD AREA WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. THE WATER WOULD THEN LEAK ONTO THE COWL PANEL AND INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIRS AND BOTH THE COWL PANEL AND ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 181,000.