2003 Dodge Durango Latches & Locks Problems

AFTER REMOVING IGNITION KEY FROM VEHICLE, OWNER RETURNS TO VEHICLE TO FIND THAT IGNITION KEY WILL NOT STAY IN KEY SLOT OR TURN. VEHICLE IS IN PARK, BUT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY, SO STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED MULTIPLE COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS (IF YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH, THINK NON-POWER STEERING). AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE IS EFFECTIVELY DISABLED. STRIKING THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A RUBBER MALLET DIRECTLY ON IGNITION KEY SLOT RESOLVES PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. BASED ON MY RESEARCH (EXAMPLE HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/16154/DODGE/1999-DODGE-1500-VAN-KEY-WONT-TURN-IN-IGNITION/INDEX.HTML) THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT OCCURS ON ALL DODGE VANS AND SUVS FROM 1999 TO AT LEAST 2003 MODEL YEAR. THIS TYPE OF DEFECT CAN RESULT IN DRIVER BEING STRANDED IN REMOTE LOCATIONS UNEXPECTEDLY. WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS CERTAINLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT DODGE SHOULD BE REPAIRING FOR FREE. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS OF THIS DEFECT OCCURRING (SOMETIMES UP THE 6-7 TIMES ON THE SAME VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE YEAR) THERE IS NOT A SINGLE TSB. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR FOR FREE. *TR

INTERMITTENT LOCKING/UNLOCKING OF DOORS WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. *TR

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS -- LOCK/UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. IT OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE (AT ANY SPEED) AND ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY (KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION). I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PIN POINT EXACTLY WHAT EVENTS TRIGGER THIS TO OCCUR. THE DEALER HAD IT FOR 8 DAYS AND WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. *NM

ON JUNE SIXTH, MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM. I LOWERED MY SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 M.P.H. DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN WHEN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC SLOWED. I DECELERATED KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND WHEN I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, I SAW A BLUE FORD RANGER APPROACHING. I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE APPROACHING WAS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME. THE RANGER STRUCK OUR VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 M.P.H. OUR VEHICLE WAS STILL TRAVELING FORWARD SO THE IMPACT WAS DISSIPATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 M.P.H. THE INSTANT THE VEHICLE STRUCK OURS, THE REAR HATCH POPPED OPEN DEPOSITING SOME OF OUR LUGGAGE AND ARTICLES ONTO THE ROADWAY WHERE THEY WERE STUCK BY THE VEHICLE THAT STRUCK OURS, DAMAGING THE ITEMS. MY CONCERN WAS THAT IF I HAD AN UNSECURED OCCUPANT IN THE THIRD SEAT, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CONDUCTED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION BUT TO MY DISMAY, THEY HAVE OBSTRUCTED ME IN EVERY INQUIRY OF THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION. I AM REQUESTING AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION IN THE HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE THERE ARE ANY INJURIES. *JB

VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION AT 25/30 MPH , ON IMPACT THE RARE HATCH BACK POP OPEN AND LUGGAGE FELL OUT. BODY SHOP INDICATED THAT THE IMPACT WASN'T' SEVERE ENOUGH TO RELEASE THE HATCH BACK.

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE DURANGO SLT ON APRIL 24,2003. WHEN MY VEHICLE HIT 800 MILES THE LOCKS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ALL THE TIME, WHETHER THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE TOPOR DODGE 2 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE FIXED. IT IS NOW BACK IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ONLY NOW THEY JUST KEEP UNLOCKING ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TO LEAVE IT AT TOPOR TIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED BECAUSE THE DOORS WON'T STAY LOCKED AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I WORK IN SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS AND IT IS UNSAFE TO TAKE MY OWN DURANGO TO WORK. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JUNE 3,2003 AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG I WILL BE WITHOUT MY BRAND NEW DURANGO. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT I KNOW LONGER WANT TO DEAL WITH. MY DURANGO NOW HAS 4200 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK