2004 Dodge Durango Body & Structure Problems

I WAS GETTING GAS AND AS I PULLED OUT OF THE GAS STATION I WAS GETTING A LOAD TICKING NOISE. TO FIND OUT LATER MY 5.7 HIMI LIFTER AND CAM SHAFTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I GET A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND FILTER CHANGE. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BUT I DID SEE THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND 5.7 HIMIS DODGE DURANGOS AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. I'M A MOTHER OF 3 LITTLE ONES AND I'M TERRIFIED WE CAN GET STRANDED IF MY ENGINE DECIDES TO GO OUT DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL SHOWS RUST TO THE SIDE OF THE FUEL DOOR LID. RUST IS THROUGH PANEL. PAINT AND BODY BUBBLING UP, CONDITION IS CROSSING OVER TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. WHENEVER IT RAINED OR SNOWED, WATER LEAKED INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HOOD. THE WATER ENTERED THE MOTOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE MOTOR AND THE PISTONS, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

GAS AND BODY ISSUES: WHEN YOU GO TO FILL UP THE GAS SPRAYS OUT. I HAVE A VERT STRONG SMELL OF GAS AND THE LOWER FINDER BY THE WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED BADLY. MOTOR: WHENEVER THERE IS HEAVY RAIN, MY CAR WILL STOP RUNNING. MOST RECENTLY WHEN I TURN ON THE AC OR HEATER THE CAR STALLS. I ALSO JUST RECENTLY HAD TO CHANGE OUT A MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED ANOTHER SET OF PROBLEMS. I OWNED A DURANGO BEFORE THIS ONE AND LOVED IT. THIS ONE HAS CHANGED MY MIND AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER.

COWL SCREEN HAS WATER LEAKING ON THE ENGINE WHEN IT RAINS. IT CAUSED MY TRUCK TO DRIVE SHAKY AND THEN CUT OFF. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. WHY ISN'T THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS, I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT BUT NOTHING IS GETTING DONE. I GUESS IT WOULD TAKE FOR SOME PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BEHIND THE WHEEL BEFORE IT GET FIXED. I ALWAYS THOUGHT DODGE WAS THE BEST VEHICLE BUT I AM NOW SECOND GUESSING MYSELF AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE VEHICLE AGAIN IF THIS PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO BE RIDING WITH YOUR KIDS WHILE ITS RAINING AND TOUR VEHICLE CUTS OFF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNER.IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS LIVES YOU WILL SERIOUSLY LIKEINTO GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. UNTIL THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND CHEVY VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY FRIENDS AND EVERYONE I KNOW. [XXX] IS MY NUMBER IF ANYONE HAS THE COURAGE TO CONTACT ME SO I CAN FURTHER TELL THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN DETAILS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RAIN POURED THROUGH THE WIPER COWL AND SATURATED THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO HYDRO-LOCK AND BLOW A ROD. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IS THE GOVERNMENT WAITING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE KILLED ON THE HIGHWAYS DUE TO THIS? PLEASE ADVISE IF SOMETHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

BOTH REAR QUARTER PANELS, BOTTOM OF PASSENGER DOORS, AND TAILGATE ROTTING. *TR

THE WHEEL WELL AND BODY SURROUNDING WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED THROUGH, THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS RUSTED ON DOOR. THE LIFT GATE HAS RUSTED IN MULTIPLE SPOTS MOSTLY ON THE BOTTOM EDGE. THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS WHEN PUMPING. *JS

CAR HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT BELOW THE GAS CAP AS WHAT HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED IN EXCESS OF $4000 TO FIX THIS GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE AND LABOR REQUIRED TO FIX THIS. IT APPEARS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR SINCE I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN 11 EXACT SAME VEHICLES YEARS WITH THE SAME RUST PROBLEM. THIS COUPLED WITH THE SAME RUST ISSUE ARISING ON THE HATCHBACK WHICH WAS SAID DUE TO A FAULTY DRAIN HOLE BEING TAPED OVER BY DEALER/MANUFACTURER WHICH NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE OVERALL VEHICLE BODY IS A PERFECT SHAPE OUTSIDE THE RUST PROBLEMS BELOW THE GAS CAP AND THE RUST THROUGHOUT THE HATCHBACK. GIVEN THE COMMONALITY OF THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE EXTERIOR BODY AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE EXHIBITED EXTENSIVE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD HAD PENETRATED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE, WHICH WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90000.

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 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.

AFTER A SNOW STORM AND THE SNOW MELTED, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE STARTER WAS GRINDING. THE ENGINE WAS HYDROLOCKED AND BROKE THE CONNECTING ROD FOR #3 CYLINDER. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION TURNED UP A TECH BULLETIN (NOT MANDATORY RECALL) TO REPLACE COWL AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE ONTO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHICH CAN CAUSE MISFIRING. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS TECH BULLETIN OR THE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES OF NOT IMPLEMENTING IT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THE DEFECTIVE COWL COULD CAUSE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE IN THE TECH BULLETIN. THE MELTING SNOW SEEPED INTO THE #3 CYLINDER, POSSIBLY FROM A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL OR WARPED INTAKE MANIFOLD (YET TO BE DETERMINED), AND CAUSED HYDROLOCK. I FOUND EVIDENCE OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE OIL PAN WHICH LEAKED FROM #3 CYLINDER. I ALSO FOUND WATER UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE #3 CYLINDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD USUALLY PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE BLOCK CAUSING OIL TO SPILL ON THE ROAD! THIS WAS A 5.7L HEMI. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. *TR

THESE VEHICLES HAVE SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. (HEMI 5.7L) THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH ME AND MY SEVEN CHILDREN INSIDE BECAUSE ETHE DRIVER BEHIND ME DIDN'T SEE THAT MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. IN HEAVY RAINS WATER GETS INSIDE SOMEHOW AND STALLS THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE FINALLY LOCKED UP AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO NUMEROUS OF PLACES TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND MECHANICS NEVER SEEN THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING BAD. LOOKING AT REPORTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING ENGINE FAILURE AND THIS IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. *TR

2004 DURANGO HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON SEVERAL SPOTS. TAILGATE AND WHEEL WELLS. THIS IS EXCESSIVE FOR A VEHICLE IT'S AGE THAT HAS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR. I SUGGEST THAT THE ANTICORROSION COATING WAS FAULTY. I HAVE SEEN MANY DURANGO'S THIS AGE WITH THE SAME TROUBLE SPOTS. *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE STARTED POURING INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THE RAIN LEAKING INTO THE COMPUTER PANEL AND WIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR RECALL 07V092000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL) AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO APPLIED THE REMEDY SINCE IT DID NOT QUALIFY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS. THE REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A RESERVOIR WAS INSTALLED WHICH REPAIRED THE FAILURE TEMPORARILY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE HOOD AND DAMAGING A COIL LOCATED NEAR THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

REAR PLASTIC STEP BUMPER HAS BEEN RE-COATED THREE TIMES AND IS FAILING AGAIN..I WANTED IT REPLACED AS PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION, BUT DODGE SAID NO RECOAT IT...MY SIDE STEP RUNNING BOARDS ARE PERFECT AND HAVE NO DENTS, SCRATCHES OR PROBLEMS... *TR

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED DUE TO FRONT WINDSHIELD NOT BEING INSTALLED PROPERLY AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING *NM

MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO MAKES A TERRIBLE POUNDING SOUND IF I DRIVE OVER 40 MPH WITH A REAR WINDOW DOWN. THIS IS VERY NERVE WRACKING. AND VERY DISTRACTING. I BELIEVE IT IS CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN. *NM

WHEN THE REAR POWER WINDOWS ARE DOWN THE WIND IS SO LOUD THAT IT IRRITATES THE OCCUPANT'S EAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO VIBRATES WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN. *AK *NM

DODGE DURANGO 2004 ST I JUST BOUGHT THIS MODEL NEW OFF THE FLOOR AND THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THE DESIGN. IF YOU ARE DRIVING WITH THE BACK WINDOW/WINDOWS DOWN AND THE FRONT UP, THERE IS A PULSATING PRESSURE FROM AIRFLOW THAT MAKES YOUR EARDRUMS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO POP. CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF YOUR EARS UNLESS ALL WINDOWS ARE UP, OR THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE CRACKED WHEN THE BACK WINDOWS ARE DOWN. *NM

PLASTIC BUMPER FACIA CRACKED UNDER COLD CONDITIONS WITH LITTLE TO NO IMPACT. - POLYMER USED DURING BUMPER CONSTRUCTION CANNOT WITHSTAND COLD TEMPERATURES.*AK