This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while traveling 15 mph, the headlights, interior lights, power door locks and remote key suddendly failed. The failure occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the central timer module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 148,000.
1. the headlights, parklights, foglights, interior lights, door lock switch, 4WD, key fob, or intermediate wipers would not work at all. Luckily the vehicle was at a low speed and not in motion on a highway when the incident took place. 2. it only occurred one time, but what if I had been driving on the roadway. 3. the central timer module (ctm) was replaced.
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: 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.
- Pipersville, PA, USA
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- Leh, NJ, USA