When it rains the vehicle starts to "chug". when I approach an intersection/ stop light or attempt to slow down the vehice will cut off. I then have no power and can not restart the vehicle for several minutes. Last week while going to cross the highway in the rain the vehcle cut off in the middle of the road. I was almost hit by oncoming traffic. I have taken it to 2 mechanics and they can not find the problem. It has happened several times over the years but has gotten much worse. I have just been made aware of this site to file a complaint.

- Machipongo, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving 55 mph, the contact heard a popping noise coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and noticed oil leaking under the front end. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a spring from inside the motor snapped and the engine needed to be replaced or rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

Upon attempting to start my 2004 Durango after 2 days of rain the motor had a loud noise and then after restarting, a loud ticking noise. Shut off had towed to garage, mechanic says rod went through block. Numerous similar complaints..water onto engine top, sucked into intake...boom! design flaw, cowl lets water onto top of engine, sucked into valves thru intake..boom..engine trashed. Cost of new engine greater than blue book...108000 miles.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The morning after a rain storm, water accumulated on top of the engine and leaked into the engine. A loud clank noise was evident after first starting the engine. Diagnosed to be a bend connecting rod due to hydrolocked engine. No warning or other malfunction was observed before the incident.

- Inlet, NY, USA

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.

- Rome, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While at a car wash, the vehicle suddenly lost power without warning. The vehicle restarted after several attempts; however, the failure recurred and the vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 150,000. The VIN was not available.

- Schererville , IN, USA

After a rainstorm, I went to start the vehicle. I heard a big bang. Now motor raps and ticks loudly and leaks engine oil. Mechanic looked at it and said motor was blown.

- Mountain Top, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 55 mph, all of the instrument panel lights disengaged. The contact continued to drive and the lights illuminated after approximately four minutes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be determined. The failure recurred on several occasions. While driving in the rain at 75 mph, the vehicle stalled after the check engine and the battery warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred each time it was driven in the rain as well as when driven through a car wash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be determined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

- Aurora, CO, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 165,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Our 2004 Dodge Durango was purchase used, from original owner. All service records were given to us, showing proper maintenance of vehicle. I tried to start the vehicle and heard a horrible sound from the engine. After having it towed, I learned the engine threw 2 rods and put holes in the engine block. This is a complete failure to the engine, with the only solution being to replace the entire engine. Based on my mechanics observation, this is a result of water being directed into the engine compartment, therefore rusting and destroying necessary components. When the engine was pulled from my vehicle, it had been sitting in a large amount of water, even after having been garage kept for several weeks. After reading online, this is a very common occurrence with these 2004 Durangos. At that, Dodge has never issued a recall. I am now out $7900 for a new engine. All I can say, is thank god I was in my driveway when this happened. I am so fearful this will happen to someone while they are driving, resulting in something tragic. Due to the frequency of this failure and Dodge ignoring it, it seems as though it will take someone to be killed in an accident before Dodge addresses this problem.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Catastrophic engine failure. The same "hemi tick" issue and consequent valve/piston rod failure that has apparently been reported and complained about by thousands of consumers and thousands of times. Mine was failed sitting in my driveway idling. This is a recurring issue that the valve springs, spring seats, and piston rods are made of garbage materials, yet Dodge refuses to acknowledge or make any effort to make right. This is a major design defect and needs to become a recall.

- Groton, CT, USA

After a thaw of snow and a early morning rain, went to start Durango and would not turn over. After a few attempts Durango start to a loud bang and rattling. Turned off. Told the engine blew. Month prior to this when it would rain the Durango would stall. No one could figure out why. Now what I have been told is hydrolock. Https://youtu.be/9inzyt3jujw.

- Hammond, IN, USA

When it rains water would pour into engine and effect electrical sysytem and cause engine problems engine lock up, engine would automatically cut off and power steering would lock up while making a turn in my 2005 hemi Durango, the engine shut off in the middle of the road.

- Nashville , TN, USA

The vehicle was purchased new back in March of 2005 and has been maintained at regular intervals. Recently when it rained a sputter was noticed and thought to be spark plug wires, which had been changed approximately 1 year prior. Then approximately one month ago we went to start the Durango and it would not start. At first it sounded like the starter grinding so I removed the starter and had it tested and it fine. I attempted to turn the engine over by the crankshaft bolt and the engine would not move. I removed the spark plugs and found that the #7 spark plug had ice on it. The cylinder was found to be full of ice. The following day the ice melted and the engine moved and ran. The truck drove fine with no issues after that. I did some research and found many complaints of the engine hydrolocking due to a failure in the cowl which allowed water to pour onto the engine. The complaints indicated that it was a known problem and that Chrysler had been advised of the issue but nothing was done about it. I then found that water was leaking past the cowl and the wiper arms. On March 17, 2015 the Durango again made the grinding noise when attempting to start. The #7 cylinder and the #8 cylinder had water in them. The vehicle had been sitting for approximately 4 days prior and it had rained while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle would not start with the starter and would not turn by hand when tried at the flywheel. The vehicle had not exhibited any issues prior to being parked and had not run since it was parked and did not turn over at all when we attempted to start it. The engine is believed to be seized and no longer usable.

- Brooklyn, CT, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While the vehicle was idling, a knocking sound emitted from the engine without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

- Detroit, MI, USA

I was entering interstate 25 North from denver Colorado's 19th street when I heard a bang and my 04 Durango began to shake violently. I believed it was a tire that popped even though I have new ones and so I continued down the ramp to a safe place where I pulled over and stopped. That's when I noticed the vehicle was still shaking and I then believed it to be a serpentine belt until I turned the vehicle off. I opened the hood and found the belt intact. I then looked under the vehicle and could see engine oil dripping off the back of the engine block & onto the ground from some unknown location of the motor. I attempted to pull the dipstick out of the engine but was unable to because it was stuck until I tried cranking the motor once again which allowed me to then pull the dipstick out, but I was never able to get it back in. I had the vehicle towed to my house and then eventually to a dealership after the motor was attempted to be started again. Flame shot out from underneath the hood along with smoke and a lot of white smoke from the tailpipe. The engine is blown it would have to be replaced and I had 12 payments left for about $5000. I was in a negative equity situation with this vehicle now & I didn't have warranties or any ability to get help from Chrysler or Dodge. There have been almost a thousand other people to register complaints for the same problem. The engine hydrolocked because water leaks through the cowling between the windshield and the hood and drains all over the entire engine. It happens at approximately a hundred twenty thousand miles, allowing water to get inside the motor eventually. I took care of this vehicle better than any other vehicle I'd ever owned.

- Westminster , CO, USA

The vehicle, which was running fine the evening before this engine failure, was parked outside overnight in the rain. The next morning the vehicle was started and immediately started making loud mechanical noises. The vehicle was turned off immediately and a piece of the engine block was discoverd on the frame and a hole in the engine block was noticed.

- Cottage Grove, OR, USA

After a rainstorm, I went to start my vehicle and it wouldn't turn over. Thinking it was the starter, I replaced the starter and vehicle still would not start. After manually rotating the engine back and forth a few times, the engine started but then had a very loud engine knock. The vehicle was not officially diagnosed by a mechanic but all indications are that it is engine rod failure due to hydrolock condition. This is supported by the idea that the engine would frequently stall during the rain and in the car wash, as many others have reported. It had progressively gotten worse over the course of a year until this happened. Vehicle was sold as-is for repair or engine replacement for fraction of retail value.

- Wichita, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While starting the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal rattling sound. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the engine had a hole because the rod blew out of the engine. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 3/31/15 updated 04/14/15

- Eureka , CA, USA

Started car for first time after bad rainstorm over weekend. Heard very loud clanging noise. Hole in oil pan, oil leaked out everywhere. After taking apart the motor, service center discovered a rod shaft had sheared in half and shot through the engine block and oil pan. Discovered it was caused by water getting into engine through spark plugs. Because of this, the warranty company won't cover an engine replacement. We have taken in this vehicle to same service station before over the two years we have owned it because it would stall while driving in bad rainstorm. Could never find a problem. Read a lot of articles online attributing all of this to a design flaw in the hood of this vehicle. I know we are not the only owners of a 2004 Dodge Durango who have experienced this. Something needs to be done to resolve the design flaw and compensate us for having to replace an engine that, apart from being in a poorly designed car, is otherwise in great condition.

- Salem, OR, USA