2003 Dodge Durango engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE VALVE SEAT CAME OUT OF THE HEAD GASKET CAUSING IT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DECARBONATING THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,571.”

“WHILE AT IDLE OR TAKING OFF SLOWLY THE TRUCK WILL STALL OUT-I HAVE FOUND IF I RUN MY A/C EVEN WHEN ITS COLD OUT SIDE IT DOES BETTER-BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG---EVEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RPMS GO UP AND DOWN--EVEN WHEN CRUISE IS ON GAS MILEAGE VERY BAD---FEELS LIKE SOMETHING HOLDING TRUCK BACK---NOT SMOOTH ENGINE DRIVING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT--NO CODES. *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON SECONDARY ROADS AT APPROX 30MPH, ENGINE SMOKED, SEIZED, OVER-HEATED, BUCKED AND FAILED. HAD IT TOWED AND MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SLUDGE AROUND TOP OF SOME GASKET. BEFORE FURTHER INSPECTION, HE SAID IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD SIGN AT ALL AND MOST LIKELY WOULD NEED NEW ENGINE. I WAS SHOCKED AS THIS TRUCK IS OUR SECONDARY VEHICLE AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN APPROX 20,000 MILES IN 3 YEARS WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER! NO INDICATION WAS GIVEN VIA WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY ISSUES NOR WAS THERE ANY CHANGE IN HOW IT DROVE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SEIZING. AFTER A DAY, THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED IT NEEDED TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WE ASSUMED WE WERE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER REPAIR PLACE, WHO ONLY WENT ON TO SAY THE SAME: NEW ENGINE NEEDED! AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON-LINE IT SEEMS THAT MANY OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS, YET THERE IS NO RECOURSE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. WE WERE OWNERS OF A 1999 DODGE DURANGO PRIOR TO THIS AND THAT VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER 60 DAYS BUT THANKFULLY IT WAS COVERED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND RESUME DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HEATER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONNECTING WIRES FOR THE FAN RESISTORS WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND FUNCTION WITH RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A SLUSH LIKE OIL BUILD UP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE FOR $6500. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.”