Engine Belts And Pulleys problems of the 2004 Dodge Durango

2004 Durango 5. 7 every time we have a hard rain the motor stalls or runs extremely rough and we have to pull to the side of the road. I travel for work, and received a call from my wife that the Durango would no crank over but was not caused by battery issue as it had just been replaced. Had several people look at it and they said motor was locked up (had rained the night before). Let it sit until I got home and it started up with a little kick back against starter. Let it warm up and went and had the battery and starter checked, both were within specification for voltage and amp draw. Drove on county hwy with 45 mile speed limit approx. Three miles to the bank. Leaving the bank made a right turn onto main street and the motor went thump, clunk, bang and died. Coasted off road and looked under vehicle thinking we had thrown a belt or hit something. Saw oil dripping from passenger side of motor and found a hole in the oil pan with part of the connecting rod sticking through it. I used to be a mechanic so I know what I was looking at. After doing research I have found that the rain gutter channels water onto the top of the motor where the plastic intake manifold has cracked allowing water into the motor, this water can become trapped in the intake manifold and be pulled into the motor while it is running and you are making a turn. Talked to my local Dodge dealer, they said they had never heard of such a problem but kindly told me $8000 to replace my motor. Talked to the parts department and they did not have any information on an updated rain gutter, even though there appears to be a service bulletin on this problem. The number of complaints I have seen says to me that there should have been a recall on this problem as every thing I have read says it is quite common.

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 openned 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.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the pulley and timing belt were replaced but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the piston blew out. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000.

First thing is when it rain the SUV stall and cuts off. The top part of the roof on the inside gets wet also my seatbelts. Then the second thing is the engine which threw a rod at 149000 miles. The only one that work on this vehicle was the Dodge dealership. And I just had my oil change a month before with there 23 point inspection. Someone needs to look into this water problem with this vehicle thats why these models are blowing engines at low miles. I look this problem up iam not the only one having these problems with this vehicle. This needs immediate attention before someone gets hurt or killed. Thanks for listening.

Car was cold, from sitting over night. Went to start, and heard a bunch of clanging. I turned truck off immediately. Went to crank engine over, and nothing. No noise, accept chimes from interior, and a slight noise from starter. I have worked for years around vehicles and repairs,and it sounded like something was stuck. I put gear shifter in nuetral, disconnected serpentine belt, and tried to manually turn engine at crankshaft. I could not get it to budge. When I looked up online, I was surprised to see how many people with this motor had it sieze, I called Chrysler,and was told there was nothing they could do for me, being as it was out of warranty, and their was no recall. I don't understand how the government doesn't hold the car manufacturers to stricter standards ,for issues like this. I'm not any kind of a computer guru, and I've found hundreds of people with similar issue, online. Would really be nice, to see Chrysler have to make good for these faulty motors. Thanks doug.

Upon starting the vehicle in the am after daily use,a loud noise as if the fan belt broke or stones throwing around was heard and oil started flowing from motor. Pieces of cast metal found under the vehicle in the midst of the oil. . . . Rod blew through!!! only 100k miles and oil was filled, maintenance always completed. We are orig owners. This was a $35k v8 engine vehicle that has been maintained. This should not have happened and as seen on the emonds site as will as Dodge, this is a common problem with this vehicle and no recourse for the owner who has done what he or she was to do as far as upkeep on their vehicle??? again this is not a cheap vehicle and we are a family of 5 with 1 income. How and why should we have to fix this problem? we purchase what we thought was a good quality vehicle from a big 3 company!!.