engine problem
9.8
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$4,775.00
Average Mileage:
66,110 miles
Number of complaints:
10 complaints
Most common solutions:
- pay to replace engine (9 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2004 Dodge Durango engine failure due to oil sludge
2008Mar 15
Durango
- Automatic transmission
- 89,100 miles
From the moment I bought this car l have had problems. I took it back four times with this. I kept telling them there was something wrong. They kept telling me 'no we don't find anything'. Tell me how a 4yr old car can have the engine blow up. I have always had a dodge. I had a Dodge Caravan that I bought used and it had 99,000 miles on it and drove it till 189,000 kept maintenance up on it and never had a problem. This one particular dealer and I should have known better. I ran a car auction and I know a lot about cars and enough to know something was wrong. How can people get away with this.
2007May 14
(reported on)Durango SLT 4.7L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 47,000 miles
Below is a complaint letter sent to Dodge about their Durango!
It got me no where.
My wife and I had purchased our third Dodge from our local dealer, Tim Marburger Dodge. Most often I speak with Brian Marburger at that location. In the past month our 2004 Dodge Durango suffered a major engine failure on March 17, 2007. I experienced a loss of oil pressure and then complete shut down of the motor.
I had the vehicle towed to Tim Marburger Dodge that night and contacted them on Monday morning around 8:30. I spoke to Owen who informed me that he should know something soon. By 5:30 that evening I had to call Brian Marburger because I had not heard anything. Finally Owen took my call and advised that since the vehicle has 47,790 miles on it that it was outside the warranty but would be covered in the Dodge Power Train Warranty.
Tuesday morning at 10:40 I received a call from Tim Bridle the service manager who stated that he needed my authorization to pull the oil plan and perform a bearing and oil sample. I advised Tim that I would let him know shortly. By 11:40 that morning I called back to Tim to ask a series of questions around the test he was having performed. Namely I wanted to know why this was occurring. He stated that it is a standard procedure and that �the burden of proof is on the dealer and not so much on the owner�. I asked Tim what was going on and he told me this was done to confirm coverage under the Dodge Power Train Warranty. This started to make me nervous. I asked what Tim�s experience has been in situations like this and he replied that in his eleven years of experience he has only seen one warranty denial. Now this statement puts me at ease. Tim asked about receipts from oil changes. I told him then that I may not have all of them. He said that was fine as most of the decision is based on an oil and bearing sample anyway. With that, I advised Tim to proceed with the sample.
By the end of the week I still had not heard any response from my dealership. I contacted Tim Bridle again. He informed me he was waiting for the results of the test. I asked Tim how I can track them down. He gave me the name of the vendor used by the dealership to perform this work. I contacted a company named Stavely at 800-346-4994. Michelle gave me a different number for the Cleveland, OH office at 800-726-5400, ext.243 where I had to leave a message for Debbie who finally called back to let me know the status of the test. Debbie advised that she could not release results to me but only to the Daimler Chrysler Zone office in Orlando, FL. She advised me that the results were sent to Dan Armstrong in that office and he could be reached at 407-826-7044. I called Mr. Armstrong only to learn he was out of the office from March 26 through March 28. I would still have to wait.
I finally received a call from Owen on Friday, March 30 to advise me that my claim under the Dodge Power Train Warranty had been denied due to lack of owner maintenance. I have already learned from one of my prior conversations with Tim Bridle that the cost to replace an engine is between $5,000 to $6,500. Imagine my shock when I learn that my third vehicle from Tim Marburger Dodge which has less than 50,000 miles and it needs a new engine. I had no idea what to say. I told Tim I would have to think about it.
I spent the weekend doing research and talking to an auto mechanic friend of mine. My research turned up a lot of people with stories that were very similar to mine: loss of oil pressure, complete engine failure, warranty work denied due to �lack of owner maintenance�. I also learn that Daimler Chrysler has a class action lawsuit against them for a similar set of circumstances on the 2.7L engine that has major engine failure due to sludge in the engine. Now I�m starting to get upset that I find this is not just a fluke occurrence.
I called Brian Marburger on April 2, 2007 at 1:00 pm. I called again at 2:00 pm. I called again at 3:30 and spoke to Qwame Jackson asking that he have Brian call me back. Again I called at 4:00 and left a message to receive a call back. Finally at 7:30 pm I received a call from Brian Marburger who spoke to me at length. The end result was he was sorry but there is nothing he could do as the warranty claim was denied by Chrysler Corporation. He continued to advise that my only recourse was to take this issue to Chrysler Corporation. I told Brian Marburger that I was at a point where I would spend my Saturdays walking in front of his dealership with a sign that read �Don�t by Dodge: Their Engines are Junk� and on the other side it would say �Dodge Doesn�t Stand Behind Their Warranty�. Brian asked why I would do that if my issue was with Daimler Chrysler. I told him that his dealership was the closest I could get to Daimler Chrysler.
I went by Tim Marburger Dodge and found Brian Marburger. He took me back to look at the Durango up on the lift. I walked around and under the vehicle where Brian pointed out what looked like chocolate fudge in my engine. He then showed me the oil pan from which the sample was taken to see the junk in the bottom of the pan. While viewing that I noticed the �tool� the mechanic used to take a sample of the oil. He made use of a used medical prescription bottle with the label still affixed to the bottle. How is the use of equipment like that considered a valid test?
At this point I was not available for a week and could not pursue my complaint at this time. I resumed on Monday, April 16th when I called the service center at 1-800-853-1403. At 1:15 pm I spoke to Joy who took basic information on my issue. She advised me that there was an outstanding warranty item to resolve on the instrument cluster and the put me in touch with Michele in your service center. Michele proceeded to contact Tim Marburger Dealership with me on hold. She came back on the line and advised she spoke to Owen in the service department and then proceeded to tell me that my claim was denied due to lack of owner maintenance. I explained that I already knew this but was not satisfied with her answer. Michele advised me �there is nothing that they could do in this office to overturn that decision�. I asked to speak to a supervisor. She put me on hold for a minimum of 10 minutes and then came back to advise me of the same response. I kindly told Michele that I knew what her answer was but that I had asked to speak to a supervisor. Again I was put on hold for at least 10 minutes. Cindy finally came to the phone and repeated the answer again. When I asked Cindy to speak to her supervisor she refused and advised that I should go back to Tim Marburger dealership to complain and also speak to their business center and District Manager. When I again asked to speak to her supervisor she refused and would not allow me to continue the discussion. She then HUNG UP on me after spending 50 minutes on the phone.
I had to cool down for a day after that experience with your Daimler Chrysler Service Center in East Tennessee. I waited until April 18 to call where I reached another service representative named Alex. He did as he was supposed to and tried to handle the call first but I explained my problem from Monday, April 16 and he told me he would find a manager for me but not before he read through the notes and told me that it was documented in the notes that I had disconnected the call before a manager could come on the line! So now I learn that when I complained to Cindy she does not even have the skill to document a customer complaint call when she completes it. Finally Robin came on the line. I advised Robin that unfortunately I had to disconnect but asked for his extension so I could call back. He gave it to me so I could resume our conversation.
I contacted Robin on April 19 at 4:00 pm. Again I spent about 50 minutes on the phone with Robin and received the same treatment. I would not be allowed to speak with anyone higher that his level of authority. He advised that the dealership made the decision to deny the claim. His position was to stand behind that decision and communicate it to me. Additionally he advised that my call to Alex yesterday where I learned that Cindy failed to document the call was incorrect. Cindy did truly document the call after all. So now I don�t know if Cindy or Alex lied to me but someone did. Robin then proceeded to show me where in the owner�s manual in indicated that any evidence of maintenance could be requested to satisfy a warranty claim. I asked Robin how many pages were in his owner�s manual as mine had about 360 pages. I also asked Robin if when he purchased a vehicle he read the entire owner�s manual. He advised he did. I commented that was a substantial amount to read and he recanted his statement and then said well he only reads the part that pertains to his responsibility. Now I feel I have been lied to by Robin! I asked Robin if he could understand my frustration at the way this was going and how I was treated. I told him that I was about to the point of standing in front of Tim Marburger Dealership with my sign and Robin�s response was that I should do whatever I felt was necessary.
I am floored at the way a major corporation is so willing to treat their customers. I have been lied to at least twice. I have been bounced back and forth between your customer service department and the dealership with each claiming that the other party made the decision to deny my claim. I have no satisfaction of speaking to the person who made the call. If I turn in a claim to my insurance company I at least get to speak to an adjuster who has the decision making authority to adjust my claim. I do not appreciate the way I was treated by first your Service Center. Nor do I appreciate the answer I receive when my engine fails and I�m told I did not have the engine oil changed. Now I know I had the oil changed. I just don�t have copies of the receipts.
I do not understand how you can afford to treat customers this way. I will be glad to spend as much time as I can explaining to everyone I know how much of a failure Dodge vehicles can be.
2008Jan 17
Durango SLT 4.7L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 36,000 miles
We bought a 2004 Durango new. had 13 miles on it when we drove it off the lot. it now has 36000 miles. we have always taken care of this SUV. I mean. U have to. For 30,000 dollars. You have no choice. Not to mention I really liked this ride. Until now. Oil light came on and went off. motor started making a funny noise intermittently on my way home from work. I got home and called the dealer. Took it in about 30 minutes later. Come to find out that they dropped the oil pan and it was covered in sludge. Which mind you. The oil was changed regularly. But of course we have no proof but the current oil change sticker in the window. The mechanic told us that it looks like we haven't had the oil changed and that our 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty won't cover it because we don't have all the oil changes from 2004 and it must be our fault. I have talked to another mechanic not affiliated with Dodge and said that they have had some problems already with this and the sludge. then I found this website that concurs. Dodge won't listen because we don't have the proof and either will the extended warranty place. Gee, we are stuck with a car that won't run and no money to fix it. I can't believe that 36,000 miles would have that much sludge in it to blow a motor even if we didn't change the oil. Which that is a crock. So much for product durability. The service center said to check with our car insurance to see if they will pay for it. Haven't checked that out yet. But now that I have seen it on this site. I know now that this is an ongoing problem and something needs done. I emailed Chrysler and dodge with no help from them. Think I am being taken to the cleaners. 36,000 miles and a pile of junk.
our blazer has over 100,000 and have had no problems. We change the oil in both vehicles at the same time. Now I am stuck because we can't come up with ever little bit of paper where we bought each filter and oil. Never again will I buy a dodge. Nor will the rest of my family. SUV's are suppose to take a little wear and tear. but 36,000 miles and a blown motor. Because of sludge. Hmmmm Something isn't right with this picture. This is a mechanical problem that Dodge needs to correct not the consumer. Us poor people taken again. Especially the way the car industry is today. You think they would want to make the customer happy when it is obviously a dodge error in design if I'm not the only one with this problem. I know they have to protect themselves but this car wasn't used that much to have as much sludge as they say it does in the motor if it was a mechanical problem to begin with
2008Jan 11
Durango 3.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
Engine locked up while wife driving to Ohio to check on aging parents.Have had to replace rear main seal at my expense two times in last year due to oil sludge.I have been dodge owner all my life but would not buy another or recommend anyone else to.It will cost me 300.00 dollars to get towed home and who knows how much to have engine replaced.Oil has been changed every 3000 to 5000 miles this should not be happing at this low mileage.I have a 1990 Ford F 150 with 260000 miles and hardly do any maintenance to and it runs like a new one so do not try to make me belive that oil sludge is a problem that occurred because I did not treat my vechile right.This is oure and simple and flaw in the engines you put in your 2004 models and dodge should step up and take responsibility for it.I will never own another Dodge product.It is sad you still have to make huge payments on a car that does not work.
2007Oct 02
(reported on)Durango SL 5.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 49,000 miles
Took car to shop for lose off power the tore engine dwn without askin permission claim they thought warrnty would cover then tey tell me there was sludge build up and claim i never change oil . I ve change it numerous time an want me to locate all the recipt before the would see if the warranty will cover it i have sum but who keeps every one of them.If not they want to change me 4 7000.00 dollars.
2007Jun 22
(reported on)Durango SLT 4.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 66,000 miles
I have a 2004 dodge Durango with 66,000 miles. The dodge dealer says it has sludge buildup. I took in the maintenance records and oil changes to prove it had changes every 3000 miles, but dodge would not give credit for the oil changes I did myself. Therefore, they take the total mileage and divide it by the number of oil changes (receipts) done. (also we bought is with 9000 miles already on it) The heads have sludge but the pan had none. Which is consistent with plenum gasket failure, moisture in the cylinder heads during heavy rain or car washing. This is common on the 4.7L engine and there are TSB's which address this problem. Dodge has now requested oil samples from the oil pan to test it and we are waiting on results. This is definitely a design error. My advice if you own a Dodge Durango, get rid of it!!! otherwise, have someone change your oil, make sure the oil is what is recommended, document everything, and before your warranty runs out have them remove the valve covers and oil pan to check for problems. My 98 Ford Ranger used on the farm has 155000 miles and get the oil changed every 5000 miles and it is as clean as the day it was purchased. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007Feb 04
(reported on)Durango ST 3.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 57,000 miles
they do not honor their powertrain warranty!
i do not recommend dodge unless daimler sells dodge or dodge sells daimler. I'm lucky the jeep liberty flips over all the time, making the engine available for transplant, my durango now has a jeep engine at my expense. i change the oil every three weeks. and i don't drive it much anymore. its a pretty car but it has a lousy engine 3.7l. don't buy a dodge, don't buy a dodge...
2006Nov 21
(reported on)Durango SLT 4.7L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 96,000 miles
27 months, 96,000 miles and the engine failed! The dealer says it needs to be replaced. The oil light flashed for a few minutes and I pulled off the road to check the oil. The oil was ABOVE the top off line. I drove for another couple of minutes and the engine light came on and then the car started shaking. I drove it back home about 1 mile then had it towed to the dealer. I had them check the car and they said that the engine failed due to lack of oil pressure and that was caused by sludge from missed oil changes. This is total BS. There was plenty of oil in the car and we had done extra oil changes to flush out any sludge months ago. The pressure was checked months before and it was found to be fine. One week after getting another oil change, the engine fails. Now they are saying that they are having trouble even finding a new engine. I had already replaced the radiator on this thing after one year of ownership. It sounds like this is a common problem and I cannot afford to spend another $5000-$6000 on a car that cost me $30k and still has almost 3 years of payments left! Chrysler needs to make this right.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Sep 06
Durango 5.7L V8
My husband and I purchased a brand new Dodge Durango three years ago. It currently has 91,000 miles and the oil light intermittently came on. We checked the oil level and it was fine. We always had the oil changed as recommended as we do a lot of driving with our kids. One day I was on my way to pick-up my daughter and stepped on the brake. No brakes, nothing. I had to step on the emergency brake to stop the truck. I was able to get it home this way as I had just left. I brought it down to the garage and found out it was the master cylinder (another adventure in itself). While it was there it stared making a loud noise. My garage told me it was the oil pump but it was too big a job for him. I had the truck towed to the dealer (which suddenly went out of business) and was told that my engine had seized and that I couldn't have done the oil changes. I did but of course can't prove every one. The options offered to my were to buy a remanufactured engine or wait for another Durango to crash and take the engine from it if it was damaged in the crash. I was told that Dodge does not make this engine any longer so I could not get a new Dodge replacement engine, not that I would want one now anyway. So, now I am stuck with the option of buying a $6,700 remanufactured engine or waiting for someone to crash. I'm stuck as I still have three years on the loan and will only get around $7k as a trade if I am lucky. Dodge doesn't care at all. They told me it was my fault and that they had never heard of any problems with sludge in the durange engine. Bull.
Kathy F.
Billerica, MA, USA
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