2016 Dodge Durango Power Train

Driving in the left lane of an interstate highway at 75mph, in moderate traffic, in daylight hours, clear weather, with my young son. Sudden, unexpected decrease in engine rpm resulted in unannounced, approximate 40 mph reduction in speed. The instrument cluster illuminated stating “ service transmission continue in D. Do Not Shift or Turn Engine Off”. Such an unforeseen event, without brake light illumination, resulted in several following vehicles to take evasive actions, thus preventing a potential mass casualty accident. I was able steer towards the right shoulder at the greatly reduced speed of 35mph, collect myself, check on my upset son and try to make sense of what had happened. At this point panic began to set in. I called my Father & he was able to provide the next step being to deliver the vehicle to the local Dodge dealership. Those few miles were miserable since the dash was still presenting dismal warnings, there was reduced power and the vehicle acted like it was in a very low gear. The dealership was closed, so the vehicle was parked on lot however, once the engine was turned off the battery power remained on. Unable to lock, turn off or change any electrical device. We returned the following day and spoke to the service advisor who stated, “the vehicle had entered the Limp Mode” Addition research states it is a safety feature that activates when a critical issue is detected by a computer. Well, I guess the engineers never thought about such a radical transformation at highway speeds….without brake lights! Such a device should never allow an automobile to suddenly and without notice, startle the driver with annunciations while simultaneously downshifting and reducing engine rpm.

WHILE MOVING THE CAR LOSES POWER, SHIFT TO P THEN DESIRED GEAR AND COMES TO A STOP. NOT ABLE TO STEER.

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that his daughter was in the passenger seat when she activated the push start button and the vehicle rolled backward while in the park position. The contact's daughter got out of the vehicle midway while it was rolling backward and sustained scrapes to her knees and elbows. The vehicle crashed into the neighbor's garage door. The rear windshield was shattered, and the rear fender and liftgate were damaged. No medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that they would reach out in 4 days. The failure mileage was 77,800.

PARKING AT WALMART PARKING LOT PUT MY CAR ON REVERSE AND THE CAR ROLL FORWARD AND THE SHIFT KNOB WAS BLINKING. THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN REVERSE AND STILL BLINKING AND AT THE SECOND TIME WHEN I PUT IT ON REVERSE IT WORK. THAT THE SECOND TIME THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED. FIRST AT A RED LIGHT ON A HILL CAR WAS ON DRIVE AND ROLL BACK AND THE SHIFT KNOB WAS BLINK. AND I DID THE SAME THING AT WHEN IT DIDNT GO ON REVERSE. I WHEN TO A DODGE DEALER PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THE FIRST TIME THAT HAPPEN.

WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. EXHIBITS A JOLT FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP. ISSUE OBSERVED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. ISSUE WAS RAISED TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECHNICIANS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL VISITS AFTER EXPERIENCE THE RECURRING ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR OVER 4 WEEKS, NO RESOLUTION. SERVICE REPS HAVE OBSERVED THE ISSUE AS WELL. SERVICE TECHNICIAN REFERRED TO IT AS "BUMP STOP". IT IS A CONSISTENTLY NOTICEABLE JOLT MOST TIMES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO 1ST GEAR, ESPECIALLY ON CITY STREETS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT.THE TECHNICIANS CONTINUE TO TRY AND RESET THE COMPUTER PROGRAM AND RUN DIAGNOSTICS BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE.

TRANSMISSION HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR AT TIMES WHILE UP SHIFTS AT SLOW CRUISING SPEED IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BOGGING BEFORE SHIFTING UP TO 5TH. DOWNSHIFTING 5TH TO 4TH FEELS A CLUNK. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER 3 RIVER DODGE IN PITTSBURGH PA WHEN I 1ST BOUGHT IT THEY SAID ALL THE SOFTWARE WAS UP TO DATE AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ISSUE BUT I CANNOT GET A RESOLUTION FROM DEALER.I BOUGHT IT SEPTEMBER 27 2018 AND PROBLEM STILL THERE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, IT ROLLED BACK AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES WHILE RUNNING AFTER THE VEHICLE AND BRUISED BOTH KNEES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TRINITY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1550 W SPRINGFIELD RD, TAYLORVILLE, IL 62568, (217) 824-3377) WHERE THE SHIFT KNOB WAS UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

IT WAS NOTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THAT THE CAR WILL SHIFT REALLY HARD WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST. THE HARD SHIFT WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE A JERKING MOTION IN THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TODAY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARE MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE TOLD ME EACH TIME THAT EITHER A SOFTWARE UPDATED WAS NEEDED OR THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THE ISSUE IS NOT EVERY TIME. THE PROBLEM DOES COME AND GO. LAST FRIDAY, 2/15, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT WAS AS IF I WERE STILL IN PARK. AFTER A FEW TRIES, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE WITH NO PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY SATURDAY 2/16, AFTER I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AS IF IT WERE STILL IN GEAR. I AGAIN RESTARTED THE CAR, THIS TIME A FEW TIMES, JUST TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD DO IT AGAIN. IT DID NOT. YESTERDAY, THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, A NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE SHIFTER KNOB AREA EACH TIME THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED. THE KNOW HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE BY BOB BAKER DEALERSHIP. ON TOP OF THESE ISSUE, THE ELECTRONICS HAVE GONE OUT ON THE DASHBOARD WHERE THE CLIMATE CONTROL, RADIO, ETC ARE LOCATED. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TRY AND GET THIS ISSUES ADDRESS AT BOB BAKER DEALERSHIP. I HAVE 20 PAGES OF SERVICE HISTORY ON THIS CAR, MOST OF IT ARE REGARDING THE VERY HARD DOWNSHIFTING.BELOW I WILL MARK THE DATE THE MOST RECENT ISSUE HAPPENED WITH THE CAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE CLUSTER "START/STOP SYSTEM DISABLED. SERVICE START/STOP SYSTEM". SHORTLY AFTER THERE WAS ANOTHER MESSAGE "LOW BATTERY MODE. SOME SYSTEMS FUNCTION REDUCED". I LOOKED AT THE SYSTEM HEALTH STATUS AND THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS AT 11.2 VOLTS. WHILE DRIVING THE VOLTAGE CONTINUED TO DROP. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CHECK DIAGNOSTICS. WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER THE VOLTAGE CONTINUED TO DROP AND THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE VOLTAGE WAS AT ~10.1 VOLTS. WHEN I PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE BAY THE SERVICE WRITER CAME OVER AND WE AGREED TO NOT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AS WE WEREN'T SURE WHETHER IT WOULD RESTART GIVEN THE BATTERY VOLTAGE. AS THE VEHICLE IDLED IN THE SERVICE BAY THE VOLTAGE CONTINUED TO DROP AND THE VOLTAGE WAS JUST OVER 9 VOLTS WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND WAS IN PARK. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. A DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND WAS GOING TO MOVE IT BUT THE SERVICE WRITER ASKED HIM TO LEAVE IT WHERE IT WAS UNTIL THEY DETERMINED WHICH TECHNICIAN IT WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO. THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. I WENT INTO THE WAITING ROOM INSIDE THE DEALERSHIP AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME OUT TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE AND THAT IT DROVE INTO A WALL IN THE SERVICE BAY WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT OUT INTO THE BAY THE RH FRONT WHEEL HAD CLIMBED A CURB AND THE VEHICLE HAD HIT A WALL. FCA SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM REVIEWED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL ISSUE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE ON ITS OWN. NO EXPLANATION WAS FOUND FOR LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION. DEALERSHIP HAS VIDEO OF INCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO ANOTHER GEAR AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TETERBORO CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (469 US-46, LITTLE FERRY, NJ 07643, 201-440-0222), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000.

WHILE DECELERATING, AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, EXPERIENCED A SEVERE BUMP DURING DOWNSHIFT CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE TEMPORARY FOOT TO BRAKE PEDAL CONTACT. OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT. MADE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AWARE OF CONDITION. WHILE ROAD TESTING WITH ADVISOR, I WAS TOLD CONDITION NORMAL TO VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED REPAIR WAS RE FLASH OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT WAS SHORT LIVED, NOW WORSE THAN PRIOR TO RE FLASH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRONIC ROTARY CONTROL FAILED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AND, INSTEAD, IT INDEPENDENTLY SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (BEST CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 520 COLONY PL, PLYMOUTH, MA 02360), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ROLL AWAY AFTER THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS PLACED INTO PARK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK, THE OWNER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT TWO OF THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND STRUCK ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S COLLISION CENTER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER CHRYSLER CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT CALLED THE CONTACT BACK YET PER CASE NUMBER: 31602871. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,240.

I HAVE OWNED THE 2016 DODGE DURANGO SINCE AUGUST OF 2016. IN THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO CASES WHERE I STOPPED THE CAR, THOUGHT I PUT IT IN PARK, THOUGHT I TURNED IT OFF, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CAME BACK TO IT, I FOUND THAT IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND STILL IN DRIVE. THE ONLY REASON IT WASN'T MOVING WAS BECAUSE I ALWAYS SET THE PARKING BRAKE. I THINK THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR. I HEARD THAT OTHER CHRYSLER CARS HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN FIXED BY MAKING IT SO THAT THE CAR WILL TURN OFF IF THE DRIVER TAKES OFF THE SEATBELT AND EXITS THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM MOST RECENTLY HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS GOING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL. IF THE PARKING BREAK HAD FAILED, IT WOULD HAVE RUN OVER A BUNCH OF KIDS. THIS IS REALLY SCARY AND NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE FIX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND STILL IN THE PARK POSITION, IT ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND IN PARK, ROLLED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE ABOUT 5FT AWAY. DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES DUE TO IMPACT. SEEMS TO HAVE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR ON ITS OWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHIFTING INTO PARK, AND EXITING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, ENGINE RUNNING, WHILE OWNER WAS PUMPING GAS AT THE STATION. WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR AJAR, HE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE. VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND NOT MOVING FOR THE SEVERAL MINUTES WHILE PUMPING GAS. THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF, DRAGGED OWNER BY THE OPEN DOOR UNDER THE VEHICLE AND RAN HIS LEG OVER. CONTINUED MOVING UNTIL IT HIT A POLE. OWNER WAS HOSPITALIZED. *TR

COMPUTER/TRANSMISSION ISSUES. CAR BROKE DOWN AND COULD NOT PUT IN PARK BECAUSE THE COMPUTER THOUGHT MY SPEED WAS TOO HIGH EVEN THOUGH I WAS STANDING STILL. ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER IT MOVED FORWARD WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. (VIDEO EVIDENCE) IN A PREVIOUS INCIDENT THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK AND NOT TURNED OFF. I EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. THE CAR IDLED FORWARD ON ITS OWN DAMAGING A GARAGE AND THE CAR ITSELF. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TO ME NOT PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK BUT NOW I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS THE CASE. I BELIEVED THE CAR TO BE IN PARK BUT THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL KEPT THE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT VEHICLE WAS IN PARK.

RENTAL CAR. CABLES FOR GPS AND PHONE WRAPPED AROUND ROTARY SHIFT CONTROL. WHEN THEY WERE MOVED WHILE AT STOP LIGHT, TRANSMISSION WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. WHEN FOOT WENT FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATOR, CAR MOVED BACKWARDS RATHER THAN FORWARD. ROTARY CONTROL SHOULD BE HARDER TO MOVE, EVEN WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED.