NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA07003 ODI's investigation identified no issues in the design, manufacturing process, or quality control process of the side curtain air bags used in the Dodge durango vehicles.there have been no reported field incidents of side curtain air bag failures similar to the failures that occurred during the NHTSA research testing of the durango air bags.additional NHTSA testing conducted during this investigation resulted in no diffuser tube failures.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of Agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.the Agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see document file for additional information.
Air Bags:Side/Window
no recall issued
2006 DODGE DURANGO -- ODI has opened an engineering analysis to continue its investigation of the subject issue. Investigation was initiated on February 14 2007. Closed on February 08 2008. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA07003 »
NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE06045 ODI has upgraded this investigation to an engineering analysis (EA07-003) to continue its investigation of the subject issue.
Air Bags:Side/Window
no recall issued
2006 DODGE DURANGO -- NHTSA R&D is currently conducting an ejection mitigation test program. More than a dozen vehicle models equipped with side curtain air bags, including the model year (MY) 2006 Dodge durango, are included in the test program. As part of the test procedure, the headliner in the test vehicle is removed prior to testing and the side curtain air bag is deployed externally. In three out of 35 tests for the durango, the metal gas-distribution tube (or diffuser tube) for the side curtain air bag fractured during deployment and the air bag failed to inflate properly. In addition, the broken diffuser tube ruptured the air bag as it dropped down. All three fractures occurred at the same location on the diffuser tube (between B-pillar and C-pillar) mounted along the headliner from the A-pillar to D-pillar. All of the air bags that were tested were new service parts for use on an estimated 8,300 MY 2006 Dodge durango vehicles equipped with optional rollover side curtain air bags. There have been no similar failures or any other catastrophic failures of side curtain air bags in seven other vehicle models that have been tested to date. ODI is not aware of any field incidents similar to the test failures on the subject vehicles; there are no NHTSA consumer complaints, ewr reports or sci reports at this time. Investigation was initiated on October 19 2006. Closed on February 14 2007. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE06045 »
NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA06004 On March 9, 2006 ODI upgraded preliminatry evaluation PE05-056 to engineerning analysis EA06-004 to investigate allegations of loose or missing steering shaft coupling bolts and steering column retaining bolts in model year (MY) 2004 through 2006 Dodge durango sport utility vehicles and MY 2005 through 2006 Dodge Dakota pickup trucks.either condition could result in a loss of steering control.although ODI identified some quality issues in the manufacturing processes for the Dakota and durango vehicles, the data do not indicate that a safety defect trend is present in either population.the failure rates are low for each condition and trend analyses indicate that problems with the subject bolts were isolated to a few units affected by assembly error that were detected either pre-sale or occurred early in vehicle service.further use of Agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted.the Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the sugject vehicles and will take furhter action inthe the future if warranted.for more information see the attached closing report.
Steering**
no recall issued
** This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
2006 DODGE DURANGO -- On October 26, 2005, ODI opened a preliminary evaluation (PE05-056) to investigate allegations of loose or missing steering wheel or steering shaft coupling bolts in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Dodge durango sport utility vehicles and MY 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup trucks manufactured by DaimlerChrysler corporation (DCC). During PE05-056, ODI identified 3 owner complaints to ODI or DCC, 21 field reports to DCC and 142 warranty claims related to the alleged defect conditions. The reports and claims included 8 incidents of either steering wheel separation or steering shaft decoupling while driving due to loose or missing bolts. One of the failures resulted in a crash.
The population and failure report data given in this resume are limited to the MY 2004-2005 Dodge durango and MY 2005 Dodge Dakota vehicles that were the subject of PE05-056. DCC has indicated that the manufacturing process did not change for the MY 2006 vehicles, so those vehicles have been added to the scope of this engineering analysis. PE05-056 has been upgraded to an engineering analysis to continue to investigate the scope, frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect.
Investigation was initiated on March 09 2006. Closed on March 08 2007. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA06004 »