NHTSA complaint #11338167

Owner complaint summary

ON JULY 2, 2020, I WAS DRIVING MY DODGE DURANGO UP AN ISOLATED STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THE SIERRA NEVADA AT ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY STALLED ON A STEEP GRADE IN THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. THERE WERE NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CAR HAD BEEN OPERATING AT NORMAL TEMPERATURE. AFTER TRYING TO THE RESTART THE CAR, THE ENGINE AT FIRST BEGAN TO OPERATE, THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HESITATED AND DIED. I TRIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS, AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE GAS PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. AS SOMEONE WITH SOME PREVIOUS MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IT WAS A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD NEARLY HALF A TANK OF GAS HOWEVER. I POPPED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. THERE WAS OIL IN THE CRANKCASE AND AMPLE COOLANT. MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO WAIT AND LET THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE COOL DOWN SINCE IT WAS OVER 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR WITHOUT PROBLEM AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AUTOMATIC MODE BUT HAD SHIFTED TO THE LOWER GEARS. I DECIDED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE AND KEEP THE CAR IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR DUE TO THE STEEP TERRAIN. WE HAD NO PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE WAY. WE WERE BEYOND CELL PHONE RANGE ON A VERY ISOLATED ROAD AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN A TOW, SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE AFTER OUR INITIAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN OR WHETHER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION IN AUTOMATIVE MODE ON A STEEP GRADE PLAYED ANY ROLE.