2005 Dodge Durango review from North America

Heads up to potential Dodge Durango buyers! I rented a low miles All Wheel Drive well equipped model while on a ski trip in Colorado last February (2005). While driving up the mountain pass in pretty poor snow conditions the car suddenly veered hard to the left. I've driven without an accident in all kinds of weather conditions for over 30 years and in my opinion the car was not controllable.

I think the wheel might have fallen off. We went off the road front first down a boulder strewn path (big boulders - like several feet diameter) and ended up about 20 to 30 feet below the horizontal plane of the road way. By the grace of God the boulders formed a stair step pattern that safely carried us down. Pure luck. One of the front wheels was detached and pinned under the car where it came to rest. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I'll give the car credit for taking the 'bumps' fairly well! But it ended up being totaled. Sure that most at the accident scene thought it likely that the wheel came off on the way down... but from the way it initially handled... I really believe it fell off earlier before we left the roadway and is what caused the accident. No way to prove it though.

I would never consider buying one of these vehicles. I consider myself lucky to be alive.