The Indiana State Police (ISP) are dealing with a significant issue with their newly purchased Dodge Durango vehicles, leading to substantial concerns about public service efficacy and resource allocation.
Short Summary:
- Indiana State Police report oil cooler failures in their Dodge Durango patrol vehicles.
- A total of 79 Durango vehicles are expected to face mechanical issues.
- The downtime for repairs is significant, leading to concerns about operational efficiency.
Since the Indiana State Police (ISP) began transitioning their patrol fleet from Dodge Chargers to the 2023 Dodge Durango, the agency has faced unexpected mechanical issues causing considerable concern. The switch, initiated in May 2023, was intended to enhance the efficacy and reliability of the police fleet; however, numerous vehicles have been side-lined due to defective oil coolers.
ISP Superintendent Doug Carter revealed that 39 of the 219 Durangos already in service have succumbed to the issue, with projections indicating that another 40 might follow. This raises the potential total of malfunctioning units to a significant 79, out of an order of 516 vehicles. Consequently, nearly $4 million worth of essential equipment might be rendered unusable.
“ISP has used Dodge as our primary police vehicle provider for the last decade-and-a-half; it is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this precarious position,” stated Carter. He stressed the resultant adverse impact on both operational continuity and public service, adding, “We’re having to sideline brand new vehicles, losing out on their value and functionality… the citizens and taxpayers of Indiana are being shortchanged and deserve better.”
The situation has also taken a toll on the patrol officers’ morale as they face extended downtimes for vehicle repairs. The average downtime for replacing or repairing the engines, according to ISP, ranges from four to eight weeks.
“This creates a huge burden on fleet operations, a significant loss of confidence in the vehicle by ISP personnel, and an ineffective loss of public service while the trooper cycles in and out of a pool car to perform their daily duties,” explained Carter.
The issues were not confined to a single area; the Fort Wayne post, for example, has also experienced several such failures. Sgt. Brian Walker from the Fort Wayne post confirmed the problem’s presence within their jurisdiction. Larger departments transitioning to Durangos like the Allen County Sheriff’s Department also reported similar issues.
“The Fort Wayne Post has several Dodge Durango patrol vehicles currently in-service that have experienced this mechanical failure,” commented Sgt. Walker.
Meanwhile, Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, issued a statement addressing the concerns. The company acknowledged the complexity of the defect and assured ISP of their commitment to expedite the repairs.
“The Dodge Durango Pursuit meets or exceeds all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards and is subject to severe operating conditions to which the standard, retail version of the Durango is immune. Further, certain oil-cooler issues are difficult to detect, which may lead to collateral damage and a highly complex remedy,” stated Stellantis. “We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to the Indiana State Police and are working to expedite service for these vehicles.”
Despite the assurances, troopers have been compelled to use older backup cars while their Durangos are being repaired. These exchanges are far from ideal as backup vehicles often lack specific configurations set up by officers for efficient daily operations.
“Has higher miles and it very may well not have all the equipment that we need to operate, whether that be the cradle points for our Internet capabilities with our computers to run our computers properly as well as the camera systems,” said Ted Bohner, an ISP Sergeant.
The downtime forced officers to recycle in and out of pool cars, affecting both morale and functionality. “To get these fixed as quickly as possible, get them back on the road and so we can just have business as usual, you know, so we can be out there serving the public the way we want to,” said Bohner.
Comparatively, certain departments appeared to have avoided these issues by opting out of the HEMI engine, a decision ISP officials suggest could be a factor in the observed failures. Towns like South Bend, Elkhart, LaPorte, and Mishawaka have reported no issues, likely due to differing vehicle specifications.
This component failure has not gone unnoticed by federal regulators either. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently flagged a recall affecting over 211,580 Dodge Durango vehicles due to software malfunctions potentially disabling the electronic stability control system. While this recall does not directly address the oil cooler issue, it raises further questions about the reliability of the current models being deployed.
As ISP works with Chrysler to determine a solution and a timeline for these repairs, the broader impact on State-wide operations and public safety remains a daunting challenge. With a reconciliatory approach from Stellantis and a strategic plan from ISP, there is cautious optimism that this issue can be managed in a manner that minimizes future disruptions.
Overall, the situation has revealed considerable cracks in the reliability of law enforcement vehicles and the critical need for proactive quality assurance in fleet vehicles. For now, ISP officials and troopers alike hope that rapid technical fixes and better fleet management strategies can restore their confidence in the Dodge Durango as a stable and reliable choice for patrol duties.
Sources:
https://www.wdrb.com/news/indiana-state-police-facing-repairs-after-buying-dozens-of-defective-dodge-durangos/article_4eb09f96-2cb7-11ef-8be5-c775d9e6fef2.html
https://www.wane.com/top-stories/indiana-state-police-report-serious-defect-with-new-dodge-durango-patrol-vehicles/
https://fox59.com/news/oil-cooler-issue-sidelining-new-indiana-state-police-dodge-durango-vehicles/
https://wsbt.com/news/local/defective-dodge-durangos-patrol-vehicles-worth-millions-to-indiana-state-police-sidelined-fleet-suv-oil-coolers-isp-troopers-hemi-chrysler
https://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending/recall-alert-211k-dodge-durango-ram-trucks-recalled-over-software-malfunction/5QAMOLJHB5GMRE76TKGGAVR3C4/
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