The Dodge Durango Pursuit police vehicles have caused major issues for law enforcement agencies in Indiana. After the Indiana State Police had to take 18 percent of its fleet out of service due to oil cooler problems, another police agency in Indiana is now facing similar issues. The Merriville Police Department has decided to sell some of its Durango Pursuit vehicles because of engine oil cooler problems that have led to engine failure with less than 15,000 miles on each SUV.
Chief of Police Konstantinos Nuses expressed his disappointment with the situation, stating that the department had been trying to resolve the problem with dealers and Stellantis, but a promised solution never materialized. This has left the department struggling to fulfill its duty to protect and serve the community without reliable vehicles.
The department had switched to Dodge vehicles in 2022 due to shortages caused by the pandemic, believing that the Durango would be a suitable alternative to their previous fleet of Ford vehicles. However, the reliability issues with the Durango Pursuit have proved to be a major setback for the department.
While the Merriville Police Department is seeking assistance from the state’s attorney general, Stellantis issued a statement defending the Durango Pursuit’s reliability while also apologizing for the inconvenience caused to their customers in the police community. Stellantis mentioned that the Durango Pursuit meets all federal safety standards and is subjected to harsh operating conditions that the standard version of the Durango does not face. The complexity of the oil cooler issues has made it challenging to detect and repair the problem, leading to collateral damage in some cases.
Despite these challenges, Stellantis emphasized that the overall feedback on the Durango Pursuit from police agencies across North America has been positive since its launch in 2018. The vehicle is available with both a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, offering options for different needs in law enforcement.
It is unclear how many vehicles the Merriville Police Department plans to sell from its fleet, but the decision to part ways with the Durango Pursuit vehicles highlights the urgent need for a reliable and durable fleet for law enforcement agencies. The department’s struggle to address the engine failure issues underscores the importance of ensuring that police vehicles are dependable and efficient in serving and protecting the community.
