Oil cooler issue sidelining new Indiana State Police Dodge Durango patrol vehicles

The Indiana State Police are having issues with the Dodge Durangos the organization uses for its patrol vehicles.

In a press release regarding the problems, the department explained that it has been transitioning from the Dodge Charger, which it has used for its police fleet since 2010, to the Dodge Durango police package vehicle since May 2023. Since then, the Indiana State Police has ordered 516 Durangos with an approximate value of $25.8 million. Over the last year, 219 of these have been issued into the field for patrol duties.

During this timeframe, 39 Durangos, or 18 percent, have experienced a mechanical failure due to a defective oil cooler. Using this same ratio, ISP would anticipate having an additional 40 Durangos experience this same mechanical failure, for a total of 79 anticipated failures. That means approximately $3.9 million of equipment may not be available for ISP personnel’s intended use.

ISP Superintendent Doug Carter has spoken with a Chrysler representative and was not given a timeline to resolve the matter.

A fully equipped ISP Dodge Durango costs approximately $50,000.  During May 2024, ISP had 15 Dodge Durangos experience this oil cooler failure. The average downtime for an engine replacement/repair is four to eight weeks. This downtime 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, the department stated in a press release.

“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,” said Carter. “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.”