ISP blames oil cooler issue for 39 Durangos failing

No timeline given to resolve the matter

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police is raising concern about an oil cooler issue that is sidelining part of its fleet of patrol vehicles.

For more than a decade, the department had used the Dodge Charger.

In 2023, it began ordering 516 Dodge Durangos (at a cost of nearly $26 million) to replace its fleet of vehicles.

In the last year, ISP has received 219 Durangos and put them into the field for patrol. During that time, ISP claims 39 Durangos, 18% of the new patrol vehicles, have had a mechanical failure due to a "defective oil cooler."

ISP is concerned that if that percentage continues, another 40 Durangos will experience a failure. The approximate value of the total of 79 vehicles is $3.9 million.

ISP said its superintendent, Doug Carter, spoke with a Chrysler representative and was "not given a timeline to resolve the matter."

“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.”

During the month of May, ISP said it had 15 Durangos experience the oil cooler failure. The average downtime for an engine replacement/repair is 4-8 weeks, ISP stated.