I have an 04 Durango with the 5.7L Hemi. I had water lock up the #8 piston on its compression stroke. I removed the head and could not see any clear sign of where the water may have leaked in from. I dropped the head off to have it pressure tested and I am waiting for the results.

While waiting for the results, I was looking around online and found that in the 04 Models the drain located under the windshield wiper was bad about dumping the water on top of the engine. The water would then seep into the piston and cause it to lock on compression or on some case throw a rod through the engine block.

Has anyone heard of this problem? Do you know how to fix it or have a recall number?

 

I think there was a recall for the cowl, but that will not help you now.
FF

 

Hello I tried driving my 2004 Hemi Durango through about 18 inches of water and the engine was also waterlocked.. all of the pistons were damaged but I was lucky cause my insurance paid for a new engine....

 

Cummins:
Unfortunately there were quite a few issues that plagued the 04 Hemi in the Durangos. Broken exhaust manfold bolts as well as intake manfold bolts were some of the less serious ones. If you did have the cowl leak in conjunction with loose or broken intake bolt, this may explain how water entered the engine.

Other folks have had valve springs collapse allowing a valve to drop into the cylinder destroying the engine. There has also been a crankshaft clearance issue that eventually sends a rod through the side of the block.

My 04 Durango is on engine #2 courtesy of a dropped valve at 39K for the previous owner.

Don