Oil cooler problem has so far paralyzed 39 Indiana State Police SUVs

Due to a serious defect in the oil cooler, over three dozen Indiana State Police SUVs had to be put out of action.

ISP is switching from the police-equipped Dodge Chargers it has been using since 2010 to Dodge Durangos starting in May 2023. The agency has ordered a total of 516 Durangos valued at around $25.8 million – 219 of which have been used for patrol duties, according to a press release.

However, about 18 percent of the 219 Durangos in service have experienced a mechanical failure due to a faulty oil cooler. So far, 39 SUVs have been affected, and ISP expects another 40 Durangos will suffer the same defect, for a total of 79 failures, authorities say.

If that figure proves accurate, the taxpayer-funded equipment, valued at about $3.9 million, could no longer be available for the agency’s intended use. A fully equipped ISP Dodge Durango costs about $50,000, according to the press release.

According to police, 15 Dodge Durangos suffered oil cooler failures last month alone.

To fix the problem, the engine must be replaced or repaired. The average downtime for this work is 4 to 8 weeks, which places a huge burden on fleet operations, significantly reduces ISP personnel’s confidence in the vehicle, and ineffectively impacts public service as police officers move in and out of a pool vehicle to perform their daily duties, the release said.

ISP Superintendent Doug Carter has spoken to a Chrysler representative about the problem but has not received a timeline for resolution.

“ISP has used Dodge as our primary supplier of police vehicles for the past decade and a half. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this precarious position,” Carter said in the release. “We are having to abandon brand new vehicles and are losing value and functionality… the citizens and taxpayers of Indiana are missing out and deserve better.”