DURA Automotive Announces Director Appointments

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich.--Aug. 2, 20032, 2003--DURA Automotive Systems, Inc. , announced today that at a meeting of the company's board of directors, the board voted to increase the number of directors from nine to eleven, and Charles M. Brennan and Yousif B. Ghafari, P.E. were appointed to fill the open positions. In connection therewith, Brennan was also appointed to serve as a member of the audit committee and Ghafari was appointed to serve as a member of the compensation committee of the board.

Brennan retired as chairman and chief executive officer of MYR Group Inc. in April of 2000 upon the completion of the merger between MYR Group and GPU Inc. Brennan successfully positioned MYR Group as a leading national provider of infrastructure construction services to the electric utility, telecommunications and commercial and industrial markets. Prior to joining MYR, Brennan served as senior vice president, chief financial officer and director of Gould Inc., a leading industrial and electronic products manufacturer. Brennan currently serves as a director of Dycom Industries, Inc. .

Ghafari currently serves as chairman of Ghafari Inc.; Ghafari Associates, LLC; Ghafari ESG, LLC; G-TECH Professional Staffing, Inc.; and Ghafari + Fischer, LLC. Ghafari Associates, Inc., the founding firm bearing his name, was opened in 1982 and is now known as Ghafari Associates, LLC. Ghafari Associates, LLC is a full-service, multi-discipline architectural, engineering, planning and management firm headquartered in Dearborn, Mich. A representative client listing includes General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler Corporation; along with numerous institutions of higher learning, commercial, institutional, and industrial clients.

DURA Automotive Systems, Inc., is the world's largest independent designer and manufacturer of driver control systems and a leading global supplier of seating control systems, engineered assemblies, structural door modules and integrated glass systems for the global automotive industry. The company is also a leading supplier of similar products to the North American recreation and specialty vehicle markets. DURA sells its automotive products to every North American, Japanese and European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and many leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers. DURA is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Mich. Information about DURA and its products is available on the Internet at www.duraauto.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or similar expressions. These statements are based on certain assumptions that the company has made in light of its experience in the industry as well as its perspective of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to (i) expected synergies, economies of scale and cost savings from the company's acquisitions not being fully realized or realized within the expected times frames; (ii) unanticipated difficulties servicing the indebtedness of the company; (iii) costs or operational difficulties related to integrating the operations of the acquired entities with those of the company being greater than expected; (iv) labor disputes involving the company or its significant customers; (v) risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, and (vi) general economic or business conditions affecting the automotive industry, either nationally or regionally, being less favorable than expected.