1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. HE STATES THAT HIS UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE ABOUT TO BREAK BECAUSE HIS WHEELS ARE LEANING. *TT

PERHAPS THIS IS NOT THE PROPERLY MECHANISM FOR MY INQUIRY; IF SO, I APOLOGIZE. I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DURANGO, ON WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE (EXPENSIVE!) UPPER BALL JOINTS TWICE! MY QUESTION TO THE NHTSA IS SIMPLY, "WHY WERE THE 1998 AND 1999 MODEL YEARS EXCLUDED FROM THE BALL JOINT SAFETY NOTICE YOU ISSUED PREVIOUSLY (#04V596000)? MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT THE BALL JOINT DESIGN ON MY 1998 MODEL YEAR DURANGO IS ALSO DEFECTIVE -- WHY IS IT NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL?

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK VEHICLE HAD ABRUPT BRAKING, AND CLUNKING NOISES WERE HEARD INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND NON INTRUSIVE VISUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO FURTHER OPERATION. CONTINUOUS NOISE WAS HEARD THROUGHOUT TRANSIT HOME. ONCE VEHICLE WAS HOME AND IN DRIVEWAY, INSPECTION BY REMOVAL OF DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL REVEALED LOOSE BRAKE CALIPER. STRIPPED MOUNTING THREADS WERE FOUND ON STEERING KNUCKLE AT BRAKE CALIPER ATTACHMENT. CALIPERS ARE ONLY ATTACHED TO VEHICLE USING (2) THREADED PINS, ONCE THEY ARE STRIPPED CALIPER IS FREE TO SEPERATE FROM VEHICLE.

A PREMATURE WEAROUT AND NEAR SEPERATION OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. UPPER AND LOWER JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES. THESE ARE THE SAME BALL JOINTS INVOLVED IN 2000-2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE NO CLUE WHY MODEL YEAR 1998 WAS NOT INCLUDED.

BRAKES FAILED AT 50MPH. SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF SEMI TRUCK AT 40MPH AND TOTALED VECHILE. THE SEATBELT RESTRANT AND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE. I SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL TO BREAK 2 RIBS AND CRACK MY STERNUM. IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE WENT OFF I WOULDNT BE HAVING BACK AND NECK PROBLEMS EITHER. I WISH DODGE WOULD HELP US INSTEAD OF HURTING US.

(1)BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE MAKING POPPING NOISES EVERYTIME WE DROVE OVER A BUMP OR JOLT IN THE ROAD. (2)THE BOTH WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING, THANKFULLY BEFORE THEY CREATED AN ACCIDENT. (3)BOTH BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE REALIGNED.

UPPER BALL JOINT ON OUR 1998 DURANGO ARE BAD. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOW ISSUE FOR THE DURANGOS. HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALLED, WHICH INCLUDED 2000 AND ABOVE DURANGOS. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER 1998 AND 1999 DURANGOS. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE WRECKS AND EVEN DEATHS. PLEASE HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.*AK

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND FRONT AXLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT AND WILL BE REPLACED. *JB

1998-1999 DODGE DURANGO OWNERS ARE YOU MAD !! I AM ! WHY WERE WE LEFT OUT OF THE DAIMLER-CHRYSTLER BALL JOINT RECALL ? ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IT IS THE SAME PART AS USED IN THE 2000-2005. MINE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND WERE ALMOST BROKEN. *AK WHEN I TOOK MY SUV TO THE SHOP. NOW IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1000 TO FIX IT. DON'T WE DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AS THE 2000-2005 OWNERS. I CALLED THE TERRY WISEMAN'S DEEALSHIP OF ROBINSON,ILLINOIS. AT FIRST THE SERVICE DEPT. PUT ME ON HOLD FOR 15 MINS. I HUNG UP AND CALLED AGAIN AND GAVE THE RECEPTIONIST MY PHONE NUMBER, INFO, AND ASK FOR THEM TO CALL ME WITH AN ESTIMATE. I RECIEVED NO CALL. I CALLED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY THE RECEPTIONIST PUT ME THROUGH TO BARRY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE TOOK MY INFO. ABOUT 9:00 AM CALLED BACK AT 11:00 AM TO ASK IF IT WAS A 4X4 THAT WAS THREE DAYS AGO STILL NO ESTIMATE OR PHONE CALL. SO I GOT AN ESTIMATE FROM MY MECHANIC. PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE SITES AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE REFUSAL TO REPAIR ARE 1998-1999 DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINTS: WWW.LAWYERANDSETTLEMENTS.COM/CASE/DAIMLER2 WWW.DAIMLERCHRYSLER.COM OR EMAIL: [email protected] LET THEM KNOW WE WANT TO BE REEMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S MISTAKE !!

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR.*AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. THREE OF THE FOUR POWER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THEY BURNED OUT. *NM