1999 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

EACH YEAR I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND THE FRONT TIRES AS WELL AS HAVE THE FRONT SUSPENSION REDONE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THIS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE. DODGE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 52,000 MILES PASSED INSPECTION IN APRIL 2003. ON DEC 23,2003, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS 4 NEW BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS WORE OUT IN A 7,000 MILE SPAN. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WENT BAD AT ONCE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS RELATES TO A PRODUCT DEFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURE.

MY WIFE'S 1999 GARAGE-KEPT DURANGO WITH ONLY 25,600 MILES ON IT IS AT THE DODGE DEALER RIGHT NOW HAVING BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. COST ESTIMATE IS $560. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE SUSPENSION INSPECTED BASED LARGELY UPON THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS DEFECT, AND THE INFO I GLEENED FROM THIS USEFULL NHTSA DATABASE. I JUST CALLED THE DODGE CONTACT-US PHONE NUMBER, AND DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAINT. THE POLITE WOMAN TOOK DOWN MY INFO, BUT SHE SAID THAT WAS ALL SHE COULD DO, AND THAT I SHOULD SAVE MY RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS, IN CASE THERE IS A RECALL. I AM AN ENGINEER, AND I AM CONVINCED THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE A 1992 EXPLORER WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. WHILE AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE SHINY NEW 2004 DURANGO ON THE LOT - WHAT A SURPRISE! THE FRONT SUPENSION IS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED, AND LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE SUSPENSION ON THE 99. DODGE NEEDS TO STOP DODGING THEIR EXISTING CUSTOMERS, OR PEOPLE LIKE ME WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THEM. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER WHEN I RECALLED THAT THE FICTITIOUS AL BUNDY'S CAR OF CHOICE WAS A DODGE. TO ALL DURANGO OWNERS: HAVE YOUR SUSPENSION INSPECTED.

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON, AND A CHATTERING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT TIE ROD ENDS WERE BAD. MECHANIC REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *AK

WE OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO.... WHEEL, BRAKE ROTOR AND STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE.... BALL JOINT SEPARATION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM... APPARENTLY, THIS IS A CONTINUING ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *LA

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE GENERAL MAINTENANCE, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS FELLED WORN OUT PREMATURELY. ALSO CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH WATER PUMP AND THE SERPENTINE BELT.*AK

AFTER SEEING A REPORT ON THE TELEVISION ABOUT DEFECTIVE UPPER BALL JOINTS, I BECAME CONCERNED. I HAVE NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE EVERY TIME I GO OVER BUMPS AND THE NOISE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A SEIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY DURANGO AND CALLED MY MECHANIC TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. I AM PUTTING THIS IN WRITING TO ESTABLISH A RECORD IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.*AK

DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINT INVESTIGATION PLEASE ADD MY NAME TO THE "BALL JOINT" ROSTER. I HAVE RECENTLY REPLACED ONE UPPER BALL JOINT AT MY OWN EXPENSE. OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO PURCHASED IN NEW JERSY.*AK

SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND (SUBSEQUENTLY) NOW THE CRUSIE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK EITHER. SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FAILING APPROX. 1 YEAR AGO AND WOULD NOT INDICATE VEHICLE SPEED UNTIL MOVING IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ASSEMBLY.*AK