1999 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON 3/11/02 AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT AGAIN IN MAY 2003. READ AN ARTICLE STATING THE BALL JOINTS WERE PREMATURELY GOING BAD AND WANTED TO LODGE OUR COMPLAINT AT HAVING TO REPLACE THEM TWICE ALREADY. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF THIS BECOMES A RECALL.*AK

THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WILL FIX AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

UPPER BALL JOINT WORE PREMATURELY. ALSO, WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED THERE IS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END.*AK

I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND ASKED THE TIRE DEALER TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DO IT DUE TO THE FACT THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS WERE BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES. CHRYSLER SAID AT THE TIME THIS WAS UNHEARD OF AND SAW NO REASON FOR PREMATURE FAILURE. THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY MADE ME PAY FOR THIS WITH MY CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY, CHARGING ME $50 DEDUCTIBLE AND I HAD TO PAY FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT THAT WAS NOT REQUIRED EXCEPT FOR THE CHANGING OF THE PARTS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. CARS RUN FOR YEARS AND OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES AND DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. LUCKILY, THIS WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON VACATION IN THE MOUNTAINS A FEW WEEKS LATER. *AK

ON 7/26/03, OUR MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE "FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENESS INSIDE" ON OUR 1999 DURANGO WITH ONLY 31,250 MILES OF ON-ROAD USE ONLY. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED TO CORROBORATE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALREADY REPORTED ON BALL JOINTS AND TO FURTHER YOUR RECALL INVESTIGATION EFFORTS. *AK

RE: 1999 DODGE DURANGO FRONT SUSPENSION I JUST HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS, AND BOTH TIE ROD ENDS ON THIS VEHICLE AT 59,000 MILES OF LIGHT ON ROAD USAGE. I HAVE RUN PREVIOUS VEHICLES TO OVER 200,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY FRONT WORK REQUIRED. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN.*AK

WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK PERFORMED ON OUR CAR, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS ON OUR '99 DURANGO ARE "DANGEROUSLY" WORN OUT. THE REPAIR FACILITY MENTIONED THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED ON ALL DURANGOS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THEIR SHOP AND THAT SUCH PREMATURE WEAR IS NOT COMMON.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT FRONT WHEELS WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF DUE TO BALL JOINTS BEING WORN OUT.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 54,000 MILES THAT IS ALREADY NEEDING NEW FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A GARAGE MECHANIC WHO IS NOT CONNECTED TO DODGE. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE LOCAL DODGE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO CHECKED THE BALL JOINTS, I WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND THAT A NEW IDLER ARM WAS NEEDED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND SHOCKS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I'M CONCERNED THAT I AM DRIVING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE GONE BAD ON OUR 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 68000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND HAVE HEARD OF 4 COMPLETE FAILURES INVOLVING THE WHEELS COMING OFF. UPON LEARING THIS I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER DURANGOS ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NOTICED THE SAME TIRE WEAR PATTERN AS OURS.*AK