1999 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

NON ACCIDENT....REFERRING TO AN ARTICLE IN THE PERU TRIBUNE, PERU, INDIANA 7/22/2003 REGARDING DODGE DURANGO FAILURE OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WE OWN A 1998 DURANGO AND IN 1999 HAD THE JOINTS REPLACED AND THEY ARE NOW AGAIN IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT IN 2003.*AK

I READ A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REGARDING BALL JOINTS ON THE 1998-2003 DODGE DURANGOS. I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND I HAD THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 54,000 MILES (THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD). I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION THAT THEY WERE READY TO SNAP. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD OCCUR AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAD ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS THAT ARE ABLE TO BE LUBED. IT SEEMS THAT THE DEFECTIVE DODGE BALL JOINTS ARE ENCLOSED AND CAN NOT BE LUBED.*AK

IN SEPTEMBER 2002 MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO FAILED INSPECTION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT AND LEFT AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS, AT A SIGNIFICANT OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE TO ME. ($1013.60 PARTS AND LABOR) THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD AND IS REGULARLY WELL MAINTAINED. I AM AWARE OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE AGENCY AS REPORTED IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER NEWSPAPER. I DID NOT FIND ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS SITE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IF THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD A RECALL ISSUED TO ALLOW FOR COST- FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE OWNERS. THANK YOU.*AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT 4WD WITH 49000. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE I HAD IT CHECKED AND DETERMINED IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPLACED THIS. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MEINEKE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AND THE MANAGER ADVISED ME THE BRAKES HAD 70% OF THE PAD LEFT BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. HE RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAD MEINEKE REPLACE THE BALL JOINT. I WROTE THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED HIM OF WHAT HAD OCCURED TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHY I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM WAS NOT MENTIONED. I SAW A GREATER DANGER IN THE FRONT WHEEL FALLING OFF THAN THE BRAKES NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE AS EFFECTIVELY. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY REGARDING THIS ISSUE.*AK

1999 DURANGO 4X4UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT AT ~25K, 50K, AND 7500 MILES.LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT AT ~5000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LOWER AND UPPER JOINT BOLTS. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL, BUT CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION THAT NHTSA WAS DOING.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHILE DRIVING SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR WILL GO TO SEE THE VEHICLE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AFTER THAT.*AK

WHILE HAVING A FRONT ALIGNMENT DONE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT TIE RODS HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED A FRONT END OVERHAUL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. RPMS WILL INCREASE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH OTHER TRAVELING VEHICLES.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING 50-55 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK