1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

FRONT END STEERING NOISES, NO FAILURE, DEALER DIAGNOSED UPPER BALL JOINTS EXTREMELY WORN, LOWER JOINTS LOOSE. NEEDS FULL REPLACEMENT OF ALL BALL JOINTS.*AK

TIRES SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT OF VEHICLE. TIRES REPLACED AND TOLD TO HAVE ALIGNMENT BY TIRE DEALER. I TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE WORE OUT. (UPPERS AND LOWERS) IT IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME, AND HAVING SHOP SAVE THEM FOR ME.*AK

I HAD BEEN HEARING A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE TO CHANGE THE OIL & ROTATE THE TIRES, WHICH I DO EVERY 3000 MILES, I ASKED THE TECHNICIANS AT QUINN MOTORS, RT. 17, GLOUCESTER, VA TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE. THEY CALLED & SAID THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS ETC WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER, KEN, TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A SAFTEY ISSURE AND SEVERE INJURY COULD RESULT IF I KEPT DRIVING THE CAR & THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. I AM NOW PAYING $1630.00 FOR REPAIRS OF DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS (& RELATED COMPONENTS) ON A 1998 VEHICLE WITH 122,000 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DURANGO OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD WHEELS COME OFF AND RELATED BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. THERE WAS ALSO A SERVICE BULLETIN #020498 ISSUED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP. ON MAY 29, 1998 REFERING TO SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, WITH A NHTSA ITEM #601680. IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT ISSUE SINCE THE DEALER TOLD ME INJURY COULD OCCUR & THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR BROKEN! DURANGO HAS BEEN TO DODGE DEALER TWICE FOR CORRECTION, NOT REPAIRED! *NM

THE DRIVER'S SEAT LOOSENED FROM THE SEAT TRACKS, CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A COW, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO SLT BALL JOINTS HAVE WORN OUT TWICE. LOOSE STEERING, DRIFTING IN LANE, DIFFICULT NOT TO OVER STEER. DIAGNOSED BY DODGE DEALER 12/27/2001 AT 71,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN BAD FOR A LONG TIME. REPLACED UPPER, LOWER, AND TIE ROD ENDS ON 4/23/02 NOT AT DODGE DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AGAIN BY DODGE ON 9/23/2004 AT 103,000 MILES AND REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS AGAIN, AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

THE TRUCK FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK VIBRATEED SEVERELY WHEN SLOWING DOWN. *JB

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AFTER MARKET REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS IMPROBABLE. *AK

I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN MARCH OF 1998. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS EXCELLENT UNTIL ABOUT 52,000 MILES. 1ST REPAIR, WATER PUMP. AT ABOUT 56,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT ABOUT 61,000 HEATER CORE, AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. AT 77,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD AGAIN. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO STIFFEN UP AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION. DURANGOS DO NOT HAVE RACK AND PINIONS, THEY HAVE GEAR BOXES. AT ABOUT 94,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT 106,000 TRASNMISSION REBUILD AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER THIS TIME AROUND ALONG WITH AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION GAUGE WHICH TELLS ME THE TEMP OF THE TRANS(PRICE WAS $125.00 FOR GAUGE AND WIRING). CALLED DODGE WAS LIKE TALKING TO MY DOG, THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I SWORE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT THE DAY I BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER IS THE DAY I EAT S**T!!! DODGE CARS AND TRUCKS SUCK, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CRAP AND I HAD TO SPEND MONEY $$$ OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR REPAIRS ALONE ALMOST $9,500.00, OUT OF WHICH CHRYSLER KEPT SAYING ITS NOT OUR PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHEN ITS THEIR PROBLEM, WHEN THEY SCREW WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T JUST JOE SCHMOE WALKING IN TO BUY A CAR. SOMEONE WITH A DEGREE IN LAW SO THAT THEY CAN ROYALLY GE SMACKED IN THE FACE AND HELP ALL THE OTHER UNFORTUNATE ONES WHO ARE STUCK WITH DODGE SUCKS (TRUCKS). WHOEVER WANTS TO BUY A DODGE, BE PREPARED FOR A RUDE AWAKENING. THEY ARE GOING TO RAPE YOU! *AK