1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION,AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

FAULTY CRAFTMANSHIP. BALL JOINTS WORN AT 30296 MILES, 1998 DODGE DURANGO..*AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A REGULAR CHECK UP, AND WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

YESTERDAY, 8/25/04, WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO SLT 4X4 FAILED ON ME. AS I WAS BREAKING THE FRONT SUSPENSION FELT LIKE IT DROPPED DOWN AND I HEARD A CLUNK AND TEMPORARELY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL QUICKLY AND PULL INTO A GAS STAION. I COULD NOT NOTICE ANYTHING(BUT IM NOT MECHANICALLY KNOWLEDGABLE) AT FIRST WHEN I PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AROUND MY WHEELS BUT AS I WENT TO DRIVE AWAY THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE AND A VIRBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKLY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO MIDAS SO I WENT RIGHT TO THEM AND THEY PUT IT UP ON A LIFT AND SHOWED ME THE BALL JOINTS. THE BOTTOMS HAD COMPLETELY COME APART(DROPPED OUT I THINK WAS THE TERM) AND THE TOP ONES WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE AND HAD A LOT OF PLAY ON THEM. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN IT DID AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I WAS DOING 65MPH BECAUSE THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT THE WHEELS COULD HAVE ACTUALLY FALLIN OFF MY VEHICLE CAUSING WHO KNOWS WHAT TO HAPPEN (MAJOR ACCIDENT, DEATH, ECT..) AND THAT DODGE DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS ARE THE MOST COMMON VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THEM REPAIRED AT A TOTAL COST OF 942.30. THEY REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT END AND GAVE ME THE OLD BALL JOINTS TO DO WITH AS I PLEASE. THE ONLY THING LEFT TO DETERMINE IS WHY THE KNOCKING NOISE THAT ARROSE ONLY AFTER THE BALL JOINTS FAILED ON ME IS STILL THERE AFTER HAVING THEM REPLACED AND I AM GOING BACK TO MIDAS TOMORROW TO TRY TO GET A DIAGNOSIS OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT/REAR BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PERTAINING TO A BURNED TRANSMISSION. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT 30000 MILES THEN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60000 MILES. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. *JB

CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS DONE ON THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST YEAR. AN INDEPENDENT DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *SCC *JB

ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO.*MRTHE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK THE ENGINE THE CONSUMER MAY INCUR A $1000 INORDER TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HE WAS THE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LIKELY A BLOW ENGINE AND THAT A NEWW ONE WOULD COST $3000-$4000. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT YET RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB