1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

I HAD MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO CHECKED BY MY MECHANIC AFTER A FRIEND HAD TOLD ME OF THE NEW STORY REGARDING BALL JOINT FAILURE. INDEED THE MECHANIC SAID BOTH BALL JOINTS WERE IN TERRIBLE CONDITION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PART AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, 72,000 MILES, BUT THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CONDITION THE PARTS ARE IN. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS THERE APPEARS TO BE NUMEROUS INCIDENCES OF THIS PART FAILING PREMATURELY. *AK

TODAY I TOOK MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO (VIN-1BHS28Y6WF132671) FOR THE YEARLY VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DOMINION DODGE IN SALEM, VIRGINIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 1998.SHORTLY AFTER MY ARRIVAL AND NOTIFIING THE SERVICE MANAGER WHAT I WAS THERE FOR, HE CAME AND TOLD ME THAT MY RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS "BAD" AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND HE WAS WELL AWARE THAT THIS FACILITY HAD REPLACED 3 OF THEM APRIL 2002. INCLUDING THIS ONE THAT NEEDED REPLACING 2 YEARS LATER, 11,203 MILES SINCE REPLACED. WHEN THESE WERE REPLACED IN APRIL 2002 THE SAME INFERIOR PARTS WERE INSTALLED AS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW!! SO THIS VEHICLE HAS A TOTAL OF 41,780 AS OF TODAY AND I AM STATING TO PUT A SECOND SET OF BALL JOINTS ON MY DODGE DURANGO! WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO DO SOMETHING??*AK

1998 DURANGO PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURE. MY DURANGO REQUIRED BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT 13 MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THIS NEW VEHICLE, AND FOR OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. I'D LIKE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF YOU ARE GOING TO RECALL THEM. THEY REALLY NEED TO BE RECALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A VERY LOUD CLICKING AND POPPING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. DEALER STATED STEERING COLUMN WAS CAUSING THE POPPING AND CLICKING NOISE. *AK *LA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM WHICH WAS AFFECTING THE WEAR OF THE TIRES. *AK CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS ON BALL JOINTS AND REPLACEMENT OF TIRES. *LA

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I HAD HEARD THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON DUE TO SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE BALL JOINTS IN THE 1998 TO 2003 DURANGOS. IF I HAD NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE REASON IT WAS CAUGHT WAS THE SERVICE CONSULTANT AT DODGE ASKED IF I HAD CHECKED THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT LATELY. I SAID NO AND TOLD HIM TO CHECK IT. HE CALLED BACK WITH THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM THAT WILL NOW COST ME $1800.00. IT IS VERY STRANGE THAT THEY ASKED TO CHECK MY FRONT END ALIGNMENT WITH AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON. *LA

THE DEALER REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES IF MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN JAN 2003. VEHICLE HAD 69572 MILES. COST TO REPAIR WAS $2540.64. THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF DODGE DURANGO FRONT END PROBLEMS AND BALL JOINT SEPARATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE03032 *JB

I HAD HEARD ABOUT A PROGRAM AIRED ON T.V. REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS GOING BAD PREMATURELY ON THE DODGE DURANGO. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAD THEM REPLACED AT A DODGE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THERE WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY FAMILY WERE AT JEOPARDY AND I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE FULLY REIMBURSED FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE.*AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. REPAIRS PERFORMED AT LOCAL NON-DEALER SHOP. *AK

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION DEALERSHIPS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR