1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS FOR THE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH THE VEHICLE'S LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT (THREE TIMES), RIGHT INNER TIE ROD (TWICE), LEFT INNER TIE ROD, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD PROBLEMS CAUSED STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL THE TIRE ROD AND BALL JOINT REPAIRS. *NM

HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS IN MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO AT MY EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH DODGE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM.*AK

I OWN A 98 DODGE DURANGO SLT 4X4. WITHIN 1000 MILES AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT 57,648 MILES, A MINOR POPPING NOISE DEVELOPED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE NOISE RECENTLY GOT SO BAD THAT WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND FIXED (AT 80,000 MILES). UPPER AND LOWER BALLS JOINTS WERE BLAMED. CHRYSLER VOLUNTEERED TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND THE REFUSAL OF OUR PRIVATE WARRANTY COMPANY TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, WE DID NOT HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE POPPING NOISE IS MUCH LOUDER NOW AND MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CARRYING OUR FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HAVE BALL JOINTS WARE OUT SO QUICKLY, EVEN AFTER 100,000 MILES.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT AND WILL NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE TRUCK HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT (AUGUST 2000). THEN I HAD TO HAVE THE BUSHINGS ON THE STEERING BRACKET REPLACED IN APRIL 2002. THEN THE SQUEAKING AND POPPING NOISES RETURNED IN JANUARY 2004 AND HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALER HERE IN RALEIGH, NC AND THEY SAID THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AGAIN. THE DEALER SAID THAT SOMEONE ACTUALLY PIERCED THE BOOTS AND TRIED TO LUBE THE BALL JOINTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE DODGE BALL JOINTS ARE THE NON-GREASABLE KIND. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO GET DODGE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OBVIOUS FAULTY PART AND BEGIN A RECALL OF IT. I'M OUT OVER $1,500 BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE ON THIS ISSUE.*AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH COMPLETE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE AND CONTROL ARM FAILURE. REPAIRED AT OWNER EXPENSE AT LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. BALL JOINTS WORN TO POINT OF UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE ONLY 82,000 MILES. *AK

JUST HAD BALL JOINTS DONE *840$ NEXT DAY SHOCK IS BLOWN OUT @45,454 MILES NOW ANOTHER 80$ AND A STAIN IN MY NEW DRIVEWY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 TO 60 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARS A LOUD NOISE THEN TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

1998 DURANGO WITH LESS THEN 60000 BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR NEVER OFF ROAD AND NOT USED TO TOW ANYTHING HEAVY. *AK

I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS UPPER BALL JOINTS, SO I HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THEM ON MY 1998 THAT HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. THEY REPORTED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE BALL JOINTS. THEREFORE, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THEM FOR ABOUT $500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET. IM GLAD THAT I WAS NOT ONE OF THE MANY THAT I HEARD ABOUT WHO HAVE LOST A WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE DRIVING.*AK