1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITH DIFFICULTY OF MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK

WE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH UNEVEN FRONT TIRE WEAR ON OUR 1998 DODGE DURANGO. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT AND NEED REPLACED. RECEIVED QUOTE OF $800 TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINT PROBLEM CAUSED TIRES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND UNEVEN, STEEL BELTS ALMOST SHOWING ON INSIDE OF ONE TIRE.

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT. FAILED. *AK

I BOUGHT A 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. THE VEHICLE HAD 59939 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR AS ONE SHOULD. ON 9/2/03 I TOOK THE AUTO INTO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS AS THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING DOWN INTO 1ST GEAR. IT COST ME $500.00 TO FIX THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AT THE SAME TIME THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSFER CASE WAS GOING OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE ESTIMATE-$1350. IN NOV OF 2003, I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET A LUBE JOB. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT ACCEPTING GREASE & THE UPPER BOOTS WERE ROTTED. THAT EVENTUALLY I WOULD NEED NEW BALL JOINTS BUT I STILL HAD TIME. IN DEC 2003, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THEN IF MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT WOULD NOT START, OR IT WOULD DIE AS I WAS BACKING OUT. IN JANUARY I HEARD METAL IN MY FRONT TIRES AS I WAS BRAKING. A NEW BRAKE JOB COST ME $350.00. THE END OF JANUARY, WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH 72,000 MILES, MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE FELL OFF. REASON: UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE OFF. EVERY MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, AS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BALL JOINTS DO THIS AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I THEN SAW NHTSA INTERVIEWED ON THE NEWS FOR THE VERY SAME REASON. DODGE DURANGOS AND THEIR BALL JOINTS WITH TIRES FALLING OFF. MY CAR LANDED IN A DITCH. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ONLY TRAVELLING AT 35 MPH. IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, AND WHO EVER MANUFACTURES THESE BALL JOINTS BETTER STAND UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS AUTO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT. AND COSTLY AT THAT! *JB

I STARTED NOTICING A POPPING SOUND ON LEFT TURNS AND WHEN IT WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED OF A LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEM COUPLED WITH DETERIORATION OF THE SPINDLE OR A ARM. I REALLY LIKE THE DURANGO AND WAS EVEN CONTEMPLATING A PACIFICA. IF DAIMLER CHRYSLER DOESN'T DO ANY BETTER SERVICE TO ITS CUSTOMERS BY REPAIRING THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT, PERHAPS THE BIG BUCKS THEY WANT FOR THEIR PRODUCT COULD BE PLACED INTO ANOTHER AUTO MANUFACTURER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

IN JUNE, 2003 I TOOK MY DURANGO INTO THE SHOP FOR SOME ROUTINE SERVICING. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED CONSIDERABLE WEAR TO THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END. HE RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS. THANKFULLY, I HAD THESE PARTS REPLACED IN JULY BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND AT CONSIDERABLE COST TO MYSELF. I DON'T USE THIS VEHICLE VERY OFTEN, SO AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR IT ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON IT BUT I HAD OWNED IT FOR 4 YEARS. I BELIEVE DIAMLER/CHRYSLER IS PRODUCING DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THESE VEHICLES AND IT SHOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS. *AK

I BOUGHT A USED 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 24,000 MILES IN FEB 14TH 2003. THIS WAS A DODGE CERTIFIED USED CAR. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTRA WARRANTY PACKAGE FOR $900.00. AFTER 60 DAYS I HAD A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. I CALLED THE DODGE GARAGE FROM WHICH I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY HAD IT TOWED. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID I HAD A BIG PROBLEM. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THE RIGHT FRONT AXEL, BALL JOINT UPPER ARM ASSEMBLY HAD BROKE APART CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITH A TOTAL OF $1700.00 MY RESPONSABILITY. THEY SAID DODGE WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THEY SAID MY EXTENDED DODGE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. NOW I READ THAT MANY VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. REMIND YOU THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WORE OUT!!!!!!!!!! AT MY EXPENSE. *AK

TOOK 1998 DURANGO FOR WHEEL ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 72K000MILES. TECHNICIAN HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS, WHICH HAD CAUSED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *AK

LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. *AK