2001 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION, UNLESS REPLACED. *AK *TC

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION/UPPER BALL JOINTS: WHILE GETTING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. *AK *NM

I WAS TURNING A CORNER GOING LESS 10 MILES AN HOUR,WHEN I HEARD A POP, LIKE A FLAT TIRE WOULD MAKE ,AND THEN THE CAR SHIFTED TO THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE. THE WHEEL HAD BROKE OFF WHERE THE BALL JOINTS MEET. THE TIRE WAS SITTING UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE COMPLETE DAMAGE AND REPAIRED PARTS TO THE VEHICLE, WAS THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, TWO BOOTS AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP(SPRADLEY MOTORS),WHERE THEY GOT APPROVAL FROM THE WARRANTY TO FIX AND REPLACE. I DON'T KNOW IF PART IS AVAILABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 12 MPH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TO ENTER A PARKING RAMP AT WORK WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE, AS A RESULT I COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE WALL.*AK I HAD SOME DIGITAL PICTURES TAKEN AS THE POLICE WOULD NOT COME TO FILE A REPORT ON PRIVATE PROPERY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE AND I'M CONVINCED THIS IS RELATED TO A POOR DESIGN/WEAK PARTS USED IN THE STEERING LINKAGE/SUSPENSION SYSTEM.

#1-3 INCIDENTS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKING UP CAUSING SIGNIFICANT STEERING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS, REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AS A RESULT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE; #2-LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO MAINTAIN SAFETY OF VEHICLE (RIGHT SIDE BEGINNING TO MAKE THE SAME SOUND); #3-MULTIPLE INCIDENTS (AT LEAST 5) OF CEL COMING ON WITHIN LAST 9 MONTHS-THE LAST (8/20/04) INDICATES THAT THE FUEL PUMP, GAS TANK, AND OTHER COMPONENTS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE GAS TANK BECOMES CONCAVE AFTER THE VEHICLE RUNS FOR 15-30 MINUTES LEADING TO A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. *JB

ON APRIL 26, 2004 I ARRIVED AT A BUSINESS MEETING AND PARKED MY 2001 R/T DURANGO, AND SET MY ALARM WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. FROM MY CLIENT'S OFFICE I NOTICED WHITISH/GRAY SMOKE AND OBSERVED THAT THE SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK! I RUSHED OUTSIDE.UPON ARRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT I WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM APPROACHING MY DURANGO AS THEY WERE AFRAID IT MIGHT EXPLODE.THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY FOUR FEET ABOVE THE HOOD.THE FIRE TOOK MY ENGINE, BUMPERS, LIGHTS, HOOD, FENDER, LEFT FRONT TIRE & SEVERALLY DAMAGED THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MINE & SLIGHTLY DAMAGED THE CAR TO THE LEFT CORNER. STATE FARM'S INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE IGNITION OF POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO HOT SURFACES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH THE FIRE EXTENDING UPWARD AND OUTWARD, CAUSING THE DAMAGE PRESENT" WHICH WAS THE TOTAL LOSS OF MY VEHICLE. I FILED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY SENT ME BACK A LETTER STATING THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. IN OTHER WORDS NOTHING WAS DONE BY CHRYSLER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE ALTHOUGH STATE FARM IS IN SUBROGATION AS THEY FOUND SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS # 19-005-03 AND 19-009-00 THAT THEY FEEL PERTAINED TO THIS EVENT.THE THIRD PARTY FIRE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAPPENED BEFORE, AND THAT THE PERSON THAT CHRYSLER SENT TO INSPECT VEHICLE WAS NOT A LICENSED FIRE INSPECTOR, AND THAT MR. PITT (CHRYSLER'S REP.) WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.I WROTE A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CHRYSLER AND THE DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. A MONTH LATER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM STATING AGAIN THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THEY DETERMINED CAUSED THE FIRE ON RECOMMENDATION FROM THEIR LEGAL STAFF.I REPLIED IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING, AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD REFER MY CLAIM BACK TO THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT, AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR A RETURNED CALL. THE LAST CONTACT WAS 7/15/2004. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE MECHANIC FIX THE UPPER BALL JOINT. *JB *SC *JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB