1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. ALSO CONTROL ARMS, UPPER ARMS ON BOOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED TWICE SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.*AK REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS WERE ALSO MADE ON VEHICLE. *LA

I HAVE A 98 DODGE DURANGO AND SAW RECENTLY ABOUT BALL JOINT FAILURES, I HAVE HAD BALL JOINTS REPLACED ONCE (40000) AND NOW NEED THEM REPLACED AGAIN (74000 MILES). I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ON THEIR DURANGO'S THAT I HAVE THEM CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I WAS TOLD AT MORE THEN ONE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS ON DURANGO'S, INCLUDING A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE MORE PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM THAN IS REALIZED, ONLY THEY DONT KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. WHY LET THEM FIND THE HARD WAY? I HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF WHEELS FALLING OFF. IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE DODGE IS FORCED INTO A RECALL. ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT IS NOT SO.

UPPER BALL JOINTS SEEM TO FAIL EVERY THREE YEARS OR 36,000 MILE WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. BALL JOINTS DECRIBE AS SO BAD THAT READY TO SEPARATE. IT COST NEARLY $1,200 EACH TIME TO DO THE REAPIRS. I HAD MANY VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS THAT CAN BE GREASED. THESE BALL JOINT CAN NOT BE GREASED SO THE COMSUMER HAS TO PAY AGAIN EVERY FEW YEARS LARGE AMOUNT TO HAVE VEHICLE STAY SAFE.

NOISE BEGAN IN FRONT WHEEL AREA AND GREW VERY LOUD WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES (CAR SHAKES AND PULLS TO RIGHT). TOOK VEHICLE IN TO CHECK IT OUT - HAD TO REPLACEL FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TENSION RODS ENDS. WE HAD TO PAY OVER $2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT, AND CAR STILL DOES NOT STEER PROPERLY. DEALER REPORTED TO US THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PREVIOUS OWNER HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ONCE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. *AK

DEFECTIVE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE REST OF THE DURANGO OWNERS AND FILE A COMPLAINT PERTAINING TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE 1998 DODGE DURANGO UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DODGE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED RIGHT AWAY AND IF NOT DEALT WITH SOON THEY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CHILDREN AND I CARPOOL CHILDREN, SO I TOOK THEM SERIOUSLY. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE DODGE PRICE QUOTE OF $1200 SO I WENT WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP PRICE QUOTE OF $900. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO COME UP WITH IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IN MY OPINION THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 62000 MILES. THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK ON THE DURANGO IS TAXING KIDS AROUND TOWN.

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT DOWN IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND IT BROKE WHEN I SAT IN IT AND LEANED BACK IN THE SEAT. I AM A 6'3" MAN THAT ONLY WEIGHTS ABOUT 190 LBS., IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IF ALL I DID WAS LEAN BACK IN THE SEAT....WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A AUTO ACCIDENT?*AK

WE HAVE A 98 DURANGO. IN 2000 DURING THE YEARLY INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE IN THE 3YR WARRANTY WINDOW, THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH FOR COVERAGE BY DODGE. WE WERE LUCKY THIS WAS FOUND ON ROUTINE INSPECTION. *JB