1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: THE VEHICLE TREMBLED TERRIBLY WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *LA *JB

THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED UNEVEN FRONT TIRE TREAD WEAR. UPON THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, THEY NOTICED THAT 3 OUT OF THE 4 BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. *NLM

WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE FAILING. BOTH REAR BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *PH

BALL JOINT EQUIPMENT IS TOO SMALL FOR 1998 DODGE DURANGO. *MR THEY ALSO HAD NO GREASE FITTING FOR LUBRICATION FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY YEAR DURING THE YEARLY INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *SCC *JB

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. IT COST THE CONSUMER $1,229.OO. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *LA *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, AND CRACKED THE TAIL LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DAYTON, MODEL TIMBERLAND, SIZE 31X10-50R15LT, DOT# UNKNOWN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND INSPECTOR NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE COASTING CONSUMER COULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE NOISE. *AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO 45,311 MILES NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND INNER TIE RODS REPLACED. *LA

I OWN A 1998-DODGE DURANGO SLT. LAST JULY 2002 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO AN AREA DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OR THERE COULD BE A NASTY ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I MADE SEVERAL INQUIRES AT OTHER DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY THE SAME THING. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION AFTER I HAD HEARD A LOCAL NEWS STATION GIVE A CONSUMER ALERT ON THE DURANGO. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT AND THAT THE DURANGO WAS NOT BEING RECALLED FOR ANY FACTORY RELATED REPAIRS. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE JOINTS FIXED BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY SINCE SO MANY OTHER DURANGO DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *LA