1999 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED SEVERE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. *TC *JB

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS VERY UNSTABLE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE DEALER ALSO REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH CONTROL ARMS. *PH *NLM THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE RPM'S ARE HIGH. ENGINE CONTROL MODULATOR AND INJECTOR WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED. *TC

THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS OF YET. THE OBVIOUS IS THE DODGE RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. I PURCHASED A NEW 1999 DURANGO WHICH HAS ONLY 43000 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AND MY MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE METAL TO METAL. I OWN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT I DRIVE DAILY. I EMAILED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND THE RESPONSE WAS THE DEALER "WAS EMPOWERED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO DETERMINE THE MERITS OF ANY GOODWILL POLICY CONSIDERATION FOR REPAIRS BEYOND YOUR MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY". I CALLED THE DEALER AND GAVE THEM ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION TO THAT POINT. THEY INFORMED THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE AND THEY HAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT NOT ONLY THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD BUT ALSO THE INNER TIE ROD ENDS. THEY OFFERED A 50/50 SPLIT FOR THE SUM OF $725.00. I DECLINED THIS OFFER DUE TO THE OBVIOUS. I FEEL THAT THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS CAUSED THE TIE ROD ENDS TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND SHOULD BE CATEGORIZED UNDER THE RECALL AND COVERED 100%. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS FAR BELOW THE EXPECTED MILEAGE. I HAVE COPIES ALL EMAILS AND INVOICES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, JOSEPH MAESTAS. *JB

WE WERE DRIVING EAST ON I-90, JUST EAST OF GARY, IN. OUR SUV CAUGHT FIRE, WE COULD SMELL SMOKE, AND WE MADE AN EMERGENCY STOP AT EXIT 17. ANOTHER CAR PULLED UP BEHIND US, AND THE DRIVER SAID HE SAW FLAMES UNDER THE CAR. MY WIFE AND I RAN FROM THE CAR IN FEAR. THE CAR HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS, AND WE FELT OUR LIVES WERE IN JEOPARDY. I TOLD THE TOLL BOOTH ATTENDANT THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM HER, AND SHE VOLUNTEERED TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I PUT OUT THE FIRE THAT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FRONT AXLE. WE CALLED OUR STATE FARM AGENT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. THE SUV WAS TOWED TO GREGORY DODGE IN HIGHLAND PARK, IL TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE, WHERE IT IS STILL BEING EVALUATED. AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE, THE FRONT AXLE AND DRIVE SHAFT DISINTEGRATED. *JB

BALL JOINTS REPORTED TO NEED REPLACING IN 1999 DURANGO IN DECEMBER 2003 (77,000 MILES) BY OUR SERVICE AGENT. SERVICE AGENT ALSO SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS, AND THAT USDOT AND DAIMLER-CHRYSLER IS LOOKING IN TO IT. WE WERE TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT. AT GREGORY DODGE (HIGHLAND PARK, IL) THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS, BUT THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WAS LOOKING IN TO COMPLAINTS. BALL JOINTS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE EXPECTED RECALL. THIS PRODUCT DEFECT WAS IDENTIFIED, AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2004. WE WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT ONLY MY 2000 AND YOUNGER WERE RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. WE CHALLENGE THE EXPANSE OF THAT RECALL, BECAUSE IT SHOULD INCLUDE MY 1999 BECAUSE OF THE SAME SAFETY HAZARD.*JB

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETRERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE LOSE/WORN AND IS CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD UNEVEN WEAR ON THE INNER SIDE. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK. DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS CAUSED VEHICLE TO WANDER ON ITS OWN, AND FLOAT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ALSO, REPLACED BOTH INNER TIE RODS. *AK