1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

SINCE BUYING THE USED 1998 DODGE DURANGO SLT IN OCTOBER OF 2001 WITH APPROXIMATELY 26000 MILES. I HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WHICH COST ME $100 FOR MY DEDUCTIBLE. I NOW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DEFOGGER ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOW PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR IS BAD. I HAVEN'T REPLACED IT AS OF THIS TIME. ALTHOUGH THE DURANGO IS APPROXIMATELY 4 YRS OLD, IT ONLY HAD 26000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH MEANT THE VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN OFTEN BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I BROUGHT A CAR FAX REPORT TO CONFIRM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP WITH THESE PROBLEMS WHICH IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THANKS

UPON A STATE SFAETY INSPECTION I WAS NOTIFIED THET BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (RIGHT SIDE) AND LOWER BALL JOINT (LEFT SIDE) REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS 30, 455 MILES AT THIS TIME. THE SERVICE PERSON ADVISED THAT DODGE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS THESE ON THE 1998 AND 199 DURANGOS. MAYBE THIS JUSTIFIES A "RECALL" OF SOME SORT! T.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE. THEN, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IULLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. CONSUMER HAD A LACK OF BRAKES AND STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AGAIN, AND THEY STATED THAT CRANKSHAFT SHOULD NOT GO OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITHOUT WARNING, SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER FROM MOVING FORWARD, CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR HEAD INJURIES.*AK *YD

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR HEAD INJURIES.*AK *YD

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISON, AND WAS HIT AT 55MPH, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, 2 OTHER PEOPLE WERE ALSO INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.*JB

FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING DOWN EXCESSIVELY FAST AND UNEVENLY DUE TO BALL JOINTS, ON TOP AND BOTTOM, BEING SHOT. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICES A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED NO COOLING. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK METAL CHIPS AND SLUDGE WERE FOUND IN THE MOTOR AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS. THE BEARINGS FOR CYLINDER 1 AND 5 SPUN THE CRANK SHAFT, DEALER REPLACED THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS. *YH

CONSUMER FOUND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNDONE A FEW TIMES OWNING IT TO THEM BECOMING A LITTLE LOOSE AND THE CHILD SEAT TILTING OVER ON THE RELEASE BUTTON. *JG

NOTE: TWO OIL CHANGES WITHIN 2,000 MILES OF BREAKDOWN (HAVE RECEIPTS). TRAVELING ON BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0 AND ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD TAPPING NOISE. OIL PAN WAS REMOVED AND "A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE ENGINE" HAD CLOGGED THE OIL SCREEN CAUSING THE OIL PUMP FAILURE. AS A RESULT OF THE OIL PUMP FAILURE, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. BASED ON NTSA DATABASE AND DISCUSSIONS WITH AREA EXPERTS, THIS OIL PUMP FAILURE/ENGINE DAMAGE DEFECT CONDITION FOR THE 1998 DURANGO (5.2L) IS COMMON, YET FREQUENTLY UNREPORTED. NO ASSISTANCE FROM MANUFACTURER. WARRANTS DETAILED AGENCY SCRUTINY AND PRODUCT RECALL DUE TO DEFECT CONDITION. WILL BE PURSUING LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER COST OF OIL PUMP AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT.