1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD WHINING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE DURANGO. AFTER VERIFYING THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 4WD WAS NOT ENGAGED, THE WHINING SOUND BECAME LOUDER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO A DEALER IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX (A SUBURB OF FORT WORTH). THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SURE THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND ALL WOULD BE FINE. AFTER SERVICING THE DIFFERENTIAL THE SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE "RING AND PINON SET, AND CUP AND CONES" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ( THIS IS THE RING AND PINON GEAR, THE PINON SEAL, AND THE SIDE BEARING THAT SUPPORT THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE). THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $1323.08. I REMINDED THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 47333 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE I BELIEVE THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO AND HE SUGGESTED I CALL DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. AFTER SPEAKING TO DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE THREE TIMES, THEY "REVIEWED" MY SITUATION. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY, DODGE OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR COST AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE". IN THE END, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $502.28. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $1004.56 AND WITH DODGE'S "GOOD WILL GESTURE" THE REPAIR COST ME OUT OF POCKET $502.28. HOWEVER, AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE I FEEL MORE STRONGLY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF THIS VECHICLE.

A LOUD HOWLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION WERE BAD. I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE THIS WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP DEFECT OBVIOUS BY THE LOW (22,000) MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THE DAY IT CAME OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF-ROAD. I RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. I STRONGLY DISAGREE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THIS SECTION WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY AN EXPERT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT INVOLVING THE RING AND PINION NOT BEING CAPABLE OF HANDLE THE FORCES IMPOSED BY THE DRIVETRAIN OF THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1500 - $2000. CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND ADMIT A DESIGN FLAW EXISTS. I WILL FIGHT THIS IN COURT IF I HAVE TO. DODGE, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR NOT FESSING UP TO THIS. *AK

TRANSMISSION HESITATES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR THE VEHICLE SURGES. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSON GIVES A CLUNK NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. WAS TOLD FROM DEALER THE MINIMUM REPAIR WOULD COST $1400-$1500 BUT COULD BE MORE. I OPTED FOR A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. I WAS SHOWN A COMPLETE SERVICE AND TECHNICAL BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR FOR DODGE VEHICLES. THE LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY SERVICE OWNER HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM A TRAINING SEMINAR ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS REALLY SOUNDED ODD, AS THE DEALER WHEN ASKED BY ME IF THERE WAS A CLASS PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSIONS DENIED ANY. THEN WHY WOULD THEY PRINT MANUALS AND TRAIN PERSONNEL FOR PROBLEMS THAT DO NOT NORMALLY OCCUR. THE LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY PERFORMED HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TESTING AND DETERMINED ALL PRESSURE PARAMETERS WERE BEING MET. THEN CHANGED ALL TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO A HIGHER VISCOSITY. SINCE THIS WAS DONE, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SHIFTING HESITATION OR PROBLEMS. THE DEALER WHEN PRESSURED WOULD ONLY OFFER 10% OFF THE REPAIR COSTS. DODGE REGIONAL REFUSED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED TO 4 INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN DODGES AND HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

ABS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STAYS ON WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

BRAKES LOCK UP DURING FIRST FEW TIMES THEY ARE USED IN THE MORNINGS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

MAIN ENGINE BEARING FAILED. PREVIOUS OIL PUMP FAILURE AT 23000 MILES PINGING AT 15,000 MILES. *AK

I REALLY LIKE MY DODGE DURANGO BUT THE MIRRORS ARE VERY LARGE WHICH CAUSES BLIND SPOTS. I CAN'T SEE TRAFFIC LEFT OR RIGHT. I THOUGHT MY HEIGHT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT MY HUSBAND IS 6'2 AND HE SEES THE PROBLEM. I NEED YOUR ADVISE AND HELP ON THIS MATTER.... I AM SO AFRAID OF HAVING A ACCIDENT. HAS THERE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER ? I HOPE I'M SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO THE RIGHT DEPT. AND HOPE I GAVE YOU ENOUGHT INFO. WHAT EVER HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WILL BE APPRECIATED. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 40,000 MILES OF WEAR; VEHICLE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP.*AK

ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED. LOWERS REPLACED AT 80000 MILES AND UPPERS AT 100000. SEEMS EXCESSIVE. FRONT AXLE INNER BEARINGS COMPLERTE FAILURE WHICH DAMAGED FRONT AXLE ITSELF AND NEEDED REPLACED. FROM LOOKING AT THE MANY OTHER FRONT SUSPENSION COMPLAINTS LODEGED, THERE APPEARS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. FRONT SUSPENSION IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. *AK

WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS IN OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF OR DIM UNTIL CONSUMER PLAYS WITH KNOB, AND HEADLIGHTS GET BACK TO NORMAL.*AK