1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

I KNOW OF OTHERS HAVING PROMBLEMS WITH EARLY FAILIERS ON THE BALL JOINTS I THINK DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE UPPERS & LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WANTED TO ALSO REPAIR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL A LOUD NOISE.

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM STEERING THAT GOT LOUDER WITH TIME. DEALER STATED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. *AK

RETURNING FROM NEW YORK. TIRE EXPLODED. CONTACTED GOODYEAR. REFERRED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID NOT TREAD SEPARATION. CALLED HOME OFFICE BACK AND GIVEN ANOTHER DEALER ABOUT 1 HOUR AWAY. WILL GO AT EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. DETAILS OF TREAD SEPARATION: TRAVELING ABOUT 60 ON INTERSTATE WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. OUTER SIDE OF TIRE LOOKS LIKE IT EXPLODED. INNER SIDE OF TIRE NO DAMAGE. WHEEL NO DAMAGE. TREAD SEPARATED FROM INNER WALL OF TIRE APPROXIMATELY HALF OF DIAMETER FROM ABOUT CENTER OF TREAD AREA TO EDGE OF TREAD AREA ON OUT SIDE OF TIRE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: MK60K60V08 TIRESIZE: 31X10.50R1)

I TOOK MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO INTO ALLEN MELLO DODGE 6/21/01 FOR A WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SERP.ENTINEBELT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I BRING IT BACK 7/10/01 WHEN I HAD AN APPOINTED TO HAVE THE CAT. CONVERTER REPLACED. JUNE 23, 2001 I TOOK A DAY TRIP AND ON THE WAY HOME THE CAR BROKE DOWN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT, TRANSFER CASE, SHIFT ROD, ROD GEAR, PIVOT GEAR AND SOME OTHER PARTS TO BE DESTROYED. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IN TILTON NH IS THE UNIVERSAL JOINT MAKES A WHISTLING NOISE AND HE SAID THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER AND ALLEN MELLO DODGE IN NASHUA NH AND THEY HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL THAT AFTER ONLY 53,000 MILES ON THE CAR THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UNIT WHERE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS, CANNOT BE GREASED BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED UNIT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. IF I COULD HAVE HAD THIS MAINTAINED THIS PROBLEM MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I ASKED CHRYSLER WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND THEY SUGGESTED HARD DRIVING. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND WE HAVE TWO VERY SMALL CHILDERN, THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A TOW PACKAGE, AND OTHER THAN THE WINTER, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. *AK

REOCCURING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH REAR POWER WINDOWS. TO THIS DATE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I DON'T THINK I'M THE ONLY CUSTOMER HAVING THIS PROBLEM!*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD RESEALED, INTAKE & PLENUM GASKET REPLACED, INTAKE & PAN & O-RING REPLACED, INTAKE RESEALED & PCV VALVE REPLACED, MANIFOLD & INTAKE REPLACED, ROD BEARINGS & VALVE GUIDE SEALS & #4 SPARK PLUG & INTAKE REPLACED. PURCHASED AS TRADE-IN AT FORD DEALER 21504 MILES. PROBLEMS BEGAN 2-3 WKS AFTER PURCHASE. PREVIOUS/ORIGINAL OWNER HAD SIMILAR SERVICE PERFORMED (TSB PERFORMED 4/05/99). PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR AS PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY OR AT THEIR COST. DEALERSHIP NEVER DETERMINED EXACT CAUSE OF PROBLEM.

SIDEWALL OF TIRE SEPARATED WITH 14,000 MILES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: 235 75 15)

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS FASTENED TO AN ELECTRICAL MOTOR WITH A THREE INCH PIECE OF PLASTIC. PLASTIC PIECE HAD SNAPPED IN HALF WHICH HAS CAUSED SEAT TO BACK AWAY FROM SEAT FRAME WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS CAUSED SEAT TO FULLY COLLAPSE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE FLAP WHICH ALLOWS THE AIR TO EITHER FLOW THROUGH THE VENTS OR DEFROST OR HEATER VENTS IS STUCK BLOWING AIR OUT THE HEATER AND DEFROST VENTS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DODGE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $200 FOR A PART THAT IS KNOWN BY DODGE TO HAVE A DEFECT. MY CHILDREN AND I ARE ABOUT TO SUFFOCATE FROM THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER. IS DODGE GOING TO BE FIXING THIS PROBLEM OR NOT? MY NEXT PROBLEM IS THE FRONT END WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES AND HAVE HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS WITH NO RESULTS. I KNOW OF PLENTY OF DURANGO OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. IS THIS DEFECTIVE PARTS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM? I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION/STARTER NOT WANTING TO START AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT OR JUST SOMETHING WORN OUT. DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM YET. THANKS.*AK