1998 Dodge Durango complaints

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION/ UPPER BALL JOINT: THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE PREMATURELY WORN ON MY VEHICLE LAST YEAR. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISE SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM. PRIOR TO MY LAST COMPLAINT I HAD MY BROTHER WHO IS A SCHOOL BUS MECHANIC CHECK THE FRONT END AND HE SHOWED ME THE EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. STILL AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, BUT "LUBED UP THE FRONT END REAL GOOD" AND SENT ME AWAY. HERE IT IS NOW ABOUT A YEAR LATER AND I AM BRINGING IT IN AGAIN NOW WITH THE NOISE AND LOOSENESS WORSE THAN EVER AND I LEARN OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. (MY EXTENDED FACTORY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED LAST MAY, AND I WILL SEEK FOR THIS TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ANYWAY.) *LA

BALL JOINT FAILURE -- BOTH UPPER AND LOWER ON BOTH SIDES. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND MENTIONED THAT I HEARD A SMALL SQUEAK IN THE CHASSIS. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THEY FOUND THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE SO BADLY WORN THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I ASKED HOW UNSAFE, THEY INDICATED THAT THE WHEELS COULD FAIL IN A DAY, A FEW DAYS, A WEEK....THAT I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THEY HADN'T ALREADY. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $1,400. IF I ELECTED NOT TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED, THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO SIGN A WAIVER BEFORE THEY WOULD ALLOW ME TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK. I DRIVE CAR POOLS, HAVE THE SAFETY OF MY 3 CHILDREN PLUS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, AND TO HAVE MY DURANGO "UNSAFE TO DRIVE" WHEN I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING. I HAVE HAD MY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP (METROLINA DODGE) AND WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THOSE RECORDS WITH YOU IN AN INVESTIGATION. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THIS 'AFTER-THOUGHT' WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, BUT LISTENING TO THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND URGE A RECALL. *LA

TWO LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TWO TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO. *LA

7/12/01 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING UNDERNEATH WAS LOOSE. IT MADE NOISE GOING OVER ANY ROUGH SURFACE. AFTER CHECKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER DODGE SERVICE PEOPLE AND BEING ADVISED THAT THIS WAS VERY DEFINITELY PREMATURE, I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE AND A PERSON NAMED [XXX] ARRANGED TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH ME PAYING A GOOD WILL DEDUCTIBLE OF $150.00. THE CAR# 9012127 WAS ON MY INVOICE AND WAS APPROVED BY [XXX]. AT THE TIME OF DIAGNOSIS MY MILEAGE WAS 39,436 AND THE PURCHASE DATE WAS 3/18/98, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN IS [XXX]. I CURRENTLY HAVE 68,717 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISES AGAIN. I JUST REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS BUT THE NOISE CONTINUES. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE WAS MAKING HIGH PITCH SOUND WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. TRUCK ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT (APRIL 2003) USED. I WAS ASSURED BY WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED CAR DEALER (KOEPPEL OF NEW YORK) THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. 6 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE NEED TO HAVE THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BE REPLACED. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING FLUID AND REAR WAS CAUSING HIGH PITCH NOISE. *LA

4 OF 6 RIGHT REAR WHEEL STUDS SEIZED/BROKE OFF DURING ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. NUTS WERE CORRECTLY TORQUED TO MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS. *LA

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 50,000 MILES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *LA

UPON ROTATING MY TIRES FOUND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO WERE FRIGHTENED WORN AND CLOSE TO FAILURE. THESE JOINTS WERE (NO GREASE FITTINGS) AND ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES ON THEM. I CHANGED THEM OUT MYSELF WITH MOOG PARTS (GREASEABLE) AND DISCARDED THE WORN OUT PARTS. MY CONCERN IS THAT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING. THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE A MUCH LONGER LIFE AND SEEMS TO BE A WEEK LINK IN THE DURANGO FRONT ENDS. I THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD REEXAMINE THE USE OF THIS STYLE PART, SINCE MY USAGE OF THIS AUTO WAS ONLY ON ROAD. *LA

1998 DODGE DURANGO SLT: POWER WINDOWS, ESPECIALLY ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE ARE PERIODICALLY FAILING TO OPEN. ALL 4 REGULATORS REPLACED ONCE. PASSENGER FRONT MOTOR AND REGULATOR REPLACED TWICE AND NOW BOTH WINDOWS ON PASSENGER SIDE ARE FAILED. ARE THERE ANY BULLETINS TO DIRECT DEALER REPAIR OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION? *LA

IF THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING A NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. *AK

FRONT END SQUEAKS WHEN IT GOES OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE BALL JOINTS WERE LUBRICATED, BUT THE NOISE STILL PERSISTED. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR, PER DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A "SQUEAKING" NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20,000 MILES FRONT TIRES WORN EXTREMELY BAD AND UNEVEN, HAD TIRES REPLACE, WAS INFORMED THAT ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE DUE TO LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS BEING BAD. TRUCK JUMPS AROUND ON EVEN THE SMALLEST BUMPS, FRONT END VIBRATIONS.*AK

REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AT 38,627 MILES.EPLACED LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT AT 38,657 MILES.EPLACED UPPER CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINT AT 41,634 MILES.REPLACED RIGHT FRONT AXLE AND LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT AT 45,946 MILES.*AK

THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO WERE BAD AND I HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPLACE THEM.*AK

WE HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO, AND SEEN THE INVESTIGATION REPORT ON THE EVENING NEWS REGARDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. WE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT FIXED, BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. TRUCK SUSTAINED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK

FRONT END BALL JOINTS WORN OUT. WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. 98 DURANGO WITH ONLY 33,250 MILES..*AK

UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE ONBOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

FRONT END REPAIRS. *AK

WHEN GOING FROM HIGH-BEAM TO LOW-BEAM, ALL HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING.DEFECTIVE SWITCH.*AK

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PERFORM THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. *TS *NLM

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM THE DEALER REFUSED TO ALIGN THE VEHICLES WHEELS BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *TS *NLM

VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION. THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *PH *NLM

I HAD TO REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS ON A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. IT COST $1400. I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS SITE FROM THE DURANGO OWNERS CLUB ON YAHOO GROUPS. THE BALL JOINTS SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. *LA

DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, I'M GETTING READY TO GO ON MY 3RD SET OF BALL JOINTS. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DURANGO BALL JOINT (FRONT END DESIGN). MY FIRST SET OF BALL JOINTS WENT BAD AFTER 50,000 MILES (3 OUT OF 4 JOINTS DEFECTIVE), WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR TIRE REPLACEMENTS (AS A RESULT) THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD 2 OTHER DURANGO'S IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME REASON (BAD BALL JOINTS). NOW, AFTER 80,000 (30,000 FROM MY LAST REPLACEMENT) MY TIRES ARE SHOWING THE SAME WEAR PATTERN. I'M VERY INTERESTED INTO ANY PROBE RESULTING FROM THE BALL JOINT ISSUE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. *LA

UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS. *LA

REGARDING PE 03032 FRONT SUSPENSION ON DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER TOLD ME AFTER ONLY 30000 MILES ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO THAT MY FRONT SUSPENSION IS WORN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET. I'M DESPERATELY WAITING ON A RECALL AND THE OUTCOME OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. THE CAR IS MAKING NOISE AND IS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. HOW LONG DOES A INVESTIGATION TAKE? *LA

CONSUMER HEARD WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DEALER SERVICED INDICATED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT RELEASED ALL OF THE R-134 A INTO THE ENCLOSED CAB. I WAS EXPOSED TO THE SUBSTANCE FOR QUITE AWHILE BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I FINALLY PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I HAD SEVERE HEADACHES AND NAUSEA FOR A COUPLE DAYS. IF I HAD AN INFANT IN THE VEHICLE, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A DEATH DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *LA

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION: UPPER BALL JOINT: THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND, AND CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE PREMATURELY WORN.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS BURNED OUT AND INOPERABLE. *AK

BOTH SIDES UPPER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AND A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. BOTH FRONT TIRES COULD FALL OFF, AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE.*AK

TIE RODS & BALL JOINTS ALREADY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED.*AK *NLM

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSENSION UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER.*AK THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

I SPECIAL ORDERED TWO 1998 DURANGOS THAT WERE BUILT WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER.BOTH UNITS WERE ORDERED WITH THE OPTIONAL 4 WHEEL ABS SYSTEM. ONE VEHICLE THE ABS SENSORS FAILED, AND THEN WITHIN 90 DAYS THE ABS MODULE FAILED CASUING ERRATIC DRIVING BEHAVIOR. THE MODULE WAS REPLACE AT 93K MILES. THE UNIT HAS 150K ON IT CURRENTLY WITH NO MORE ABS PROBLEMS. THE SECOND DURANGO WITH 63K MILES JUST EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ABS FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE UNIT TO SWAY AND DRIVE IRRATICALLY ESPECIALLY ON TURNS AND WHEN BRAKING. A 5 STAR RATED DODGE DEALER IN THE DC AREA REPLACED THE ABS MODULE AND ACTUATOR (SP) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CARS WERE VERY UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. ABS MODULE REPAIR TO UNIT ONE WAS @$650, THE OTHER DURANGO ABS REPAIRS WERE $1450. CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY TSBS ON THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID SORRY, AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFTEY RELATED REPAIRS BEYOND THE ORINGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD, AND UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. I FIND IT VERY ALARMING THAT 2 TRUCKS BUILT WITH IN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, WITH IDENTICAL MECHANICAL SPECS EXPERIENCE THE SAME SAFTEY RELATED PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN A 2001 DURANGO, AND A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND BOTH OF THESE UNITS WERE ORDERED WITH THE UPGRADE 4-WHEEL ABS BRAKES. MY CONCERN, IS THERE A DESIGN FLAW IN THIS SYSTEM THAT COULD CAUSE HARM TO MY FAMILY IN THESE NEW MODEL TRUCKS, OR IS THIS A COVERED UP PROBLEM ON THE 1998 MODELS. BOTH 1998'S HAD DIFFERENT DRIVERS, MY FATHER (82)AND MY

ABS INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, BRAKES WORK AS THEY SHOULD. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. ONE WEEK LATER, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. DEALER STATED BRAKES WERE WORKING, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING DAY ABS INDICATOR CAME ON FOUR TIMES. DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE COMPUTER. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE BEFORE ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. *SCC *JB

1998 DODGE DURANGO - SUSPENSION - FRONT-CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC 1999. WE WERE ADVISED IN AUG OF THIS YEAR THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AT 65000 MILES ON 98' DODGE DURANGO. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS. *JB

I HAVE REPLACED TWO WINDOW MOTORS AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO REPLACE AS IT IS OUT NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY COMPLAINTS OR CAMPAIGNS ON WINDOW MOTORS ALSO I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FRONT SUSPENSION EITHER THE BALL JOINTS UPPER OR LOWER ARE WEAK OR OUT BUT I HAVE WEAR PROBLEMS ON MY NEW TIRES AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY ONLY BEING A 1998 ARE THERE ANY CAMPAIGNS ON THIS .*JB

MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO' UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED WITH ONLY 59000 MILES. REPLACEMENT COSTS WERE OVER $900. *JB

I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY WHEELS WERE GETTING READY TO FALL OFF AND THE TRUCK WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN AUGUST OF 2003. I BARELY HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES ON IT ARE TERRIBLE. WHEN IT IS RAINING I HYDROPLANE JUST ABOUT EVER TIME I PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW BROKEN. IT STAYS AT ZERO MOST OF THE TIME BUT WILL OCCASIONALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHEN IT LOCKS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHENEVER I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND GO OVER 60 MPH THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL HAS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE DUE TO CORROSION OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THROUGH A INSPECTION THIS PROBLEM WAS SPOTTED. *AK UPPER BALL JOINT GREASE WAS NON EXISTENT AND THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY APPEARED TO BE FAILING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED ALL FOUR UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *PH *JB

1998 DODGE DURANGO: I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AT ONLY 53,000 MILES (FALL 02 AND SUMMER 03). I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF UNDUE TIRE WEAR...THE TIRE DEALER INDICATED THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND HAD TO BE FIXED BEFORE THEY COULD ALIGN MY TIRES. UPON CONTACTING THE DODGE DEALER, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY FIXED IT (OVER $1,200). THE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE.

WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. TOOK TO DODGE DEALERSHIP. NEEDS COMPLETE REAR END REBUILD. $1300-$1500 ESTIMATE. ONLY 63K MILES. APPARENTLY IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT BY DODGE.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME FOR BOTH ABS SENSORS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *SCC *JB