1998 Dodge Durango complaints

THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, AND IDLER ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 38,000 MILES WERE SEVERELY WORN AS IDENTIFIED DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. I WAS FORCED TO REPAIR THESE ITEMS SO TO PREVENT A FAILURE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I CONTACTED DODGE REGARDING THIS DEFECT YET THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DURANGO AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN JAN 2003 ON MY 1998 DODGE DURRANGO.*AK

WE HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED DUE TO WHAT DEALER SHAID WAS UNUSUAL WEAR. VEHICLE HAD 84,000 MILES. *AK

THE FRONT END OF MY DURANGO HAS HAD OVER 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK, AND HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED (TWICE). TIE ROD ENDS,CONTROL ARM,AND FRONT SHOCKS HAVE HAD TO ALL BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT (DRAMTICALLY) ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING, AND HAS ALWAYS DONE SO, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM, THE LAST REPLACEMENT WAS DONE APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO.*AK

EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL PLAY; REQURING EARLY REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS INCLUDING, TIE RODS, STEERING ARM LINKAGES, STEERING GEAR, ETC.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO THAT NEEDS BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS TO B EREPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 60,000 MILES.*AK

I NOTICED A HEAVY "THUMP" FROM THE FRONT END WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON WASHBOARD PAVEMENT OR WHEN GOING OVER CURBS ENTERING DRIVEWAYS. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS (AND INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT) ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 48,000 MILES. THE TRUCK HAS RECEIVED REGULAR SERVICE AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS AND IS DRIVEN ONLY IN A SUBURBAN (SMOOTH, PAVED ROAD) OR INTERSTATE SETTING. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS IS ~$900. THE DEALER, KOLLER DODGE IN NAPERVILLE, IL, DID NOT DETECT THIS PROBLEM WHEN REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS 5 WEEKS AGO.*AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF LOWER BALL JOINTS IN 1998 DODGE DURANGO. NEW ONES INSTALLED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP.*AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 62,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE LOW MILEAGE FOR SUCH REPAIRS. ALSO, THE DEALER INDICATED THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE WEARING AS WELL AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THEM BUT THEY POSED NO IMMEDIATE DANGER BUT THEY SUGGESTED THE TIE ROD ENDS MAY FAIL SOON. REPAIRS WERE GUOTED IN EXCESS OF $1200.00! THIS SEEMS TO BE LOW MILEAGE FOR THESE REPAIRS AS WELL. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON FILE IT WOULD SEEM TO BE PRUDENT TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION, ALL COMPONENTS, ON THE DURANGOS. AND TO ISSUE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THOSE REPAIRS ALREADY COMPLETED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND THE DEALER NOTICED THAT UPPER CONTRO ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICE D AND WHILE TRAVELING MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS FRONT END WAS MAKING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO RUST. ALSO, IDLER ARM WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE FIXES CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

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

UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS AND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE DUE TO BEING TOTALLY WORN OUT AND FRONT TIRES WHERE WORN BALD ON THE INSIDE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS ALSO NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE, SITS IN BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE WHILE IN DRIVE POSITION, TRANSMISSION WILL HANG IN FIRST GEAR OR SLIP WHEN ACCELARATING CAUSING HIGH RPMS, HAVE MAINLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE IS LOW ON GAS, AS STRANGE AS THAT MAY BE. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LEAKING A CLEAR LIQUID ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATION.

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO THAT HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS AND FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. THIS NOT ONLY WAS A COSTLY EXPENDITURE BUT ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS THAT DID THE JOB AN UNHEARD OF REPLACEMENT JOB AT SUCH LOW MILES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE I WAS HAVING TO DO THIS, SINCE I WAS NOT A LARGE WOMAN. I AM INTERESTED TO HEAR HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN MY PREDICTAMENT.

OUR 1998 DODGE DURANGO HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS VECHILE. AFTER EXPERIENCING WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN A ADDITION, THE INNER TIE ROD ALSO REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. I HAVE THE RECEIPT DESCRIBING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AND THE COST.

ALL FOUR POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT IN 2001. TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING AT A HIGHER RPM. IT DOES NOT SHIFT UNTIL 3800 TO 4500. THIS ACCURED AT 58000 MILES JUNE 4.

CONSUMER HAS STATED THAT SINCE SHE HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE ALL LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE. AT THIS TIME, ALL UPPER BALL JOINTS AND CV BOOTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *AK

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS 3 TIMES IN 70,000 MILES. ONCE AT 38,000, THEN AT 53,000, THEN AT 66,000 MILES. I SAW THE NEWS ARTICLE ON TV ABOUT THIS SO I DECIDED TO REPORT IT. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF DURANGOS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

EXTENSIVE SUSPENSION REPAIRS THAT SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED. I OWN A FORD, F150 WITH 160000 MILES WITH NON OF THE FOLLOWING WORK DONE TO IT, SO I DIDN'T EXPECT THE SUSPENSION OF THE DURANGO TO NEED THE FOLLOWING WORK.*AK AT 65000 MILES (9/28/00) LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 130000 MILES (7/10/03) BOTH TIROD ENDS AND REAR STABILIZERS REPLACED AND UPPER LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT REPLACED.

WE HAD NOTICED THAT THE TRANMISSION WAS ACTING VERY SLUGGISH. DESPITE HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED, OUR LOCAL SHOP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WHILE ON OUR WAY TO FLORIDA, JUST OUTSIDE OF BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR, DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, WE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSFER CASE BLEW UP AND BOTH DRIVESHAFTS BROKE. WE WERE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, OR HAVING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT US, DESPITE THE BLACK COUD OF TRANSFER CASE FLUID TRAILING BEHIND US. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE SERVICE - TO THE TUNE OF $ 2,600.00. WE HAD 95,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND WERE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BY CHRYSLER. IN FACT, NOT EVEN AN OFFER TO ASSIST US WITH THE RENTAL CARS WE WERE FORCED TO TAKE.

1998 DODGE DURANGO AT APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE WORN OUT UPPER BALL JOINTS THAT THEY INSISTED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT SIGNIFICANT COST) AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DODGE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE "WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS" AND NOT IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. NOW AT 47,000 MILES WITH THE NEWS OF THE POSSIBLE DEFECT AND FAILURE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE BUT NOT SURE IF I SHOULD SPEND THE SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER SAYS IS "WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS" AND DOES NOT NEED REPLACEMENT.

SUSPENSION, DRIVE TRAIN, AND FRONT BALL JOINTS BAD - 1989, DODGE, DURANGO. *AK

I HAVE BEEN READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE DODGE DURANGO AFTER HEARING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FIXING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED. MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, WOULD STAY ON FOR AWHILE, THEN GO OUT. WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT ON THE COMPUTER, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING FROM 0 TO 60 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, A SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO SPENT ALMOST $1000 REPLACING BRAKES, ETC. BECAUSE MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY ONLY IN A PARKING LOT, AND THE CALIPERS, BRAKES, ROTORS, ETC. HAD TO BE REPLACED. I JUST REPLACED MY TIRES BECAUSE OF SEVERE CUPPING. THESE TIRES WERE NOT THAT OLD AND THIS CONDITION WOULD CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO HYDROPLANE IN WET WEATHER AND SHUDDER GOING 50 MPH AND OVER. I ALSO EXPERIENCE THAT SAME SHUDDER WHEN THE BACK WINDOWS ARE OPEN AND THE FRONT WINDOWS CLOSED. THE WHOLE VEHICLE VIBRATES TERRIBLY, UNLESS YOU CRACK THE FRONT WINDOWS ALSO.

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO, I AM ON MY SECOND SET OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUBS ALSO. MY DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS ON ANY OTHER CAR THAT I'VE OWNED!*AK

RETURNING HOME FROM A BUSINESS TRIP, THE DURANGO STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, THEN QUIT WITHIN SECONDS OF THE ORIGINAL NOISE, WITH A LOUD CLUNK. THE "CHECK ENGINE GUAGES" LIGHT DID NOT COME ON PRIOR TO THE LOUD NOISE. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND FORTUNATELY THE ENGINE QUIT NEXT TO A VEHICLE TURNOUT. IF THE ENGINE FAILURE HAD OCCURED A FEW SECONDS EARLIER, OR A FEW SECONDS LATER, MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER, AND I WOULD HAVE ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AT RISK OF HITTING MY STALLED VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC FOUND A USED ENGINE AND INSTALLED IT. NEW INSTALLED ENGINE RAN QUITE WELL FOR ABOUT 300 MILES. THIS TIME, THE FAILURE WAS FORWARNED BY A "CHECK ENGINE GUAGES" LIGHT AND BELL. CHECKING THE GUAGES, I FOUND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY - OIL PRESSURE AND TEMP WERE OK. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE SECOND BELL AS WELL. THE THIRD BELL, AND I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF DUE TO THE OIL PRESSURE GUAGE FALLING TO ZERO. TOWING THE DURANGO TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, HE ADVISED THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE OIL PUMP, BUT ADVISED ME THAT METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL PUMP SCREEN, AND THAT FURTHER DAMAGE WAS PROBBABLE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE PUMP CHANGED, AND DRIVE IT TO HIS SHOP FOR INSPECTION - A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES. THE DURANGO MADE IT 15 MILES BEFORE QUITTING. THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS ENGINE CREATES A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE. IF THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT THINK A RECALL NECESSAR

MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS. IT NEEDS UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS TIE ROD ENDS.

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT. BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 52264 K MILES, 5/17/01 AND AGAIN AT 89387 K MILES ON 02/07/03. ALSO REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 89387 K MILES ON 02/07/03.*AK

I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I TOO HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FOR MY 1998 DURANGO. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM AFTER I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR 60,000 MILE SERVICE. I NOTICED A SOFT SUSPENSION AND UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR RESULTING FROM PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BALL JOINTS.*AK

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH APPROX. 91,000 MILES. LAST YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN IT REACHED HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55 MPH). THIS MONTH I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED 4 NEW TIRES, BUT THE SERVICE STATION COULD NOT DO AN ALIGNMENT ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD GONE BAD.*AK

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE INTO THE SPINDLE WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT AND SPARKS TO RUPTURE FRONT BRAKE LINE AND CAUSE A FIRE.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER AND TECHNICIAN STATED HAS TO REPLACE LOWER PASSENGER BALL JOINT, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 020498 ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

THE REAR SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM FELL APART IN THE CONSUMER'S HAND.*MR *TS *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; CRACKED LEFT CYLINDER HEAD AT 40,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; CLAIMS TO NOT KNOW WHY HEAD CRACKED. EXACTLY 40,000 MILES LATER, LEFT CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AGAIN. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR; CAR IS 3 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALER STILL CAN'T GIVE REASON FOR CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE. OTHER MECHANICS/DEALERS BELIEVE CYLINDER HEADS FAIL DUE TO FAULTY CASTING. *NLM THERE WAS A SCRAPING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND INTERNAL DAMAGE IN THE CLOCKSPRING AND REPLACED THE UNIT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC

THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC *JB

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 22,000 MILES. ALL FOUR FRONT END BALL JOINTS ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA MODELS. WHILE THE WORN BALL JOINTS HAVE NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN MY CASE YET, THEY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED PREMATURELY AT A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO ME FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW. I REITERATE THAT MY WORN BALL JOINTS HAVE NOT YET CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I AM OBSERVANT ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE CLICKING SOUND THEY MAKE AND TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BEFORE THEY DO CAUSE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES RECENTLY OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE WHO HAVE HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. *NLM

TRANSMISSION: I BOUGHT A 1998 DURANGO IN 2001 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS HORRIBLY AND MAY TIMES THE TRUCK WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL ONCE I REACH 30 MPH AND THE RPMS RED LINE ALMOST EVERY TIME. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY SHOT AND I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WILL BE A MINIMUM OF 2,000.00. NO TRANSMISSIONS COULD BE FOUND AT JUNK YARDS BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BAD TRANSMISSIONS. *NLM

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR DOUBLE SHIFTS AS YOU ARE LEAVING ANY STOPPED POSITION. WHILE AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND YOU PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR THE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK GREAT. BUT THEN WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND PROCEED AT A NORMAL PACE THE TRANS JUST SLIPS OR DOUBLE SHIFTS AND JERKS YOU AROUND. THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ON OTHER SITES THAT CHRYSLER HAS BOUGHT BACK SOME OF THE DURANGO'S. I CURRENTLY HAVE A 1998 MODEL. 5.2 AUTOMATIC 4X4.

FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. $178 TO REPLACE/REPAIR. MY VEHICLE APPARENTLY NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL OF 216,000 VEHICLES. CLOCK SPRING FAILURE RESULTS IN FAILURE OF AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. I GUESS I'M EXTREMELY LUCKY I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A LIFE-ALTERING ACCIDENT. *NLM REFER TO RECALL # 01V153000. PER INVOICE, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THERE WERE RATTLES UPON ACCELERATION, THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND #5 CYLINDER MISFIRE AND REMOVED THE #5 SPARK PLUG AND VIEWED SIGNS OF COOLANT ON THE SPARK PLUG. (RECOMMENDED REMOVAL OF THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD FOR FURTHER INSPECTION/CONSUMER DECLINED) THERE WAS ALSO A SCRAPING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED, THE CLOCKSPRING WAS FOUND FAULTY DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE, THE CLOCKSPRING UNIT WAS REPLACED. *SCC

DEFECTIVE SEATBELT: THE LOCKING SEATBELT MECHANISM ON MY DOGE DURANGO FELL APART IN MY HANDS. I CONTACTED DOGE WHO TOLD ME THE CAR WAS TOO OLD (98) AND TOO MANY MILES (60,000) THEY SUGGESTED I BUY A NEW DOGE VEHICLE.

THE FAN ON MY DURANGO CAME OFF THE WATER PUMP AND DESTROYED THE FAN SHROUD THE RADIATOR, THE IDLER PULLEY THE BELT AND THE WATER PUMP SHAFT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE FAN CAN OFF AND IT COST ME $855.31 TO FIX I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A WAY TO RECOUP THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS TO MY DURANGO. *NLM

I HAVE INTERMITTENTLY NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELTS GOING THROUGH MY TWO DAUGHTERS' SAFETY SEATS HAVE MYSTERIOUSLY BECOME UNCLIPPED. IT HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DRIVING TIME. I HAVE NOT NOTICED THEM BECOMING UNCLIPPED AT THE SAME TIME. IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THAT THIS MAYBE A PROBLEM UNTIL I SAW THE NEWS REPORT ON WPVI-CHANNEL 6 IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT INCIDENT DATES. I DO RECALL AT LEAST TWO INCIDENTS WHEN TAKING MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE ONE OF THE SEATS HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED. I THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL, BUT NEVER REPORTED THE INCIDENT. *NLM

OIL PRESSURE DROPPING....DEALER TOLD US THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE GAUGE...NOT TO WORRY. THE ENGINE SEIZED UP THAT EVENING....WE WERE SLIGHTLY OVER THE MILEAGE ON THE WARRANTY SO WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED.....WE HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT AND THE LINES CLEANED OUT (OIL WAS SLUDGE....LOTS OF METAL SHAVINGS) AND WHEN THE PRESSURE STARTED DROPPING (ABOUT 10000 MILES) AGAIN WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE.......AGAIN THERE WAS LOTS OF SLUDGE AND METAL SHAVINGS......WE HAD THE OIL PUMP REPLACED AND THE DURANGO FUNCTIONED FOR A SHORT TIME AND IS NOW IN THE SHOP AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.......THE MECHANIC FEELS LIKE IT HAS SPUN A MAIN BEARING AND THAT IS THE CAUSE FOR THE METAL SHAVINGS THAT KEEP OCCURRING......THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE ENGINES IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL VEHICLE.... *JB

1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH GEN 3 SAFETY BELTS. *JB

1998 DODGE DURANGO TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, CAUSING RPM TO FLY PAST 3500, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ENTER HIGHWAYS, 3 TIMES I NEARLY HAD A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE TRUCK WILL NOT ACCELERATE INTO 3RD GEAR. THE DURANGO TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG OWNERS, AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.*JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE CLOCK SPRING AS STATED IN RECALL 01 V 153 000, BUT VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES. SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO FAILURE WERE HESITATION SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN TRUCK WAS INITIALLY STARTED. *NLM

THIS TROUBLE MIMICS DOZENS AND DOZENS OF THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE READ ABOUT ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES, INCLUDING THIS ONE CONCERNING 1998-99 5.2 V8 DODGE DURANGO'S. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WILL GO TO ZERO. TRUCK IS TURNED OFF AND OIL CHECKED, CONFIRMING CORRECT OIL LEVEL. UPON RESTARTING OF TRUCK THE PRESSURE RETURNS TO NORMAL. WHEN THE PRESSURE GAUGE BOTTOMS OUT THE VALVES WILL BEGIN TO TAP SHORTLY AFTER IF THE TRUCK IS NOT IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES WITHIN 2 DAYS AND HAS SINCE BEEN TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC. PER A CONVERSATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THEY DO NOT WISH TO GET INVOLVED AS THEY ARE NOT A DODGE DEALER. I NEED SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE; JUDGING BY ALL THE OTHER REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM MY ENGINE IS DUE TO FAIL AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT!!! *NLM

1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH ONLY 59200 MILES ON IT WHICH NOW NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. (HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE OVER DRIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS BAD) THIS, FORTUNATELY, HAS NOT CAUSED ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT BUT AFTER HEARING ALL THE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THE DURANGO'S, MY WIFE AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THE NEVER ENDING PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRUCKS - BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET SERIOUSLY INJURED! *JB