1998 Dodge Durango complaints

I CAN NOT KEEP TIRES ON FRONT END FROM WEARING UNEVENLY, THEY KEEP CUPPING ON OUTER EDGES. CHRYLER CORP HAS REPLACED MY FRONT TIRES 3 TIMES, LOWER CONTROL ARMS TWICE, & RT. UPPER BALL JOINT ONCE. NOW ALL 4 TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND AND CAUSES A BAD VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ALL CAUSED BY THE SUSPENION PARTS BEING DEFECTED AND CHRYSLER CORP. WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES OR CORRECT THE SITUATION WITH ME.

I STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION TO HAVE THE AIR CHECKED. WHEN HE PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, IT WAS LEAKING MORE. THE TIRE REPAIR STATION TOOK THE TIRE OFF THE RIM AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS SPLITTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. HE SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE....SPLITTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE TIRE IS NO GOOD ANYMORE AND I STILL HAVE A LOT OF TREAD LEFT ON IT. HE TOOK MY SPARE OFF, FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT HAS BEEN HOT AND MELTED THE RUBBER FROM THE EXHAUST. I HAVE SMELLED RUBBER BEFORE BUT THOUGHT THAT WAS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IT HAS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE BEFORE. THE AIR CONDITIONER IS LEAKING FREON AND EVERY FEW MONTHS, I HAVE TO GO HAVE IT FILLED. CAN'T FIND THE LEAK AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4-6 DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR THE PROBLEM. WHEN RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER, MOISTURE RUNS DOWN THE SIDES OF THE DASH VENTS WITH ALL THE WINDOWS CLOSED. THE LAST DEALER I TOOK IT TOOK, TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE LEAK AND BELIEVES IT IS SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH. THEY HAVE BEEN TOO BUSY AND SHORTHANDED TO GET TO IT RIGHT NOW. I HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED TO SEVERAL DEALERS ABOUT THE FLOOR BETWEEN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT. I LAY MY PURSE ON THERE AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN AND PICK MY PURSE UP, THE BOTTOM OF MY PURSE IS REALLY HOT. WHEN I DRIVE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, MY FOOT THAT RUNS THE GAS PEDAL GETS REALLY HOT AND SWOLLEN FROM THE HEAT COMING FROM THE SAME AREA. THE DEALERS HAVE

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND STAYED ON. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT CORRECTLY. *AK THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS TO 100MPH AND FALLS TO 0 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE OVERDRIVE HARNESS IS STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MODULE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MODULE. THE REAR SEAT WOULDN'T FOLD UP. THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. THE RIGHT REAR PANEL CAME LOOSE. MOTOR OIL WAS FOUND IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. *SLC

IN MARCH OF 2000 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING OF A LOOSE FRONT END. THEY TOLD ME THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE THEM REPLACED. I ASKED IF THAT WAS DANGEROUS AND THEY SAID IT WAS. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION. I WENT TO TUFFY AUTO SERVICE IN WALLED LAKE MI, THEY SAID THE DEALER WAS USING A SCARE METHOD TO GET THE WORK DONE. THEY DID INFORM ME THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND THAT IT WAS TOO EARLY FOR THEM TO NEED REPLACING. THEY SAID THAT DURANGOS HAVE HAD ALLOT OF PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS AND THAT DODGE KNOWS IT. I PROCEDED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT TUFFY FOR A MUCH LOWER PRICE THAN THE DEALER WANTED AND WITH A MUCH BETTER AFTER MAKRET PART. THE SHOCKS ON THE CAR WERE ALSO REPLACED AT THAT TIME, ALSO TOO EARLY .

IN JULY I STARTED NOTICING A LOOSE CLUNKY FEELING FROM THE FRONT END. I BROUGHT IT TOO TUFFY AUTO SERVICE IN SAGINAW, MI. THEY SAID THE FRONT(LEFT AND RIGHT) BEARINGS WERE BAD. AND ALSO A LEFT IDLER ARM. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 65,000 MILES. WHAT CAN OR SHOULD I DO.

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT IT WAS IN PARK. VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACK UP. CONSUMER JUMPED INTO THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE BRAKES ON.*AK

RECALL 99V342 000/TANK ATTACHING STRAPS: BEEN WAITING ON DEALER TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE. KEPT ON INFORMING THAT THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN ,HITTING SPEEDS OF 80 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT DID NOT OVERRIDE THE ACCELRATION. CONSUMER THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK ,LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, TURNED IGNTION TO OFF POSITON AND PULLED IT OUT , WHEELS WAS STILL SPINNING FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS AFTERWARDS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT TO PULL OVER AND CUT OFF. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER COULD HEAR CAR ARKING.*AK

IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 40 MPH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINON AND REAR AXLE BEARING AT CONSUMER'S COST. ALSO, DEALER NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE BEARINGS WERE MISSING WHEN REMOVED. *AK *ML

UPPER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARM FAILED. NLM

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AT 30 MPH REAR TIRES BROKE. REAR OF VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN SIDEWAYS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

2 ACCIDENTS,IN LAST YEAR WHERE HITTING BRAKES FAST & HARD FAILED AT 30MPH TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE IMPACTED FRONT END AT 40 MPH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REP. FROM CHRYSLER DOESN'T THINK ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HELP PLEASE>. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED, AND TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER REPAIRED TANK STRAP, BUT UNWILLING TO HONOR BRAKE TUBE. *AK

AIR CONDITIONAL HAS NOT COOLED PROPERLY SINCE WE BOUGHT VEHICLE, DURING SUMMER HOT MONTHS THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO KEEP THE INSIDE COOL AND COMFORTABLE. FIRST TRIP TO DEALERSHIP WAS 5 DAYS FROM TAKING OWNERSHIP, I HAVE BEEN TO 3 DEALERSHIPS OVER THE PAST 1 1/2 YRS AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS. MOST SAY I'M CRAZY. BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED CONSTANTLY NOT ONLY DURING MORNING HOURS. PAD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT 9000 MILES AND DID NOT HELP AND NOW AT 29,000 MILES IT'S EXTREMELY LOUD PAD WERE CHECKED LAST WEEK AND STILL THEY SAY IT'S NORMAL. ENGINE IS PINGING ON ACCELERATION AND HAS SINCE WE BOUGHT VEHICLE, ONCE AGAIN DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL WE HAVE TRIED HIGHER OCTANE FUEL AND ALSO MID TO SUPREME GAS AND IT STILL CONTINUES, I CAN ONLY GET ROUGHLY 280 - 290 MILES TO A TANK OF GAS. WHEN I MET THE DEALER REP HE INFORMED ME TIRES WERE WEARING BADLY AND TO BE SURE WE ROTATE THESE TIRES EVERY 3000 MILES WHICH WE HAVE DONE. TIRES HAVE NOW WORN OUT AND DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT THIS IS NORMAL. SOME HOW THIS DIFFERS IF I HAD NOT ROTATED THEM THEN THEY WOULD HAVE WORN OUT DIFFERENTLY BUT DUE TO THE ROTATING IT'S EVENLY WORN OUT AND NOW THEY WON'T TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED IDLING AND CUT OFF. PULLED OVER AND SAT FOR AWHILE TO COOL OFF, THEN SHIFT INDICATOR JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. WENT TO PUT FOG LIGHTS, AND THEY FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. FOG LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED THREE TIMES, BATTERY AND THROTTLE BODY ALSO REPLACED. *AK *ML

THE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED, THE WINDOW LOCK BUTTON DOESN'T WORK AND THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. NLM

WHILE DRIVING SHOULDER BELTS FOR THE MIDDLE SEATS TIGHTEN AROUND THE OCCUPANT FOR NO REASON. OCCUPANT HAS TO KEEP TAKING THE SEAT BELT OFF TO READJUST IT. VAN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REPORTING 2-YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR ( FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD ). VEHICLE RAN INTO AN OFFICE BUILDING WALL. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WEAR UNEVENLY DUE TO THE BRAKE PAD BEING RUSTED. THIS CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON ICE. ALSO, THERE'S A BAD HOWLING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK *ML

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. NOTICED ROUGH IDLE . DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM EIGHT TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM BOOT ON THE FRONT WHEEL LEAKS OIL ONTO THE BRAKES, DAMAGING THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

LOW BEAMS WOULD GO OUT WHENEVER HIGH BEAMS WERE ACTIVATED. THIS AFFECTED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN A DARK AREA/ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK

WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT VEHICLE MAKES NOISE. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY STEERING RACK. DEALER SAYS STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I FORGOT TO MENTION IN MY LIST OF COMPLAINTS FROM THUR. 02/10/00, ABOUT THE PAINT ON THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE SPOTS THAT HAVE APPEARED ON THE HOOD AND SOME ON THE SIDE . ONE SPOT HAS WHITE SHOWING, THE VEHICLE IS BLACK. THE SPOTS LOOKS LIKE SPLATTERS OR SOME LIKE SPIDER VAINS. WE ASKED THE SERVICE DEPTMENT THE LAST TIME TIT WAS BEING FIXED AT TOMKINSON DODGE WHAT IT WAS OR WHAT CAUSEDIT. THEY SAID IT WAS BIRD DROPPINGS THAT CAUSED IT AND THAT THE COLOR BLACK WILL DO THAT. WE DON'T BELEIVE THIS, BECAUSE OUR VEHICLES HAVE ALWAY BEEN PARKED IN THE SAME AREA AND NONE HAVE EVER DEVELOPED SPOTS FROM BIRD DROPPINGS. I DON'T BELEIVE ANYTHING WAS WRITTEN DOWN ABOUT THIS. WE ASKED A FRIEND,WHO HAS A BODY SHOP WHAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS, WHICH HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE THE CLEAR COAT WAS THAT WAS NOT APPLIED PROPERLY. WE FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE REPAINTED AT NO COST. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

THE PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH THE WINDOWS, GOING DOWN BY ITSELF AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THEM UP WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER (TOMKINSON DODGE) TWICE. THE FIRST TIME , THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT, BUT IT WASN'T. THE SECOND TIME , THE WINDOW WENT DOWN BY ITSELF , WE COULDN'T GET IT UP. REPORTED TO DEALER (TOMKIN DODGE), THEY TOLD US TO TAKE DOOR PANEL OFF AND PULL WINDOW UP UNTIL THEY COULD GET TO IT. THE INSIDE WINDOW CABLE WAS SO BADLESS TWISTED AND TANGLED, IT WAS ABOUT TO BROKE. THEY WORKED ON IT, AGAIN SAYING IT WAS FIXED. WINDOW AGAIN WENT DOWN (I DON'T REMEMBER THE TIME SPAN AFTER BEING "FIXED". SO THIS TIME WE TOOK IT TO EVANS CHRSLER-PLYMOUTH-DDOGE IN KENDALLVILLE TO BE FIXED. THEY REPLACED ALL THE WINDOW REGULATORS, AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS SINCE. THERE WAS A OBJECT RATTLING AROUND IN THE REAR HATCH WHEN CLOSING IT THAT TOMKIN DODGE COULD NOT SEEM TO FIX, BUT EVANS DID. THE VEHICLE ALSO USES A LOT OF OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, WE CHANGETHE OIL EVERY 2000 MILES AND WOULD HAVE TO PUT 3 OR 4 QUARTS IN BETWEEN CHANGES. TOOK IT TO EVANS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON FEB. 7, 2000, IN WHICH THEY REPLACED FOUR GASKETS; INTAKE MANIFOLD PKG.,THROTTLE BODY, THERMOSTAT, CLEANED COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND ALSO REPAIRED THE HOOD HINGES. WE WILL SEE IF THIS TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK FOR A $30,000.00 VECHICLE THAT IT SHOULD HOLD UP BETTER THAN IT HAS. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT. IT SIDES AROUND THEN STOPPING AND TAKING OFF. HAVE NOT HAD THI

THIS PROBLEM CAUSED PREMATURE WEARING OF TIRES (GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT/S 31.00 - 15 STOCK). *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND VEHICLE TILTED TO THE SIDE. CONSUMER GOT OUT, AND THE WHEEL AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS TILTING INWARD, ALL LUGS: STUDS WERE GONE. DEALER IS WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE WHY LUGS: STUDS BROKE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AFTER MAKING A LOUD NOISE. YH

WHILE TRAVELING IN DAMP WEATHER AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SKID. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

ALMOST THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED DUE TO FAILURES OF THE BALL JOINTS. CURRENTLY, I AM WAITING ON DELIVERY OF THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY (WHICH APPARENTLY DODGE HAS UPDATED TWICE NOW). IT HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH AND THE TRUCK IS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *AK

LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT FAILURE @ 55K. MUCH TOO YOUNG TO FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. HEARD REPORTS THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME FOR DURANGO/DAKOTA TRUCKS. *AK

ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 53,000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE

DURING COLD WEATHER, THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILS TO PROVIDE HEAT TO THE FRONT PANEL VENTS. *AK

PASSENGER'S POWER WINDOW ASSEMBLY ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILS TO OPEN WINDOW. *AK

THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS/REGULATORS HAVE FAILED ON ALL 4 WINDOWS REPEATEDLY. REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY HAVE BEEN DONE, HOWEVER AFTER APPROX 2 MONTHS THE WINDOWS FAIL TO GO UP OR DOWN. . ... DURING LOW SPEED BRAKING THE FRONT DISC BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUOUS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS ALL ITEMS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS.

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW ONLY 20 MONTHS AGO AND THE BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED. DEALER ADMITS THAT THAT'S UNUSUAL AND THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST A VERY LONG TIME. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE CAN BE PLACED IN GEAR FROM PARK WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. THIS SITUATION COULD ALLOW UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENT INJURY. *AK

BATTERY SUDDENLY DIED, PREVENTING ENGINE START. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY PRIOR TO INCIDENT, BUT BATTERY TESTED COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED JUMP STARTING AND CHARGING BATTERY WITH NO RESULTS. *AK

SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILS TO OPERATE IN COLD TEMPERATURES (LESS THAN 25 DEGREES). CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE UNTILL DEALERSHIP CAN DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, DUE TO UNRELIABILITY OF SAID SEAT BELT. IF SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO BE SAFELY RESTRAINED IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. YH

THE COOLING FAN, WHEN ENGAGED, REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE AVAILABLE HORSE POWER. THE COOLING FAN, IN NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON COOL SUMMER DAY IN COLORADO, RUNS EXCESSIVELY. THE CHANGE IN AVAILABLE HORSE POWER BETWEEN FAN-ENGAGED AND FAN-DISENGAGED SITUATIONS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT ONE DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED FULLY. THE DIFFERENCE IS SIGNIFICANT AND STRIKING. *AK

ENGINE OVERHEATING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FAN/CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. MJS

ON WET PAVEMENT, APPROACHING STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES NORMALLY, THE BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. ACCIDENTS HAVE NARROWLY BEEN AVOIDED. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT LED TO THE RECENT RECALL OF GM SUV'S AND OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO A DODGE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT, BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK