1998 Dodge Durango complaints

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. ALSO CONTROL ARMS, UPPER ARMS ON BOOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED TWICE SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.*AK REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS WERE ALSO MADE ON VEHICLE. *LA

NOISE BEGAN IN FRONT WHEEL AREA AND GREW VERY LOUD WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES (CAR SHAKES AND PULLS TO RIGHT). TOOK VEHICLE IN TO CHECK IT OUT - HAD TO REPLACEL FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TENSION RODS ENDS. WE HAD TO PAY OVER $2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT, AND CAR STILL DOES NOT STEER PROPERLY. DEALER REPORTED TO US THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE.

UPPER BALL JOINTS SEEM TO FAIL EVERY THREE YEARS OR 36,000 MILE WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. BALL JOINTS DECRIBE AS SO BAD THAT READY TO SEPARATE. IT COST NEARLY $1,200 EACH TIME TO DO THE REAPIRS. I HAD MANY VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS THAT CAN BE GREASED. THESE BALL JOINT CAN NOT BE GREASED SO THE COMSUMER HAS TO PAY AGAIN EVERY FEW YEARS LARGE AMOUNT TO HAVE VEHICLE STAY SAFE.

I HAVE A 98 DODGE DURANGO AND SAW RECENTLY ABOUT BALL JOINT FAILURES, I HAVE HAD BALL JOINTS REPLACED ONCE (40000) AND NOW NEED THEM REPLACED AGAIN (74000 MILES). I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ON THEIR DURANGO'S THAT I HAVE THEM CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I WAS TOLD AT MORE THEN ONE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS ON DURANGO'S, INCLUDING A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE MORE PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM THAN IS REALIZED, ONLY THEY DONT KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. WHY LET THEM FIND THE HARD WAY? I HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF WHEELS FALLING OFF. IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE DODGE IS FORCED INTO A RECALL. ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT IS NOT SO.

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT DOWN IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND IT BROKE WHEN I SAT IN IT AND LEANED BACK IN THE SEAT. I AM A 6'3" MAN THAT ONLY WEIGHTS ABOUT 190 LBS., IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IF ALL I DID WAS LEAN BACK IN THE SEAT....WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A AUTO ACCIDENT?*AK

DEFECTIVE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE REST OF THE DURANGO OWNERS AND FILE A COMPLAINT PERTAINING TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE 1998 DODGE DURANGO UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DODGE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED RIGHT AWAY AND IF NOT DEALT WITH SOON THEY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CHILDREN AND I CARPOOL CHILDREN, SO I TOOK THEM SERIOUSLY. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE DODGE PRICE QUOTE OF $1200 SO I WENT WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP PRICE QUOTE OF $900. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO COME UP WITH IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IN MY OPINION THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 62000 MILES. THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK ON THE DURANGO IS TAXING KIDS AROUND TOWN.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. *AK

BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DURANGO MADE ME LOSE CONTROL OF MY STEERING. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PREVIOUS OWNER HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ONCE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

WE HAVE A 98 DURANGO. IN 2000 DURING THE YEARLY INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE IN THE 3YR WARRANTY WINDOW, THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH FOR COVERAGE BY DODGE. WE WERE LUCKY THIS WAS FOUND ON ROUTINE INSPECTION. *JB

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM. *JB

HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AFTER GOING FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND BEING MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM . I FELT THIS WAS PREMATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE DURANGO'S. *JB

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING AT TURN. *AK

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE NEW BOARD CAST. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF AT ANYTIME IF THEY WON'T REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF IT WAS THE UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK

MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO HAD TO HAVE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AS WELL AS INNER RODS AS I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE CONDITION THEY WERE IN. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS WAS BACK IN 3/02. I JUST HEARD ABOUT OTHER REPORTS REGARDING BALL JOINTS AND I WANTED TO REPORT THIS. I ALSO OWN A 2000 MODEL DURANGO. I'M WONDERING IF IT IS SAFE OR IT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LOT TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON IT AS WELL? THANKS FOR YOU HELP. *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR A REGULAR FRONT ALIGNMENT, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

WITH 40,000 MILES HAD TO INSTALL LOWER BALL JOINTS AND RIGHT SIDE INNER TIRE ROD I INSTALLED LEFT INNER TIE ROD AND UPPER BALL JOINTS WHEN VEHICLE WAS APART, ALSO INSTALLED MONO-MAX KYB SHOCKS FRONT AND REAR AND INSTALL NEW BF GOODRICH TIRES FRONT AND REAR HAD 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE CHECK AND SET ALIGNMENT AND CAN NOT GET VEHICLE TO STOP DRIFTING RIGHT ANDHAS CHOPPED WEAR PATTEN ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAS TO INSTALL NEW THERMOSTAT GASKET. *JB

VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED.*AK

BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO WERE WORN TO THE POINT THAT THEY COULD COME APART WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS LUCKY MY MECHANIC CAUGHT THE SITUATION DURING A INSPECTION AND POSSIBLY SAVED MY LIFE AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE. THE REPAIR COST ME $125 I HAVE SINCE TRADED THE DURANGO ON A NEW TRUCK BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *JB

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END OF MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO SLT 4X4. I RECENTLY HAD IT IN TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TWO OF THE BALL JOINTS COSTING ME CLOSE TO $500. LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AGO I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING AND I BELIEVE IT WAS ON PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL. THERE IS A LOT OF NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AT ALL TIMES. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM I HAD LOOKED LIKE THE WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF WHEN YOU PUT IT IN THE AIR AND MOVED THE WHEEL. *AK

MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE AND NEARLY FELL OFF. THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED IT SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, PROBABLY A DEFECT. IT IS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO.*AK

SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT

I HAVE A 98 DODGE DURANGO AT THE TIME IT HAD LESS THAN 50K MILES WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS WERE BAD BY NTW. I WAS TRYING TO GET MY FRONT END ALIGNED WHEN THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER MCKENNY DODGE THEY SAID THAT THE BALLJOINTS WERE WORN BUT THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END. THEY SAID AT THE TIME THERE NO KNOW BALLJOINT PROBLEMS WITH THE DURANGO.

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE DRIVER CAN HEAR MEDAL SCRAPPING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES ITS THE BALL JOINTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. AND DEALER REPLACED THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY ON BOTH SIDES, AND THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY.*AK DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS AND FRONT HUB. *LA

THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD HUMMING NOISE. TOOK TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAYS THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING JOINT NEEDS REPLACING. CONSUMER SAY," THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF ACCORDING TO THE NEWS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

I JUST WATCHED WITH HORROR, A NEWS ARTICLE ON CBS EVENING NEWS ABOUT THE FRONT WHEEL OF DODGE DURANGOS FALLING OFF. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING HASN'T BEEN DONE ALREADY. I HAVE JUST SENT THIS SAME CONCERN TO DODGE/CHRYSLER. I NOW WON'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO (EXCEPT AT SLOW SPEEDS ON SURFACE STREETS) UNTIL I HEARD SOMETHING DEFINITIVE FROM YOU AND DODGE. DIDN'T OUR COUNTRY, AND FORD AND FIRESTONE JUST GO THROUGH SUCH A TRAGEDY WITH BLOWN TIRES ON FORD EXPLORERS. HOW MANY DEATHS MUST OCCUR BEFORE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? A FRONT WHEEL FALLING OFF MUST BE AS HAZARDOUS AS A BLOWOUT. ON A SEPARATE NOTE, I JUST LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION ON MY VEHICLE, AND FOUND 4 DIFFERENT RECALL NOTICES ON THE 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING RECEIVED ANY OF THESE RECALLS FROM DODGE; AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.*AK

OWNER 1998 DODGE DURANGO, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS TWICE 1ST AT 50,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES, THIS LAST TIME HAD FIRE ON R SIDE OF VEHICLE UNDER CAR. I HAVE A 1,600.00 BILL AT DEALED FOR REPAIRS MOST OF IT FOR BALL JOINTS. I NOTIFIED DAIMLERCHYSLER AFTER THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED. THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO FILE COMPLAINT WITH YOUR AGENCY.*AK

CONSUMER HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL AFTER 3 SETS OF BALL JOINTS MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS WAS ABSURD. HE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER DID NOT CARE. *AK

ALMOST EVERY TIME I GO TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR-SEATS THE SAFETY BELTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THE CHILDREN WIGGLING TO GET INTO THEIR CAR-SEATS. WE MAKE A BIG ISSUE OF OUR CHILDREN BEING PROPERLY INSTALLED INTHEIR CAR-SEATS. WE HAVE READ ALL THE USER MANUALS AND EVEN TAKEN CLASSES TO INSURE WE ARE INSTALLING THEM PROPERLY. NONE OF THIS DOES US ANY GOOD WHEN THE SEAT-BELTS RELEASE SO EASILY. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ALMOST DAILY. WILL IT TAKE ONE OF MY FAMILY BEING INJURED OR EVEN KILLED BEFORE THERE WILL BE SOMETHING DONE. THIS HAS HAPPEND MORE TIMES THAN I COULD EVEN COUNT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK *NM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPERS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *LA

THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT A LOW MILEAGE. *JB *SC

WHEN TRAVELING ON HWY 70 CHICO CA. TO QUINCY CA WHEN SWITCHING HEAD LIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OFF. *JB

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION/UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. MECHANIC DETERMINED UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS OFF CENTER. WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE INDICATOR WAS BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAD ONE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND ANOTHER ONE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1998 DURANGO. AT ABOUT 53K MILES THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND AT ABOUT 95K THE UPPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FIRST REPALACEMENT PARTS WERE FROM DODGE AND THE SECOND SET OF LOWERS WERE REPLACED BY SEARS WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MGR AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND HE HAD A TECH. LOOK AT THE BALL JOINTS AND THEY AGREED THEY WERE BAD. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CONTACTED DODGE VIA EMAIL AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. I FEEL THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 55K MILES. IT IS INTERESTING THAT SEARS GAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY AND DODEGE ONLY IS CONCERNED WITH THE FIRST 36K. TKS RON

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ON ITS OWN AND THE 4X4 SELECTOR WOULD SLIP AND MAKE AN AWFUL NOISE WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. ON 31 JANUARY 2004, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND LEFT MY 2-TODDLERS AND I STRANDED APPROXIMATELY 2-HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. IT IS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. IT IS IRONIC THAT AN OLDER GENTLEMEN HAD ASKED ME IF I HAD PROBLEMS A MONTH EARLIER WITH MY TRANSMISSION. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A COUPLE REPAIR SHOPS (EVEN A TECHNICIAN AT HILIKELLY DODGE IN DAPHNE, AL), ALL OF THEM STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC INFORM THE CONSUMER THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE WORN FRONT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS. *NM

PREMATURE WEARING OF BALL JOINTS ON MY 98 DURANGO. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

TODAY I REPLACE THE 6TH...YES 6TH BALL JOINT IN MY DODGE DURANGO. ONE FELL UNDER WARENTY WHEN I BROUNG IT BACK FOR OTHER WARRENT WORK AND IT WAS FIXED. THAT WAS AROUND 20K MILES. AT AROUND 40K MILES I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR ALL 4 WHEN I ASKED FOR A ALINEMENT. AND TODAY AN ALINE MENT WAS NEEDED FROM HITTING A POT HOLE AND YOU GUESSED IT ANOTHER BALL JOINT HAS GONE BAD IN 12 MONTHS AND 13KMILES. SO MY TRUCK NOW WITH 53K MILES HAVE GONE THREW 6 BALL JOINTS 4 OUT OF POCKET COST AND ONE JUST THE COST OF LABOR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE'S OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

THE CONSUMER SAW A NEWS REPORT ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS ON DODGE DURANGOS AND TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE IN "BAD SHAPE" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NLM *SC *JB

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1998 DODGE, DURANGO. WE HAVE A 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT FOR AND ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WE HAVE NOTICED THE SEAT BELT THAT HOLDS HER SEAT IN HAS BECOME UNLATCHED. IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A GEN3 SEAT BELT AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS LATCH.

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. *PH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT AN UNUSUAL INTERMITTENT NOISE WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE JOINT AREA. (NAR)

THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM