1998 Dodge Durango complaints

FRONT BRAKES (REPLACED 3X'S IN ONE YEAR) KEEP FAILING ON DODGE DURANGO CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT TO SHIFT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES 4 TIMES AND THE REAR TIRES TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JANUARY 2,2000. ALL TIRES WEAR AT AN ANGLE WITH SEVERAL BALD SPOTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES. I ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR FEBRUARY 2003. NOW THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT WORKING. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY 300.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR WHATEVER REASON.

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 98 DURANGO. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND THE VEHICLE HAS 31,000 MILES. THE CURRENT PROBLEM, AND THE ONE FOR WHICH I FILED THE COMPLAINT, DEALS WITH THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS NOT UNCTIONING. THE LEFT REAR WINDOW WENT OUT LAST YEAR. WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WENT OUT, AND THE RIGHT REAR HAS BEGUN TO OPERATE INCONSISTENTLY. AS FOR REPAIRS, A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER SAID THEY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM ARE THE WINDOW REGULATORS. AS TO COST, I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CHRYSLER CORP.(NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER) AS TO WHAT THEY WILL DO TO FIX. MY OWN INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR DURANGO. JUST TODAY CHRYSLER HAS ASKED ME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RE-DIAGNOSED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (AT MY COST). THEY WILL THEN DETERMINE IF AND WHAT THEY WILL DO. HOWEVER, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID HE FELT A TOTAL REPAIR COMPENSATION FOR THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AND SUGGESTED I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I INFORMED HIM OF MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM TO LITTLE AVAIL. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS THE FINAL DECISION MAKER FOR THIS SITUATION, AND IN CASE OF MY DISAGREEMENT WITH HIS DECISION, I HAD NO OTHER RECOURSE THROUGH CHRYSLER CORP. I ALSO HAVE A WORSENING REAR MAIN SEAL OIL LEAK. THE PRELIMINARY REPAIR ESTIMATE IS OVER $1200. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE, I'VE ASKED CHRYSLER TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR COST. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER, BUT FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

1998 DODGE DURANGO FRONT END PROBLEMS. PREMATURE FRONT END WEAR.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS ON THE > CHRYSLER/DODGE PRODUCTS. WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR LOWER BALL JOINTS AT > 77,175 - LOWER BALL JOINTS - 98' DODGE DURANGO > MILES. WHAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED ON THIS TOPIC?

UPON INSPECTION BY THE SERVCE DEPT OF HANSEN(CHRYSLER DEALER IN NASHVILLE, TN.), THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO WERE DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. CHRYSLER CORP WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR. I PERSONALLY PAID THE BILL(($1004.54). *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A SOFT SPORADIC SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CHASSIS. THE DEALERS TECHNICIAN HAD TROUBLE LOCATING THE NOISE BUT EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BALL JOINTS AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER WITHOUT HAVING THE WORK DONE. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS OTHER CONSUMER'S SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. *PH *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE BEARINGS TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT. *AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AT 40000 MILES, PREMATURELY CAUSING TIRES TO ALSO WEAR PREMATURELY. I WAS TOLD THAT BAD BALL JOINTS COULD CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO BREAK OR A WHEEL TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN.*AK

THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON DODGE DURANGOS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AND MADE A HARD TURN IT SOUNDED AS IF HIS TIRES WERE RUBBING. WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELT FUNNY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY DISTANCE. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *NM

CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE CONSUMER SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING AND THE ACID WAS DRIPPING ON THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE FACT THAT THE ACID BURNED THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE. *AK *PH *NM

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

PE 03-032 FRONT SUSP. UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWICE AND THE UPPER REPLACED ONCE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT. *NLM

AT 60,000 MILES VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO LEFT. TOOK TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $700, MAYBE MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHY DO BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, ETC NEED TO BE REPLACED TO ALIGN FRONT END. WHY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT SUCH LOW MILES? THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST IN EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES. *AK

WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED MAKING VEHICLE IMMOBILE, GRINDING NOISE JUST PRIOR WITH TO FAILURE. *LA

BASED ON A TV STORY I HAD THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO CHECKED AND THEY ARE BAD. AT THIS TIME I HAVE NOT HAD THEM FIXED BECAUSE OF COST. THE DURANGO HAS 62000 MILES ON IT.*AK

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO FRONT END WAS POPPING AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AT 51000 MILES. IT GOES INTO THE SHOP TO BE CHECKED DEC.23, WITH ALL THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END THIS MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED. MY WIFE AND I ARE CHEERLEDING SPONSERS AND TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE WITH THE GIRLS.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD TAKEN THE AUTOMOBILE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE/CHECK AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPAIR. THE CONSUMER HAD THEM REPAIRED AT THE TUNE OF $529.00. *AK THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC *JB

WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP TECHNICIAN STATED, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE WORSE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHEN HE LEARNED THE BALL JOINTS WERE NO GOOD. *PH

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SEAT RELEASE FAILURE, WHINING NOISE IN REVERSE, AND KNOCKING SOUNDS WHILE ACCELERATING. MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A LOOSE AND WOBBLY STEERING WHEEL. HE REPLACED UPPER BALL JOINT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM. *PH

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. MY DURANGO HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT AND THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS $1,300.00 . *JB

MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO CONTINUES TO SHOW PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND FRONT. THERE ARE ONLY 57000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE MILES HAVE BEEN EASY MILES, (ALL ON ROAD AND EASY DRIVING). I'VE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BOX, AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS PLUS THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND DRUM. ALL OF THIS HAS COST $550 THE FIRST TIME AND $880 THE SECOND TIME. THIS COST COME IN ADDITION TO REPLACEMENT A HEAD GASKET AND REAR WINDOWS THAT DON'T WORK. *JB

BAD BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO. IT HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. *NLM

DEALER REPLACED RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WHICH INCLUDED LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT WARRANTY, AS RESULT COST $650.00.*AK *PH

I HAVE A 98 DODGE DURANGO THAT HAS TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT END LINKAGES REPLACED. ALL BALL JOINTS, TIERODS, LINKAGES ETC. ENTIRE FRONT WAS LOOSE. SAW NEWSREPORT OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOOK TRUCK IN FOR FREE INSPECTION. NOW, $2000 LATER I HAVE MY TRUCK BACK. DODGE CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. ITS JUST NEWS AND NO RECALL IS DONE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES. *AK

"98 DODGE DURANGO-WHEEL AXLE FAILURE.WHEEL BEARING AND SENSOR REPLACED ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE. WHEEL ABOUT TO FALL OFF! *AK

MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO'S FRONT SUSPENSION REQUIRES REBUILDING AT 72,000 MILES. THE BALL JOINTS ARE ALL WORN, AS IS THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING. VEHICLE WANDERS, ESPECIALLY ON UNEVEN SURFACES. METALLIC NOISES EMANATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER SAYS THERE WILL BE A RECALL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. MEANWHILE I DO NOT CONSIDER THE VEHICLE SAFE! *LA

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: THE VEHICLE TREMBLED TERRIBLY WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *LA *JB

2 INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSIS OF BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. I HAD NOTICED BAD TREAD WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. TWO FACILITIES BOTH DIAGNOSED THE SAME PROBLEM. BALL JOINT FAILURE ON UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS. BOTH RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT WITH LINKAGE. CAR IS A '98 MODEL WITH 58,000 MILES. THANK GOODNESS THE WHEELS HAD NOT COME OFF. *LA

THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED UNEVEN FRONT TIRE TREAD WEAR. UPON THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, THEY NOTICED THAT 3 OUT OF THE 4 BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. *NLM

WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE FAILING. BOTH REAR BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *PH

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. IT COST THE CONSUMER $1,229.OO. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *LA *JB

BALL JOINT EQUIPMENT IS TOO SMALL FOR 1998 DODGE DURANGO. *MR THEY ALSO HAD NO GREASE FITTING FOR LUBRICATION FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY YEAR DURING THE YEARLY INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, AND CRACKED THE TAIL LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DAYTON, MODEL TIMBERLAND, SIZE 31X10-50R15LT, DOT# UNKNOWN. *AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

WHILE COASTING CONSUMER COULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE NOISE. *AK

I OWN A 1998-DODGE DURANGO SLT. LAST JULY 2002 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO AN AREA DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OR THERE COULD BE A NASTY ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I MADE SEVERAL INQUIRES AT OTHER DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY THE SAME THING. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION AFTER I HAD HEARD A LOCAL NEWS STATION GIVE A CONSUMER ALERT ON THE DURANGO. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT AND THAT THE DURANGO WAS NOT BEING RECALLED FOR ANY FACTORY RELATED REPAIRS. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE JOINTS FIXED BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY SINCE SO MANY OTHER DURANGO DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *LA

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND INSPECTOR NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO 45,311 MILES NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND INNER TIE RODS REPLACED. *LA

WE EXPERIENCED HANDLING PROBLEMS WITH OUR 1998 DODGE DURANGO WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY LAST WEEK. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELLY FOR SAFETY REASONS. WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY FELT THEY WORE OUT PREMATURELY CONSIDERING THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE GUY TOLD ME HE COULDN'T COMMENT BUT TO HOLD ON TO MY REPAIR RECEIPT IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL. THIS IS A ONE OWNER VEHICLE WITH 41,000 MILES DRIVEN BY A SOCCER MOM.

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROX 47,000 MILES ALLONG WITH THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS. THESE WERE DIAGNOSED BY 2 DIFFERENT TIRE SHOPS IN BOISE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT NEEDED BALL JOINTS AT LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 27,000 MILES ON IT LAST YEAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT, I DID NOT PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE $1200 REPAIR. WHERE IS THE DODGE TOUGHNESS AND DURABLITY IN THIS. I BELIEVE THESE BALL JOINTS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY DODGE.

1998 DODGE DURANGO. UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINT SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT.*AK

UNSTABLE STEERING OF DODGE DURANGO 1998 DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BALL JOINTS. MECHANIC WHO ASSESSED FAILURE WARNED ME OF POTENTIAL OF AN ACCIDENT AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 55 MPH. *LA

DEFECTIVE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE RING AND PINION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. DODGE DURANGO 1998. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION FOR MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO CORROSION.*AK

BAD FRONT END PARTS ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH OVER 100 K MILES, BUT MY BALL JOINT AND BOTH UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO EARLY FAILURE. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR ON MY TIRES AND MY ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS BAD. THIS HAS COST ME OVER 700 BUCKS.*AK

BALL JOINT AND STEERING BOX FAILURES ON A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 70,000 MILES. *LA

MY 98 DURANGO MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE (FRONT END) EVERY TIME I DRIVE OVER A BUMP. IN ADDITION TO THE NOISE, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING IS ALSO VERY LOOSE. VEHICLE TRACKS WELL, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE/FEW INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. SUSPECT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS. AWAITING OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION FOR REPAIRS. *LA

IN APRIL OF 2000 I HAD TO REPLACE MY LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 98 DODGE DURANGO WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. NOW IN OCT. 2003 WITH 95,000 I'M TOLD MY UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE SEVERELY WORN AND MY LOWER ARE GOING OUT AGAIN.*AK