1999 Dodge Durango complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE SO BAD THAT THE WHEELS IN FRONT WERE VERY CLOSE TO COMING OFF. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

1999 DODGE DURANGO. THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT WHEEL HUBS ON THE NON ABS AND NOT 4 WHEEL DRIVE DURANGO IS A PROBLEM. THE NUT IS TIGHTEND CLOCKWISE BUT THE WHEEL SPINS COUNTER CLOCKWISE. THIS WILL CAUSE THE NUT TO UNSCREW ITSELF WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE WHEEL FALLING OFF. LUCKLY I CAUGHT IT JUST BEFORE THE WHEEL WAS GOING TO UNSCREW ITSELF OFF. IT WAS WITHIN 2 TURNS OF HAVING THE NUT COME OFF WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *AK

THE TIE ROD SEPERATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO TURN COMPLETELY SIDEWAYS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERS AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS STILL UNDETERMINED. *MR

OIL CONSUMPTION WAS IN EXCESS AFTER OIL CHANGE. CHANGED OIL AND CHECKED IT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES AND FOUND IT WAS A QUART LOW. WATCHED IT CLOSE AND IT WAS CONSUMING OIL FAST. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL/GASKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE DURANGO, HE DID ONE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS! EVEN THE DEALER MECHANICS SAYS THEY SAW THIS QUIET OFTEN. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE SEALS WERE MADE OUT OF A PAPER LIKE MATERIAL BUT NOW USED METAL TYPE SO THE PROBLEM WILL NOT RECUR! THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WHEN I SEARCHED ON LINE. THE COST IS $675.00 + TAX. I FEEL I SHOULD BE HELPED WITH THIS KNOW ENGINEERING DEFECT. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR! *JB

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING AN ODD NOISE WHILE TURNING CORNERS. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE NOISE INSPECTED. WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS (BOTH) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND BADLY. IN FACT THE TECHNICIAN WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SAID AND I QUOTE,"I WOULD NOT PUT MY CHILDREN BACK IN THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS FIXED." THE FOLLOWING DAY I SAW A REPORT ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE DODGE DURANGO'S. MY PROBLEM WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS THAT THERE WERE ONLY 123 COMPLAINTS ABOUT ANOTHER DODGE VEHICLE THAT WAS A HAZARD TO DRIVERS AND THEY RECALLED THEM BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 400 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP. I SPENT QUITE A BIT LESS THAN AVERAGE HAVING MINE REPLACED, IN FACT MY TOTAL COST WAS $515.50 AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE AVERAGE IS AROUND $1700.00. I ALSO KNOW THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS BRAGGING THAT THEY MADE $3.5 BILLION IN SALES LAST YEAR. THEY CAN AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *NM

WITH 60,000 MILE ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO HAD MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS GO BAD WHICH ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY TIE ROD ENDS. THE TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET THEM REPLACED BY AN OUTSIDE REPAIR SHOP TO AVOID HAVING THE SAME TYPE INSTALLED. DODGE WOULD NOT COVER THESE PARTS ON MY WARRANTY WHICH IS IN EFFECT TILL 85,000 MILES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER MY 1999 DURANGO, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FELL FROM IT'S HOUSING, SO I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP, COTTMAN. THE SHOP INFORMED ME OF THE FOLLOWING, THE YOKE AND THE BOLT THAT RETAINED THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE TRANSFER CASE HAD BROKEN OFF SOME HOW, DUE TO THIS OCCURRENCE, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DAMAGED, BECAUSE ALL OF THE OIL LEAKED OUT. ALSO IN 2003, HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACE AND, ALSO THE ENGINE HEAD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING TO MUCH OIL AND DAMAGE THE HEADS.*JB

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON FRONT BOTH SIDES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC THAT FIXED THEM SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY THE WHEELS HADN'T FELL OFF. I FIXED IT AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF $319.10. *JB

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SAFETY INSPECTION STATION. DURING THE INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, AND REPLACED THEM. *AK *MR

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED CUPPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES. *JB

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION, UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE ). *NM *LA

AFTER THE CONSUMER HEARD ABOUT THE FAULTY BALLS JOINTS ON DODGE DURANGO'S SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK UP. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. FOR SAFETY REASONS THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY TO A TUNE OF $900.00 DOLLARS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM *LA

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OF THE BRAKES. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *MR

CONSUMER REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS TWICE. ALSO, WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THEY PULSATED. ROTORS, PADS, CALIPERS, AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.*AK LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *LA

WHILE TURNING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT FRAME. *AK THE FOLLOWING PARTS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE: UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, AND BUSHINGS. *MR

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. . *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO WORN PARTS. *AK *SC

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, BACKING UP OR TURNING THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT. *AK *SC

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE ON THE VERGE OF FALLING OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS FRONT END ALIGNMENTS WHICH DID NOT HELP THE TIRE WEAR. *SC THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AS WELL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. DEALER RECOMMENDED NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

PLENUM GASKET FAILURE WHICH LED TO OIL FLOW RESTRICTION THAT CAUSED SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK

PCM WAS FOUND TO BE BAD. THIS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING W/O WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST 6+ MONTHS. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON THE LAST STALL OCASSION 3/24/04, A MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM A BAD PCM, THIS WAS FURTHER CONFIRMED BY ME VISITING DODGETALK.COM, OTHERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE PCM IS ON BACKORDER IT SEEMS THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND FOR THIS PART. I KNOW DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. THIS WAS JUST DANGEROUS, IT WAS THROUGH THE GRAVE OF GOD THAT ON THE 7 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS THAT THE STALLING OCCURRED THAT I NOR ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED. STALLING IS NOT AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION, MORE LIKE JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 75,000 MILES. *AK

I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO INCLUDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS TWICE. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT DEVELOPEMENTS AND COMPLAINTS BY OTHER DODGE OWNERS I FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH YOU AS DOCUMENTATION FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THESE PARTS. *AK

FAILURE OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, HUB ASSEMBLY AND DRIVE AXLE. *LA

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER BUMPS CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

REPEATED FAILURE OF LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT+ 4X4.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKY NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. MECHANIC AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY DURANGO LOST CONTROL FOR NO REASON ON A SUUNY, CLOUDLESS DAY 4-24-01. I WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT AND IT SUDDENLY WENT RIGHT THROWING ME INTO A GUARD RAIL AND DOWN A BLUFF, BREAKING MY BACK. AFTER WATCHING CBS NEWS TWO WEEKS AGO, I REALIZED IT WAS SUSPENSION FAILURE COMPLAINED ABOUT BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT END VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

I AM WRITING TO DOCUMENT THE FRONT-END REPAIRS MADE TO MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN 2003. I AM ASKING THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER REIMBURSE ME IN FULL FOR THESE EXPENSES. THESE REPAIRS WERE NECESSARY DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR, WHICH HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED DESIGN DEFECT IN NUMEROUS OTHER DODGE DURANGOS OF THE MODEL YEARS 1998  2000. FRONT-END REPAIRS PERFORMED IN 2003 TO MY DODGE DURANGO: REPLACEMENT OF UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS$769.1804/09/2003 REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT & LEFT FRONT HUB BEARINGS$1,092.4409/20/2003 REPLACEMENT OF FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY$983.8511/06/2003 TOTAL FRONT-END REPAIR COSTS INCURRED:$2,845.47

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO, I HAD ALOT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDER-CARRIAGE OF MY VEHICLE, THEY CHECKED IT OVER AND HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS.THEY HAD WORN OUT PREMATURELY, COSTING ME A LARGE AMOUNT OF UNNECESSARY SPENT MONEY. THESE VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLES SHOULD BE BUILT BETTER THAN THIS AND LAST LONGER FOR THE MONEY THEY COST.ONE THING WRONG CAN LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO ANYMORE PROBLEMS, I STILL HAVE ALOT OF PAYMENTS TO MAKE, OH AND BY THE WAY, THE GAS MILEAGE IS HORRIBLE,BIGGER FULL SIZE VEHICLES GET BETTER MILEAGE THAN THE MID-SIZED DODGE DURANGO GETS AND THE HEATER IN THE DODGE DURANGO IS NOT BUILT FOR THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VENTING IS TOO SMALL, I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT AT THE GARAGE ALSO, COMPARED TO THE DIAMETER OF THE VENT IN THE CHEVY OR FORD, I AM VERY UN-SATISFIED WITH MY DODGE DURANGO---- I KNOW NOW, LOOKS ISN'T ANYTHING, AND MY NEXT VEHICLE WILL BE A CHEVY/GMC !!!!!!

BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT WE RECENTLY HAD THE BALL JOINTS CHECKED AFTER WATCHING INFORMATION ON TV ABOUT THE ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY FAILING BALL JOINTS ON DURANGO'S AND OTHER DODGE TRUCKS. IN OUR CASE, WE INSPECTED THE PARTS WITH THE AUTO TECHNICIAN (SOMEONE WE KNOW VERY WELL). AT THAT TIME, WE SAW AND WERE ADVISED STRONGLY TO REPLACE THE EQUIPMENT. SINCE YOUNGER DRIVERS IN OUR FAMILY SOMETIMES USE THIS VEHICLE, WE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AT OUR FINANCIAL EXPENSE. WE REALIZE THAT IT WAS OUR CHOICE BUT WE ARE MORE AT EASE WITH THE USE OF THE VEHICLE. PEACE OF MIND IS BETTER THAN TAKING THE CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT. *NM

CONSUMER LEARNED THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND A FRAME BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *PH

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK *SC *JB

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ON 2 OCCASIONS THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE REPAIRS. *SC

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR BALL JOINT REPAIR. *PH CONSUMER FOUND OUT AFTER BEING INFORMED BY A TELEVISION PROGRAM ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE WEARING OF THE BALL JOINTS ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES WHICH WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE CONSUMER. *LA

CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS DEFECT THEY EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR VEHICLE COULD CAUSE INJURY OF DEATH. *PH *MR

DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 83,000 MILES AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED SLUDGE BUILT UP IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES. IMMEDIATELY UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICHLE I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LARGE POPING AND DRAGGING SOUND WHEN TURNING OR PERFORMING A U-TURN. RECENTLY I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND MY CAR NEARLY LOST CONTROL AND FELT AS IF IT WOULD TIP OVER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO CERRITOS DODGE AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICHLES UPPER AND LOWER, RIGHT AND LEFT BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY SHOT. ALL WERE REPLACED. I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE POPPING AND DRAGGING SOUNDS. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICHLE, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE (ALL FOUR) TIRES 3 TIMES, OBTAIN 3 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, CHANGE THE BATTERY (WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES) REPAIR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (BRAKE LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF), AND REPAIR DOOR/HATCH LOCKS (UNABLE TO LOCK AND MAKE LOUD BUZZING AND CLICKING SOUND). *AK

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN, AND ARE EXCESSIVELY WEARING OUR BRAND NEW SET OF TIRES. WE ARE VERY UPSET THAT DODGE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY ISSUES BEFORE, THE INTAKE GASKET, THE ABS SENSOR, THE SEAL ON REAR AXLE, A SEAT BELT THAT WOULDN'T WORK, AND NOW THIS. VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE AS A WHOLE.*AK

UPPER LOWER BALL JOINTS, BOTH SIDES REPAIRED ONCE WITH VEHICLE HAVING UNDER 32,000 MILES ON IT AT DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. RIGHT SIDE REPAIRED AGAIN AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 49,000, UPON FAILURE OF SAFETY INSPECTION. LEFT ONE WOULD SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED ALSO. *JB

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THE NEED TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

WHILE STANDING ON TOP OF THE TAILGATE THE CABLES BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TAILGATE CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1999 DODGE DURANGO HAD WORN BALL JOINTS AND STEERING END LINKS. WAS MAKING A POPPING SOUND EVERTIME I TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT SQUEEKED WHEN I WENT OVER BUMPS. *AK