1999 Dodge Durango complaints

WITH ONLY 42,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE SO BAD.*AK

TRUCK UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR, PER DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *PH THE SEVERE WEAR OF UPPER BALL JOINTS WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC. CONSUMER DIDN'T NOTICE THE DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY'RE CONFIRMED THAT CONDITION WAS DANGEROUS. *LA

PURCHSED A 1999 DODGE DURANGO IN FALL OF 1998. WHEN TRUCK WAS TWO YEARS OLD, OIL PRESSURE GUAGE WENT TO ZERO REPEATEDLY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THE OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE WORK DONE. OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS THE GUAGE WOULD INTERMITTENLY GO TO ZERO. HAD OIL PUMP CHECKED. IT WAS DEEMED TO BE OKAY. SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. DURING THE LAST 6 MO.S PROBLEM CONTINUED MORE OFTEN. TOOK TO SHOP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE OIL PRESSURE GUAGE. ON ONE OCCASION, TRUCK ABRUPTLY QUIT WHILE I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL. KIND OF A SCARY EXPERIENCE! THE SHOP REPLACED A FUEL PUMP. ON FEB. 28.2004, TRUCK'S OIL PRESSURE GUAGE WENT TO ZERO, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD, AND TRUCK,S ENGINE QUIT.(WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH.) ENGINE IS HISTORY. MY TRUCK NOW HAS NO TRADE-IN VALUE. AFTER READING ABOUT IDENTICLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE, AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS' WEB SITE, IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT DODGE HAS A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD EVEN RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. I KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER DODGE AND WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD FOR THREE YEARS WITH THIS TRUCK. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, AND VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING IT HIT THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLE BROKE. *AK

I UNDERSTAND FROM MANUFACTURER YOU ARE INVESTIGATING BALL JOINTS IN 1999 DODGE DURANGOS. I JUST REPLACED 2 BALL JOINTS @ 61,600 MILES ! NEVER, EVER, IN 38 YRS. EVER REPLACED BALL JOINTS IN ANY OF MY VEHICLES. I THINK DAMILERCHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL SO WE CAN BE REIMBURSED.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT DEFECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK *NM

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WHICH I USED MAINLY FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK. AT AROUND 70K MILES I NOTICED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND BROOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED I NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALLS JOINTS. THE QUOTE WAS JUST UNDER $1000. I HAD JUST THE UPPER BALL JOIBTS REPLACED. FOR THE TYPE OF USE AND MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE I DON'T CONSIDER THIS ANYWHERE NEAR "NORMAL" WEAR. THERE IS A PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 14 MONTHS LATER AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED I NEED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AGAIN. FOR "NORMAL" WEAR THIS IS GETTING TO BE QUITE EXPENSIVE.*AK

PLAY & SEPARATING OF BALL JOINTS. *AK

HAD MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO SERVICED AND THEY SHOWED ME WHERE ALL FOUR BALLJOINTS ARE FAILING. (THERE IS PLAY WHEN THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY.) THEY STATED THIS IS ANY EARLY FAILURE AND A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS AND A SIMILAR VEHICLE FROM DODGE. FAILURE WHILE DRIVING COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DEATH.

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY. THE WHEEL TURNED AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY PREMATURE WEAR OF THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 59,000 MILES. *AK THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES WERE BADLY WORN TO THE POINT WHERE AN OBJECT COULD HAVE CAUSED A GREAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO GREASE FITTINGS IN ANY OF THE FACTORY BALL JOINT. *SC

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES A VIBRATION WAS FELT THROUGHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. *NM *SC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

POWER DOOR LOCK'S ON REAR DOOR WILL NOT ALLOW PASSINGER'S TO UNLOCK IT MANUALY IT MUST BE UNLOCKED WITH THE SWITCH UP FRONT. *AK

BALL JOINTS AND STEERING KNUCKLE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200 + WITH ONLY 58000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. NOW THE OIL PRESSURE IS FLUCTUATING WILDLY WHICH COULD BE AN INDICATION OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE NOW HAS APPROX 72000 MILES ON IT NOW. *JB

I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL GARAGE TO HAVE CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD MY LU BALL JOINT WAS VERY BAD AND ONE GOOD HIT TO A POT HOLE WAS ALL I NEEDED TO HAVE IT GO. IN 2000 HAD A PROBLEM WITH LOUD CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER HAD REPLACED ALL THE BAD BALL JOINTS EXCEPT THE LU ONE WHICH STILL HAD "SOME PLAY IN IT." NOW I AM BEING CHARGED TO REPLACE THIS ONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS UP. *AK

I JUST HAD $3000 IN TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON MY 99 DODGE DURANGO. NOW YOU DON'T NEED TO DEPRESS BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR NEARLY 4 YEARS AND NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE SO I ASSUME SOMETHING WAS DISCONNECTED DURING REPAIR. WHEN WE CALL REPAIR SHOP THEY SAY BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS NOT A FEATURE ON 99 DURANGO. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHAT CAN BE DONE?*AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT VEHICLE SHIMMIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. *AK *JB

MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 65,000 MILES OF GENTLE ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING HAS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COMPLETELY SHOT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE ONLY SYMPTOM OF ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WAS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE PORTION OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE FRONT END CAN NOT BE ALIGNED UNTIL ABOUT $500 WORTH OF REPAIRS ARE DONE. NO WAY SHOULD BALL JOINTS WEAR OUT AT ABOUT THE SAME PACE THAT TIRES WEAR OUT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY A DESIGN OR MATERIALS DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BALL JOINTS. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR THE RASH OF ACCIDENTS THAT IS SURE TO COME AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE TAKING MEANINGFUL ACTION. AT THE VERY LEAST DODGE DURANGO OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND BE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN PERFORM AN INSPECTION OF FRONT END SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING OUR DURANGO AT NIGHT AND SWITCHING THE LIGHTS FROM BRIGHT TO DIM I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. THE LAST TIME THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, I HAD USED MY BRIGHTS WHILE TAKING COUNTRY ROADS, BUT WHEN I GOT ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY, I-35 MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WENT FROM BRIGHT TO DIM ONCE BEFORE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, THIS LAST TIME WAS SCARY. I HAD BOTH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 30, 2004. THIS IS DEFINATELY A HAZARD AND COULD CERTAINLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND WORKS 35 MILES FROM HOME AND WHILE GETTING ONTO ANOTHER MAJOR HIGHWAY HE HAD THE FRONT BEARING FREEZE AND THE CV JOINT BREAK. HE WAS ONLY GETTING ONTO THE ON RAMP WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THANK GOD HE WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY GOING 60 MPH WHEN IT SNAPPED. I HAD DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE JUST 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING AND HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS MIGHT OCCUR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HEARD SOME NOISE. THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE OF THE DURANGO WAS COVERED IN GREASE FROM THE BEARING. THIS TO ME MEANS THAT IT HAD BEEN MAINTAINED AND THIS WAS A FAULTY PIECE OF METAL. WHILE WE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR WE WERE TOLD WE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FRONT END SUSPENSION. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT THAT OLD AND WE NEED TO HAVE IT REWIRED AND THE FRONT END RE-DONE. I WOULD RATHER PUT MY MONEY INTO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BUT FEEL WE WOULD BE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK IF WE SO

BALL JOINTS ON 1999 DOGE DURANGO. ODAY I AM REPLACING BAD UPPER AND LWOER JOINTS IN MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO FOR THE THIRD TIME. THEY WERE VERY LOOSE. AT SOME POINT SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE WITH THIS ONGOING AND VERY OBVIOUS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT BALL JOINTS SNAPPED, CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE TIRE TO DISCONNECT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK THE BALL JOINTS, NUTS, STRUTS, ROTOR, AND KNUCKLE(S) WERE REPLACED. AN ADDITIONAL TIRE AND CAP WERE PURCHASED FOR THE INSIDE TIRE WEAR AND ALL THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE WEAR REMAINED ABNORMAL. *SC *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WHEELS SHOOK ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS AND THE INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 46,000 MILES. *AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE NO GOOD. *AK

FRONT END WAS MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHEN GOING OFF BUMPS IN THE ROAD. *AK *NM

FOR ALMOST 1 YEAR, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND IN FRONT OF SUV. WHEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY, ASK THE DODGE MECHANIC ABOUT IT, BUT COULD NEVER FIND IT. IN JULY AFTER HEARING ABOUT INVESTIGATION ABOUT FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION, CAUSED BY BALL JOINT WEAR, I WROTE THE DODGE COMPANY AND ASK IF THAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THEIR ANSWER WAS NO. NOW, MY VEHICLE IS IN SHOP, HAVING TO HAVE THE FRONT BALL JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE......I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS THIS OLD....WE ENJOY OUR DURANGO AND HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH IT. WE HAVE HAD WINDOW PROBLEMS, BUT JUST HAD THEM FIXED.....MY WIFE HAS BAD KNEES AND THIS SUV IS THE PERFECT HEIGHT TO GET IN AND OUT COMFORTABLE. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED NOISE WAS DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND LURCH. SHORTLY AFTER, SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM CENTER CONSOLE AND HVAC DUCTS AS ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MANEUVERED ONTO SHOULDER AND STOPPED; BY THEN HEAVY SMOKE WAS POURING FROM CENTER CONSOLE AREA AND HVAC VENTS. DRIVER BAILED OUT AND WATCHED FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS INTERIOR COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION DETERMINED UNDERBODY SOUND DAMPENING MAT HAD BEEN IGNITED BY OVERHEATED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BURNING UNDERBODY MAT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED EXTENSIVE THERMAL DAMAGE TO CENTER CONSOLE, CARPET, AND HVAC DUCTS INSIDE CONSOLE. ROOT CAUSE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING WAS ATTRIBUTED BY DEALER MECHANIC TO POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT CONNECTION OF COIL WIRE, ALLOWING EXCESSIVELY RICH FUEL/AIR MIXTURE TO BE PASSED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOOD YEAR TO PERFORM A FRONT ALIGNMENT. TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND THE CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE OF $1000.00.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. *NM

BLL JOINTS NEEDE TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 60,000 MILES.

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE PURCHASED USED WHEN APPROXIMATELY ONE (1) YEAR OLD, A 1999 DODGE DURANGO, 4-WHEEL DRIVE 5.2L ENGINE, HAS A FAILED POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE SYMPTOM OF FAILURE IS BEST CHARACTERIZED AS AN OVER BOOST. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON ICE, OR IS JACKED, ENGINE RUNNING AND THE STEERING IS TURNED WITH MODERATE FORCE 2 TO THREE INCHES IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROTATION THE STEERING WHEEL WILL CONTINUE TO TURN FOR UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF A REVOLUTION WITHOUT FURTHER INPUT. THE DEFECT IS MORE PRONOUNCED TO THE LEFT, THAN THE RIGHT. SHORTLY BEFORE VEHICLE REACHED THE END OF WARRANTY MILEAGE (36K MILES) VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP (PENSKE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE 4505 WEST 96TH STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46268 PHONE: 317-872-6200). AMONG THE REQUESTED WORK ITEMS WAS THE SLIGHT RESISTANCE (OR POP) JUST RIGHT OF CENTER WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. IN LATE 2003, AFTER THE REPORTS OF BALL JOINT FAILURES ON DODGE DURANGO'S I ELECTED TO CLOSELY INSPECT THE BALL JOINTS AND FOUND SOME WEAR. THE WEAR WAS NOT TO THE DODGE DURANGO MANUAL LIMIT, BUT I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WEAR, AND THE WEAR PATTERN EVIDENT ON THE FRONT TIRES. ALL FOUR (4) BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH MOOG PARTS JUST PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS 2003. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE FOR ALIGNMENT (FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTERS 8583 MICHIGAN RD, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46268 317-876-3983) I WAS ADVISED THE STEERING GEAR WAS SUSPECT OF BEING FAILED DUE TO THE "SLOW ROLL" CONDITION NOTED ABOVE.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS SWAYING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED FRONT BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB

I REPORTED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION THAT I HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND ALSO HAD THE SERVICE TECH INSPECT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE IN GOOD CONDITION, SINCE I HAD SEEN A REPORT ON TV THAT THESE WERE BECOMING A PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE TECH CONFIRMED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE VERY LOOSE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF DODGE WAS GOING TO MAKE THE REPAIR. HE SAID NO, THIS IS A JOB THAT WILL REQUIRE APPROX $600. TO COMPLETE. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOUR OFFICE , TO MAKE RECORD THAT I HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN IT WAS REPORTED TO DODGE, WHICH I SENT A COMPLAINT VIA EMAIL TO THEM AS WELL. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND LUBRICATION ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN PRESENT DOCUMENTATION AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.. I HAVE NEVER , EVER HAD TO REPAIR FRONT BALL JOINTS ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED.. I EXPECT THIS REPAIR TO MADE MY DODGE AND AN UPGRADE TO THE BALL JOINTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM TO MY VEHICLE .. ALTHOUGH MY DURANGO IS DRIVABLE AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME TO HELP ME GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF.*JB

THE BEARINGS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FAILED AS A RESULT OF AN UNKNOWN BANGING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT DIDN'T CHANGE THE CONDITION OF THE TRUCK AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK NO MORE THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. *JB

I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET NEW TIRES AND HAVE STEERING CHECKED OUT. FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS. *LA

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

PURCHASED MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO IN JULY 1999. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP IN LITTLE ROCK AT THE SERVICE INTERVALS THAT CHRYSLER RECOMMENDS IN THEIR SERVICE MANUAL. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DURANGO AT 51,492 MILES WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SAID I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ALONG WITH #7 INJECTOR BEING BAD. SO A NEW PLATINUM GASKET, #7 INJECTOR AND INJECTOR SERVICE WAS DONE AT A COST TO ME OF $814.72. AT 52,085 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AGAIN INTO THE DODGE SERVICE DEPT. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT NOW THE ENGINE COMPUTER IS BAD (PCM213) AND WILL BE REPLACED UNDER DODGE'S 80,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY THINKING AT THIS POINT WAS THAT IF THE COMPUTER WAS GIVING OUT FALSE INFORMATION AT 51,492 MILES THEN PERHAPS MY $814.72 BILL FOR A NEW PLATINUM GASKET WASN'T JUSTIFIED. OF COURSE, THE SERVICE DEPT. ASSURED ME THAT THESE REPAIRS WERE INDEED NECESSARY AT THE TIME. AT 53,628 MILES I GREW CONCERNED ABOUT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS BEING BAD ON MY DURANGO AFTER WATCHING A CBS NEWS REPORT. AS I WAS PLANNING A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS, I HAD THE SERVICE DEPT. EVALUATE THE BALLS JOINTS BEFORE I LEFT, AND SURE ENOUGH, MY DURANGO NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND A RIGHT TIE ROD. BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SO DANGEROUS I WAS INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO TAKE ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION ON MY TRIP. NEW PART

THE DRIVER HAD PROBLEMS STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM. *NM *SC *JB

WHEN DRIVING, BRAKING OR GOING OVER BUMPS, THE BALL JOINTS WOULD MAKE A POPPING NOISE. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, INCLUDING BALL JOINTS. *AK (UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS) *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 33,000 AND NEEDS TO REPLACED AGAIN AT 59,000. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED PARTIALLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED FULLY, AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER RECEIVED HEAD INJURY'S AND BROKEN LEGS. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB

WE HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR 1999 DODGE DURANGO. WE HAVE HAD THE PCM GO IN 2003, LUCKILY MY WIFE DID RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL AND IT WAS COVERED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS ARE BLOWN AND NOW OUR DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED US THAT WE NEED TO SPEND $5100.00 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL PUMP IS BLOWN. THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE IF MY WIFE ATTEMPTS TO DRIVE THE DURANGO. THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THREAD HERE SINCE MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT ARE THE SAME COMPLAINTS WE HAVE. *LA

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, UPPER ARM, RIGHT INNER TIE ROD, AND ALL SWAY BAR BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AT 56,880 MILES. COST WAS OVER $1400.00. THE SQUEAKING NOISE INDICATING THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN NOTED SINCE 30,000 MILES BUT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME SO THE DURANGO WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF REPAIR.

I HAD TO REPLACE ALL BALL JOINTS ON A 1999 DURANGO THAT HAD ONLY 73,000. MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAID HE SEES THIS FREQUENTLY ON DURANGOS. HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS USUALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. TH HUB AND THE BEARING ONE ONE SIDE HAD TO BE REPLCED ALSO. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WHEEL POSSIBLY COULD HAVE COME OFF HAD I NOT SPOTTED THE PROBLEM AND HAD IT FIXED. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY COMPLAINTS SIMILIAR TO THIS, SO I DECIDED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.*AK

PURCHASED DURANGO IN MAY 02,AND PERFORMED REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT.ON 11/20/02 MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON OUR WAY TO MICHIGAN AND THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0,THE MOTOR STARTED TO KNOCK.WE WERE ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE,(WITH 5 CHILDREN),AND HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW.THIS WAS ODD WITH ONLY 46300 MILES ON THE MOTOR.LUCKILY WE WERE NEXT TO AN EXIT,WE PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE CHRYSLER GARAGE,THEY SAID DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER YOUR OIL PUMP IS MORE THAN LIKELY BAD.THE GARAGE TOLD US THAT THERE HAD BEEN SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE MOTOR WHICH CLOGGED THE PICKUP TUBE WHICH MADE PUMP FAIL,ALL DO TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE.THE OIL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND GOT THE VEHICLE BACK ON 1/9/03 AT THE PRICE OF $350.90.THE VEHICLE STIL HAD A TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE LIFTERS AND IT WOULD GO AWAY.IN OCTOBER 2003,MY SISTER AND I WERE PACKING THE CAR TO GO TO MY AUNTS FUNERAL 250 MILES FROM HOME,I STARTED THE CAR TO GO, WE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO 0,SO WE CALLED THE GARAGE AGAIN.THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN THEY WILL REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD 55626 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR FROM LACK OF MAINTENANCE.THEY TOLD US THEY FLUSH THE MOTOR WITH CLEAN OIL OVER AND OVER FOR TWO DAYS TO REMOVE ANY SLUDGE,FIXED MY CAR FREE OF CHAR