1999 Dodge Durango complaints

WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK PERFORMED ON OUR CAR, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS ON OUR '99 DURANGO ARE "DANGEROUSLY" WORN OUT. THE REPAIR FACILITY MENTIONED THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED ON ALL DURANGOS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THEIR SHOP AND THAT SUCH PREMATURE WEAR IS NOT COMMON.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINT WEAR PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE GONE BAD ON OUR 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 68000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND HAVE HEARD OF 4 COMPLETE FAILURES INVOLVING THE WHEELS COMING OFF. UPON LEARING THIS I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER DURANGOS ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NOTICED THE SAME TIRE WEAR PATTERN AS OURS.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 54,000 MILES THAT IS ALREADY NEEDING NEW FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A GARAGE MECHANIC WHO IS NOT CONNECTED TO DODGE. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE LOCAL DODGE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO CHECKED THE BALL JOINTS, I WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND THAT A NEW IDLER ARM WAS NEEDED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND SHOCKS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I'M CONCERNED THAT I AM DRIVING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT FRONT WHEELS WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF DUE TO BALL JOINTS BEING WORN OUT.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE RESULTING IN A SEVERE MIS-ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END. *PH

DEALER REPLACED AT 37000 MILES BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS AND CHARGED $1000. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILURE. VEHICLE WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE BALL JOINT ARE HANGING OUT, PER INSPECTOR. *PH

WITH ONLY 89,000 MILES - ALL FRONT END BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *PH

CONSUMER STATED TECHNICIAN NOTICED INNER TIE ROD AND UPPER BALL JOINT WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

CONSUMER STATES STEERING LEAKAGE AND BALL JOINT BECAME LOOSE AND VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO LEFT. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2002. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD 49,000 MILES ON IT. THE COST WAS OVER $900.00. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, AT 62,000 MILES THE UPPER BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD ENDS AND BRAKES AND ROTORS NEED REPLACED. *PH

CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD.*AK

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE 1ST TIME WAS ONLY 1 YEAR AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (NEW). NOW 3 YEARS LATER, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO, UPPER AND LOWER BALLS JOINTS HAVE WORN PREMATURELY.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR BRAKE SERVICING. DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED PREMATURE WEARING OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND REPLACED.

HAD TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINT ON 1999 DODGE DURANGO DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. WORK WAS COMPLETED BY LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER. COST WAS $380.00

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLYM 42,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD. THE REPAIR FACILITY I TOOK IT TO SAID THEY HAVE REPAIRED A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS ON DURANGOS. THIS IS OVER A $700.00 REPAIR. I THINK DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM.

WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS ON A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 43,270 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE SAFTEY HAZARD THAT THEY POSSES BEING WORN. WE WERE TOLD THAT IF THEY WEREN'T REPLACED, EVENTUALLY, THE TIRE COULD FALL OFF WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT. WE SPOKE TO TWO DIFFERENT DODGE DEALER SERVICE WRITERS AND BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE VEHICLES.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

I OWN A 1999 DURANGO AND WAS TOLD THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ( LEFT & RIGHT ) ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN OUT AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF TIRE WEAR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $1,400 TO REPAIR. THIS SUV ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS NEVER TAKEN OFF-ROAD. I AM NOW AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO A FEW OWNERS. I HAVE BEEN TELLING EVERY DURANGO OWNER I SEE ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ( MANY ALREADY HAVE HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED ) AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO COMPLAIN TO THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, CONSUMER SUDDENLY HEARD A BIG BOOM, THEN SMOKE STARTED TO POUR OUT OF THE REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER STATES THAT TRANSFER CASE BLEW UP. *AK

ON 7/28/03 I HAD THE TIRES REPLACES ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND HAVE IT REALIGNED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE DUE TO THE LOOSENESS OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT. I HAD THE DOCUMENTED INFORMATION TO GIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT UNTIL A RECALL WAS ISSUED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OR RIDE AROUND UNTIL THE WHEELS FELL OFF. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND WISH THAT THIS SITUATION WOULD BE HANDLED IN THE QUICKEST MANNER.*AK

BALL JOINTS HAVE WORN ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO. AN $850 REPAIR WAS NECESSARY. AT ONLY 75K THIS KIND OF MAJOR REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. A GENTLEMAN AT THE TIRE DEALER WHERE I HAD MY TIRES REPLACED INDICATED HE SEES PROBLEMS WITH THESE DURANGOS ALL OF THE TIME. ALL OF THE PROBLEMS HE SEES ARE RELATED TO WORN BALL JOINTS. *AK

I JUST READ AN ARTICLE IN THE WSJ ABOUT REPORTED FAILURES OF THE BALL JOINS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IN MAY, 2003, I TOOK MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO IN BECAUSE IT WAS SHAKING SEVERELY IN THE FRONT TIRE AREA. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT. IT WAS REPLACED BY MAC'S AUTO II IN BRIGHTON, NY.*AK

WE OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH 81,000. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 1998. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO, OUR MECHANIC SAID, THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE GOING BAD (PREMATURELY), BUT THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO WAIT A FEW MONTHS BEFORE FIXING THEM. JUST RECENTLY WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON 1998-2000 DURANGO UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE REPORTS SAY THERE WERE 4 ACCIDENTS AND 81 COMPLAINTS, WE ARE WRITING TO ADD TO THE COMPLAINT NUMBER. PLEASE NOTIFY US IF THERE IS A RECALL. THANKS.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION. MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER COULD NOT PERFORM ALIGNMENT UNTIL ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO BEING EXCESSIVELY WORN. ALSO, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BALL JOINT FAILURE HAS CAUSED THE GEAR BOX TO LEAK.*AK

I READ ABOUT THIS IN THE NEWSPAPER, CALLED DODGE, AND FOUND OUT TEH NTSB WAS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM.I PURCHASED A 1999 DODGE DURANGO IN FEBRUARY OF 2000, AND IT HAD 45,109 MILES ON IT. BEFORE I TOOK POSSESSION THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS (NOT SURE IF IT WAS UPPER/LOWER OR BOTH). THEN IN DECEMBER OF 2001 I WAS TOLD THEY WERE BAD, AND IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THEY (FOREST LAKE DODGE) REPLACED UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES, BOTH TIE ROD ENDS, AND ALIGNED IT. THE TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $1,772.63. *AK I NOW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STABILIZER BAR WHICH HAS COME APART ON THE DRIVERS SIDE; THIS FITTING IS LIKE A BALL JOINT. ALSO, I THINK THE FRONT END IS GETTIG BAD AGAIN.

I SEE THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL ON DODGE DURANGO'S 1998-2003 FOR A FAILURE OF AN UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION.*AK OUT OF THE BLUE ON MY LAST INSPECTION, I HAD AN UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACED WITH NO MENTION TO WHAT WAS WRONG, AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR.

THE VEHICLE DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE GARAGE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN ALOT OF THIS. HE PUT THE VEHICLE UP ON THE RACK AND SHOWED ME HOW EASILY THE SUSPENSION COULD BE MOVED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD ,AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON ROAD, NOT OFF ROAD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE $900 I WAS QUOTED TO FIX IT.*AK

BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING AFTER 45,000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING CORNERS HEARED A "CLUNKING" NOISE, AND EXPERIENCED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE, AND REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, INNER SWAY BAR AND BUSHINGS.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR TIRE ALIGNMENT. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER COULD NOT SERVICE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BALL JOINTS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING UP A STEEP INCLINE WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILES BEFORE IT WAS SAFE TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, ALL THE ENGINE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO "BLOW UP".*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED AT OIL CHANGE WITH DEALER AT 52000. THEY SAID THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $1700! I ASKED WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURENCE ON DURANGOS. I ASKED WHY AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS WOULD NEED TYO BE DONE BUT IT WAS NOT URGENT BECAUSE IT WAN'T A SAFETY ISSUE.PROBLEM AGAIN IDENTIFIED BY DEALER AT 56000 OIL CHANGE. I HAD THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED BY A PRIVATE SHOP. I TOLD THEM I WANTED THIS FRONT SUSPENSION WORK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A FRONT SUSPENSION FAIL AT ONLY 57K! THEY LOOKED AT IT AND DETERMINED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT HTE CONTROL ARMS WERE OK AND COULD BE REUSED. THIS DEFECT ALSO COST ME 2 TIRES AS THE SUSPENSIONS FAILURE CAUSED MY TWO FRONT TIRES TO 'CUP'. DATE OF INCIDENT IS THE DATE OF THE REPAIR: 6/21/03 . *AK

1999 DURANGO 4X4UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT AT ~25K, 50K, AND 7500 MILES.LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT AT ~5000 MILES.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT 4WD WITH 49000. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE I HAD IT CHECKED AND DETERMINED IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPLACED THIS. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MEINEKE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AND THE MANAGER ADVISED ME THE BRAKES HAD 70% OF THE PAD LEFT BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. HE RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAD MEINEKE REPLACE THE BALL JOINT. I WROTE THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED HIM OF WHAT HAD OCCURED TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHY I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM WAS NOT MENTIONED. I SAW A GREATER DANGER IN THE FRONT WHEEL FALLING OFF THAN THE BRAKES NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE AS EFFECTIVELY. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY REGARDING THIS ISSUE.*AK

IN SEPTEMBER 2002 MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO FAILED INSPECTION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT AND LEFT AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS, AT A SIGNIFICANT OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE TO ME. ($1013.60 PARTS AND LABOR) THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD AND IS REGULARLY WELL MAINTAINED. I AM AWARE OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE AGENCY AS REPORTED IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER NEWSPAPER. I DID NOT FIND ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS SITE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IF THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD A RECALL ISSUED TO ALLOW FOR COST- FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE OWNERS. THANK YOU.*AK

I READ A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REGARDING BALL JOINTS ON THE 1998-2003 DODGE DURANGOS. I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND I HAD THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 54,000 MILES (THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD). I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION THAT THEY WERE READY TO SNAP. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD OCCUR AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAD ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS THAT ARE ABLE TO BE LUBED. IT SEEMS THAT THE DEFECTIVE DODGE BALL JOINTS ARE ENCLOSED AND CAN NOT BE LUBED.*AK

NON ACCIDENT....REFERRING TO AN ARTICLE IN THE PERU TRIBUNE, PERU, INDIANA 7/22/2003 REGARDING DODGE DURANGO FAILURE OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WE OWN A 1998 DURANGO AND IN 1999 HAD THE JOINTS REPLACED AND THEY ARE NOW AGAIN IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT IN 2003.*AK

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING AND WAS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED SPINNING AROUND IN MY HANDS, A BOLT ABOUT 3-4 INCHES HAD WORKED IT'S WAY OUT OF THE LINKAGE. I APPLIED MY BRAKES, BUT THE TRUCK WAS COMING DOWN A HILL AND I ENDED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF A 20 FOOT CULVERT. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE DIDN'T ROLL, OR I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. WE HAD WORK DONE ON IT 6 MONTHS AFTER WE LEASED IT (DEC, 1999) AND WERE TOLD THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX THE HEATER--AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THEY HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF DOING ANY SUCH WORK AND EVEN TRIED TO TELL ME THAT WE HAD NOT LEASED THE VEHICLE FROM THEM, THEY NEVER HAD THAT VIN# IN THEIR SYSTEM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED IT AND TOLD ME THAT OVER TIME, THE VIBRATION MADE THE BOLT FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

AFTER ABOUT 54,000 MILES I WAS INFORMED BY THREE DIFFERENT PLACES THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE EXTREMELY BAD. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THESE BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT BE WEARING OUT THIS SOON. SO, ENDED UP PAYING $1300 AND SOME CHANGE TO GET THIS FIXED. THIS OCCURED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS AND SAW THAT THEIR IS GOING TO BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME.

WHEN I PUSHASED MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO THE BRAKES WAS NOSIY...TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER.THEY CHARGED ME $90.00 TO DO A BRAKE SERVICE.AFTER THE BRAKES WAS USED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEY STARTED MAKING NOSIE AGAIN...TOOK IT BACK AND DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE PADS AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WELL AFTER THAT I WAS FED UP WITH THEM AND TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES.(STOPPED THE NOSIE) AND ALSO FOUND OUT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WAS BAD ALONG WITH THE SHOCKS...SO THEY WAS REPLACED COSTING ME $1,300.00. SO MUCH FOR THE EXTENDED WARENTIES THAT I PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE..THE DEALER ALSO CHARGED ME FOR FLIUD AFTER TWO SENSORS WENT OUT THAT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION..WICH THE WARENTY WAS TO COVER THE DRIVE TRAIN..THIS VEHICLE IS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO 4X4....NEW TIRES HAD TO BE PURCHASED BECAUSE OF BALL JOINTS WAS BAD CAUSEING TIRES TO WEAR WRONG