2001 Dodge Durango complaints

UNSTABLE FRONT WHEELS WHEN GOING OVER (PERPENDICULAR) BRIDGE SEAMS AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I.E. THE VEHICLE SHIFTS ABRUPTLY AND VERTUALLY UNCONTROLLABLY AS THE FRONT WHEELS SEEM UNSTABLE. I HAVE TO CONSCIOUSLY PLAN AND BRACE FOR THE ACTION.*AK

I HAVE 35,000 MILES ON MY DURANGO AND HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSION REBUILDS. I HAVE ALSO HAD SHIFT LINKAGE PROBLEMS AFTER THE LAST REBUILD AND THE DEALER PERFORMED THE SHIFTING RECALL IN 2002. ALL TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I AM LOOKING FOR RESOLUTION AND A BUY BACK OF THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND THE OVERALL RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM SEEKING THE LEMON LAW IN MY STATE BUT, I MAY NEED MORE HELP AND PRESSURE.*AK

LOWER BALL JOINT (RT SIDE) FAILED IN A SLOW SPEED TURN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, TIE ROD END FAILURE, AND IMPACT WITH LIGHT POLE.

DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM REPLACED AT 13,802 MILES. BOTH CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 25,700 MILES. HAD TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. *LA

ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT BALL JOINTS ARE NO GOOD. *LA

OIL PRESSURE DROPPED AND THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT RELEASE OIL PUMP SO WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER (THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER??????). THE TOLD US THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. IT COST $6000.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACE. NOW THE ENGINE OVERHEATS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES ABOVE 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. ONE DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW RADIATOR (530.00) AND THE OTHER DEALER (THE ONE WHO DID THE ENGINE WORK) CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ENGINE RPM DROPS AND VEHICLE ALMOST STALLS OUT COMPLETELY FOR A FEW SECONDS (AT LEASE 40 SECONDS OR MORE ON EACH OCCURRENCE) WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATIONS (NO WARNING LIGHTS BEING ON). PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE PULSING (REPPING) THE GAS PEDDLE, ENGINE RUNS NORMALLY AGAIN. ALMOST GOT INTO A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAY!!! *LA

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I JUST TURNED 40,000 MILES. I FELT A SLIGHT PAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER. THEY GAVE ME THE STANDARD ANSWER. "3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES." WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE DURANGO TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *NLM

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE OUT OF GEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY, AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALER WON'T TAKE VEHICLE ANY MORE TO DEALER SINCE HE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE INTEGRATED SEATS. CHILDREN COULD NOT UN LOCK THE LATCHES ON THE SEATS. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WENT BAD ON A STORMY DAY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.*AK

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AT 35MPH AFTER HITTING MINOR CHUCKHOLE. UPON IMPACT WITH CHUCKHOLE, I HEARD LOUD POP AND NOISE UNDER VEHICLE. AGAIN I STRESS THAT THIS WAS A VERY MINOR CHUCKHOLE. THE LEAF SPRING COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE IN SOME MANOR.

2001 DURANGO, 52000.00 MILES HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS AT A COST OF $587.00

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *PH THE SERVICE DEALER (G&G TIRE) WARNED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER LEFT BALL JOINT WAS WORN THEN THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER WHO ACTUALLY REPLACED THE PART. *SCC *JB

BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS TO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THE FASTER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING THE HARDER IT PULLS. *PH *TS

PRIOR TO 30,000 MILES THE 2001 DODGE DURANGO BEGAN TO SHAKE IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES PADS WERE LIKE NEW BUT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND COULD NOT BE CUT DOWN TO STOP THE SHAKE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE HEAT NOT BEING ABLE TO BE RELEASED FROM THE BRAKES IN THE DURANGO. THIS IS OUR SECOND DURANGO AND WE DID NOT EXPERIENCE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST ONE. BY READING ARTICLES AND COMPLAINTS BY OTHER DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA OWNERS, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS REPAIR/SERVICE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM RESIDES WITH DEFECTIVE ROTORS PUT ON THESE VEHICLES AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE UNSAFE NATURE IN WHICH THESE BRAKES SYSTEMS ARE WEARING. *PH

OWNER SAYS THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS A DELAY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

PREMATURE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 2001 DODGE DURANGO AT APPROX 25,000 MILES. I AM A CERTIFIED MASTER SCHOOL BUS TECH AND BECAME AWARE THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION AFTER READING A TRADE MAGAZINE. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS. THANK GOODNESS IT MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE CAUSING ME TO CHECK THE SUSPENSION AND FIND THE PROBLEM. I CAN SEE WHERE THIS FAILURE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE WARNING SIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PROPERLY AND HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. HOWEVER, I FEEL THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BALL JOINTS AND THEY SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR CAUSE OF FAILURE SO A DESIGN / MANUFACTURING UPGRADE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. A RECALL PROBABLY WOULD BE IN ORDER. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN UNFAIR EXPENSE FOR VEHICLE OWNERS WHO'S WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED, BUT A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL.

RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKEN AT REAR EYE WHERE SHACKLE BOLT GOES THROUGH. NO ABUSIVE ACTION WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED BREAKAGE.

CLUNKING, RATTLES AND SQUEAKS FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION DURING SHARP TURNS OR BUMPS. VEHICLE HAS 18,100 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PREMATURE FAILURE AS REFERENCED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE03032.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A PULSATION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *AK ALSO THE BLOWER MOTOR ONLY WORKED ON HIGH. *JB

THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 2001 DURANGO CONSISTENTLY HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER TWO CHANGES ON THE PADS. MY DURANGO ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND I KEEP IT UP TO DATE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURE. THE PAINT JOB ON THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS BRAND NEW HAS FADED NEAR THE FENDER WALLS AND THE DOOR JAMS. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE BUT AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN A VEHICLE; OVERALL APPEARANCE.*AK

THE BRAKES ARE INEFFECTIVE WHEN GOING FROM LIGHT BRAKING TO HEAVY BRAKING FOR A PANIC STOP WITHOUT FULLY RELEASING THE PEDAL FIRST. THE BRAKES WILL NOT GRAB ENOUGH FOR THE ABS TO ENGAGE AND GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE GLAZED OVER, DESPITE FULL BODY WEIGHT ON BREAK PEDAL. THE FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE, THE ROTORS TURNED AND BRAKE FLUID BLEED. THE CONDITION CAN BE REPEATED WITH BOTH COLD AND HOT BRAKES BY SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN FROM 60 MPH TO 40 MPH IN 4-5 SECONDS THEN, WITHOUT RELEASING THE PEDAL, IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPT A FULL STOP. SYMPTOM WAS DEMONSTRATED FOR DODGE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THEY CONTACTED DODGE STAR FOR SUPPORT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO PRESSURE EQUALIZATION IN THE MASTER CYLINDER . I HAVE NOTIFIED DAIMLERCHRYSLER (FILE # 11617536) OF MY CONCERN AND AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO BRING LARGER ATTENTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION. CONSIDERING THIS ENGINEERING DESIGN, HOW SAFE IS THIS 2.5 TON VEHICLE WHEN FULLY LOADED TO 6400 GVWR OR WHEN TOWING?*AK

I HAD TO PREMATURELY REPLACE THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM ON MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY WERE REPLACED. SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A GOOD IDEA THAT I LISTENED TO THE RATTLE AND HAD IT FIXED BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENED. *AK

WE OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO, NO LONGER UNDFER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR SHAKING AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I DO BELIEVE IT IS THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURER GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS TO COMPENSATE THE OWNERS OF THESE PREMATURE WEARING OF THE BALL JOINTS? IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL? ALSO, WHAT RISK AM I TAKING DRIVING THE DURANGO THE WAY IT IS? WE HAVE 3 YEAR OLD SON.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN PULLING VERY HARD RIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD IT COULDN'T BE PERFORMED BECAUSE OF BAD BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 44,000 MILES ON IT AND IT APPEARS THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE BALL JOINTS AS THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.*AK

THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR. *AK. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB

FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS ON A 2001 DODGE DURANGO.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL IN FOUR WHEEL LOW. THIS HAPPENED IN WINTER CAUSING PASSENGER AND I TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH INTO SNOW BANK. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT 4 TIMES, REPLACING SEVERAL PARTS AND DOING A COMPLETE TUNE UP. CHRYSLER HAS SENT A TECH UP TO LOOK AT IT AS WELL. THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER CAN FIGURE THIS OUT NOW THEY ARE CLAIMING IT IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS. WE HAVE TESTED OTHER DODGE DURANGOS AND CHYSLER VEHICLES IN THE SAME PLACE AND NONE OF THEM DO THIS. *AK

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO THAT IS IN E.XCELLENT CONDITION WITH APPROXIMATELY 50K MILES. THE CLOCKSPRING THAT SITS IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO REMAIN ON RENDERING THE AIRBAG USELESS. IT FIRST STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ONLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT BUT HAS PROGESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, TO THE POINT THAT IT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME. *AK

LEASED 2001 DODGE DURANGO. 39K MILES. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD - NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS - "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT CAME ON, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED IMMEDIATELY FROM THE MIDDLE TO BELOW THE "L". WITHIN 30 SECONDS, IT WENT BACK UP TO THE MIDDLE. NO FURTHER EPISODES THAT DAY. NEXT DAY, INTENDED TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED, DROVE LESS THAN 2 MILES, "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT ON AGAIN, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AGAIN DROPPED, THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAME TO STOP, TURNED KEY TO OFF, THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, NO GO. HAD CAR TOWED TO SPTG DODGE, THEY CLAIM ENGINE SEIZED AND THAT THERE IS OIL SLUDGE PRESENT. NEED TO SUPPLY COPIES OF ALL OIL CHANGES IN ORDER TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE OR NOT. SINCE FRIDAY (TODAY IS MONDAY) HAVE FOUND 100'S OF WEB SITES REPORTING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES THAT I HAVE/HAD. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 39K MILES AND IS LESS THAN 3 YRS OLD - WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CHRYSLER/DODGE PRODUCT?*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A WALL. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *AK BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD END FAILED TO CAUSE SUCH ACCIDENT. *TS

WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE WAS A NOISE WHICH CAME FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND RE-TORQUED THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *AK *JB

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN MAIN REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ALTHOUGH THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THE CAUSE HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. ALSO WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, BUT NOT ENGAGED , CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED ON A STRAIGHT WAY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT WITHOUT MOVEMENT FROM THE DRIVER. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HIT A LIGHT POLE. *AK

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WINDOW DOWN I HEARD SQUEAKS WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS, BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THAT MY RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WORN OUT AND NEEDS TO REPLACE BALL JOINT/UPPER CONTROL ARM AND ALIGN FRONT END ($500). MY CAR WAS AT 37000 MI!!! *NLM

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT ONLY 33966 MILES. THE CONSUMER HAD READ OF MANY OTHER DERANGES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER JOINTS BUT NOT THE LOWER JOINTS. *PH *AK *JB

CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THIS INCLUDES BOTH SETS OF UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS.

SEVERE PULSATING OCCURS WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AN 18 WHEELER CAME TOWARD HER LANE. CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKES TO AVOID THE 18 WHEELER AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED AND FLIPPED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL, WHERE THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. PASSENGER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. *AK

PREMATURE FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN AT 39,000 MILES. STEERING COLUMN NOISE NECESSITATED REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN.*AK

NOISE IN FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION OF OUR 2001 DURANGO WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER, FIRST THEY SAID THEY WERE REPLACING TIE-ROD THEN THEY REPLACED THE BALL JOINT. @ WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, CAR MAKING SAME NOISE.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. ALSO INDICATED THAT HE IS AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT DODGE HAS ON THE DURANGOS. *PH

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WORE OUT PEMATURE CAUSING VERY UNSAFE DRIVING--HAD TO REPLACE. *PH

CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE SERVICE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS. FAILURE OF JOINTS MAY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATION.

FAILURE OF UPPER BALL-JOINT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF 2001 DODGE DURANGO.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK