2002 Dodge Durango complaints

BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE FAILING AND THE ENTIRE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 44,700 MILES. *AK

WE OPERATE A FLEET OF NINE 2002 DODGE DURANGO SUVS. THESE VEHICLES ARE USED AS PARAMEDIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES. BASED ON INFORMATION WE'VE SEEN IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WE'VE BEEN PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SPECIFICALLY THE BALL JOINTS. EIGHT OF THE NINE VEHICLES CURRENTLY HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS ON ONE OF THE NINE (AT JUST UNDER 50,000 MILES). THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WAS "CLOSE TO FAILURE."*AK

2002 DODGE DURANGO: BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 18,000 MILES. DEALER INITIALLY REFUSED REPAIR CITING "NO PROBLEM FOUND". I HAD TO PROVE THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE BY JACKING THE VEHICLE AND DEMONSTRATING EXCESSIVE PLAY BY MOVING THE WHEEL THAT WAS OFF THE GROUND. ONLY THEN DID THE DEALER ADMIT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THEM. YOU NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE MORE DURANGO OWNERS OUT HERE WITH DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. IN MY OPINION, THEY SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES+, NOT 18,000.*AK

THE ABS SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. THE "CYCLE" TIME IS VERY LONG BETWEEN BRAKE APPLICATION ON A DRY ROAD. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKES APPLIED. HAVE HAD TO STEER SHARPLY TO AVOID OTHER CARS, CAN NOT RELY ON THE BRAKES TO SOP EVERY TIME. *LA

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE DURANGO IN JUNE 2002. MY DURANGO STARTED SQUEAKING AND POPPING AT ABOUT 17,000 MILES. I HAVE COMPLAINED OF SQUEAKING AND POPPING IN THE FRONT-END. EVERY TIME IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, THEY NEVER FOUND ANYTHING WRONG AND SAID THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE SQUEAKING NOISE, BUT AS SOON AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT THERE IT WAS AS SURE AS IT WAS WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. I WOULD TELL THEM THAT THEY NEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO HEAR IT SQUEAK. MY DURANGO GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRONT-END FELT LIKE I HAD EVERY LITTLE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION IT FELT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT WOULD ALSO SQUEAK WITHOUT EVEN DRIVING IT. ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD SQUEAK. ON OCTOBER 2, 2003 I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL TO UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AT THAT TIME THEY DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

ELECTRONIC CONTROLS OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT DO NOT FUNTION PROPERLY. TURN SIGNALS,LIGHTS,CRUISE. GAUGES,WINDOWS,RADIO,AIRBAG ETC.. ALL HAVE MALFUNTIONED SINCE THE CAR WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE VEHICLE BUT DODDGE/CHRYSLER IS UN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE .THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I HAVE NUMEROUS WITNESSES AND HAVE STARTED VIDEO RECORDING THE PROBLEMS.

SINCE I PURHCASED MY 2002 DURANGO SLT IN MARCH OF 2002. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE AIR CONDITIONING HAD TO BE REPAIRED TWICE ALONG WITH THE LUMBAR. OUR TRUCK BREAKS DOWN ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. WE HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS IN SHAMBLES. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE HAD TO PAY THE 853.80, BECAUSE DAIMLER CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY. THE TRUCK IS A YEAR 1/2 OLD THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND YET I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER 3 AND 1/2 YEARS. THIS IS A $30K TRUCK. IT'S DEFINATELY NOT WORTH IT. WILL NEVER PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE TO BUY.

2002 DODGE DURANGO. *JB

TWO MONTHS AGO, A NEW FRAME WAS INSTALLED ON MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO. ON SEPT. 14, 2003 MY DAUGHTER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 26 COMING TO MY HOME. SHE SAID THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND SHE HIT THE CONCRETE WALL AND ENDED UP IN THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE. THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE AXLE LOOKS LIKE IT BROKE. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND YET WHICH HAS THE STUDS, HUB ETC. *JB

PURCHASED DURANGO NEW JAN 2002 IN KENTUCKY. WITHIN 6 MONTHS DODGE RECALLED IT TO REPLACE WHOLE BACK AXLE ASSEMBLY (DODGE STATED IT WAS TOO SMALL FOR DURANGO). SINCE OWNING, WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES, AND THE VEHICLE BARELY MOVES (DEALER STATED COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM). IN ALASKA THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN GOING FROM WARM GARAGE INTO COLD OUTDOORS, STAYS ON FOR A WEEK (DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG). LOUD POUNDING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING ABOVE 40 MPH WITH BACK WINDOWS DOWN. DURANGO HAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AND BACK SEAT SHOWS CONSIDERABLE WEAR WHERE SEAT BELT LATCH CONTACTS SEAT (POOR DESIGN/PLACEMENT OF LATCH). *PH

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND SOON DISCOVERED THERE WAS FIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AN INVESTOR DID INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND RULED THE FIRE WAS UNSUSTAINABLE AND THEY WOULD FIX EVERYTHING. *PH. ACCORDING TO THE PAPER WORK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. *JB

2002 DODGE DURANGO PREMATURE BALL JOINT WEARING AND UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP ABS BRAKES FAILED AND PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO STOP. AS RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A MARGINAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON MY 2002 DODGE DURRANGO HAVE PUT ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION DURRING A RED LIGHT ,AT STOPS ON DIRT ROADS THE REAR WHEELS LOCK LIKE THE FRONT BRAKES AREN'T WORKING AND IT LOOKS LIKE A CRACKED WELD ON THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET ON THE LEFT FRONT. DODGE SAY'S NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEY WON'T FIX IT ,I HAVE A PREGNANT WIFE AND 4 KIDS WHO RIDE IN THIS SUV AND I CAN'T GET DODGE TO FIX IT, OH AND THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE ON IT TO ,ROAD WALKS.*AK

HAD A CAR LENGTH & 1/2 IN FRONT OF ME, I DO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE WITH THE CAR NOT STOPPING. APPLIED BRAKES NORMALLY, CAR SLOWED & PULLED TO THE RIGHT BUT WOULD NOT STOP. APPLIED BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET - LITERALLY LIFTED MYSELF UP ON THE SEAT DURING APPLYING OF BRAKES & STILL WOULD NOT STOP. REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT.*AK

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINT. DEALER STATED WE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALL, AND CAR WAS FINE. *AK

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

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DURING A RAIN STORM, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, THE LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. HE EVEN GOT LOCKED OUT AND OUR CHILD LOCKED INSIDE. *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SHE DRIVES TRUCK IT FEELS FUNNY, IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING ALSO FEELS FUNNY. IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE THAT WHEN SHE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS TAKEN TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC KEPT TELLING HER THAT THAT FEELING WAS NORMAL, BUT SHE KNEW DIFFERENTLY, AND DID NOT THINK SO.*AK

HAD AN ACCIDENT TWO MONTHS AGO. CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HIT CONCRETE DIVIDER. CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AT THAT MOMENT. CAR TOTALED.*AK

WHEN APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE AND NOT A SUDDEN STOP, IT KEPT ON ROLLING NEARLY REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT AN INCH FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. IT SEEMS LIKE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. *AK

HAD TO HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS/CONTROL ARMS & LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO SXT 4X4 UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO FAILING PA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD 27K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE VEH NOW HAS 40K ON IT & I'M EXPERIENCING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRT END AGAIN. A PRIVATE SHOP STATED THAT THE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE EXCESIVE MOVEMENT & MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEH BACK TO THE DEALER & THEYE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THEM UNDER WARRANTY AGAIN DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THIS VEH IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD WITH 40,000 ALL HWY MILEAGE & WAS NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY OPINION & A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE BALL JOINT DOES SEPARATE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, RIGHT HUBS AND BEARINGS. EA03-023

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

LOSES OF CONTROL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT END SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

MAIN SUPPORT BRACKET ON FRONT FRAME OF VEHICLE WAS ONLY PARTLY WELDED FROM FACTORY. THIS HELD THE SUPPORT SUSPENSION ON VEHICLE. BEFORE IT BROKE I DID REPORT POSSIBLE FRONT END PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN OUT OF TOWN ON MAY 7 03. IT IS STILL BROKE. THEY SAID IT NEED A BRAND NEW FRAME FROM FACTORY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY PUT 2500 MILES ON VEHICLE SINCE I HAD IT. 2002 DURANGO. I FEEL THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES OUT THERE LIKE THIS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER COLLISION. BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY BELTS DID NOT LOCK OR RETRACT, RESULTING IN OCCUPANTS SUSTAINING SERIOUS INJURIES.*AK

WHEN HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, NOT QUICK ENOUGH TO NORMALLY CAUSE SKIDDING, THE ANTI LOCK BREAKS WILL ENGAGE AND NOT RELEASE CAUSING AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKS ENGAGE, THE BREAK PEDDLE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL. WE HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE HAD TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS HAVE ROLLED THROUGH A FEW RED LIGHTS. EACH TIME THE DEALER DOES NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACED AND ADJUSTED THE REAR BREAKS ONCE WHICH DID SEEM TO HELP HAVING THE ANTI LOCK BREAKS ENGAGE SO EASILY. TODAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND WE HAD TO SWERVE ONTO THE CURB TO AVOID REAR ENDING A VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKEN RIM ON THE VEHICLE. *NLM

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN HAVING TO STOP WHEN SOMEONE STOPS IN FRONT OF YOU AND PUT ON YOUR BRAKES ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HAVE NO BRAKES. MY HUSBAND HAS ALREADY HAD 1 WRECK AND I HAVE ALMOST HAD 3. LAST FRIDAY WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK A TRUCK PULLING A UTILITY TRAILER SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKES, WHEN I DID THEY WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND SINCE I WASN'T REAL CLOSE I FINALLY DID STOP ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE UTILITY TRAILER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I PUT MY BRAKES ON I PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AND HOLD IT. BUT THERE ARE NO BRAKES, IT TRIES TO BRAKE BUT THE PEDAL JUST KEEPS ON GOING TO THE FLOOR.I NOTICED AFTERWARD THAT THE BRAKES SEEM TO READUST THEMSELVES. TOOK VEHICLE TO ALEXANDER DODGE AND THEY LOOKED A BRAKES BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE THIS TIME I ALMOST DID NOT GET STOPPED. *AK

WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. NLM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ENGINE RACED AND REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

FOR A 2002 DODGE DURANGO, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOORS BY THEMSELVES AND KEPT REPEATING THE PROCESS EVERY TEN OR TWENTY SECONDS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. EVEN WHEN THE ONE HOUR CAR RIDE WAS FINISHED AND THE KEY REMOVED, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS CONTINUED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE CAR FOR THE NIGHT. THE BATTERIES FROM THE REMOTE ACCESS DEVICES WERE REMOVED, BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVEN ONE DAY LATER, THE DOOR LOCKS CONTINUE TO INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. *NLM

ONLY 14,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW REPLACING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION ON MY NEW 2002 DODGE DURANGO THANK GOODNESS WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE 1999 MODEL WE OWNED ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WE HAD NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN THIS WAS NOTICED. *NLM

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK-BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM UNIT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

DODGE, DURANGO, 2002 MANUFACTURER'S RECALL A08. DEALER CHANGED THE ENTIRE REAR END SUSPENSION. WHICH WAS MISSING FROM THE NHTSA DATA BASE. *AK *JB

NEEDED TO DO A HARD STOP. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SEEMED SLOW TO ENGAGE, DIS-ENGAGE, AND RE-ENGAGE DURING WHICH THE CAR WOULD ROLL. BASICALLY, THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE, THEN DISENGAGE, AND BEFORE THEY WOULD RE-ENGAGE, THE CAR ROLLED. IT WAS A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, AND A NOTICEABLE ROLL BEFORE THE ABS RE-ENGAGED. IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK A SECOND. SINCE THE CAR ROLLED AND WOULDN'T STOP, WE NEEDED TO SWERVE TO MISS TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALER, AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. EVEN TEST DROVE IT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, POINTED OUT THE ROLL, BUT HE ONLY GAVE ME EXCUSES. I GUESS IF THE ABS LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON, THEY DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS WRONG. *JB

THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN BRAKING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *NLM

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE DURANGO SLT IN MAY OF 2002. WHEN I PURCHASED IT I ASKED IF IT HAS A RECYCLE AIR OPTION AND WAS TOLD IT DID, AND WAS SHOWED WHAT IT WAS. IT WORKED FINE IN HOT OR WARM WEATHER, BUT DOES NOT WORK WHEN IT IS VERY COLD. THAT FEATURE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND FEEL THAT THEY ARE MISLEADING CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY SAY IT HAS RECYCLE AIR, BUT DON'T THEN TELL YOU THAT IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I'M STUCK BUYING THIS CAR FOR 6 MORE YEARS. I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HAD I KNOWN THE RECYCLE AIR DID NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A HONDA AND A MITSUBISHI THAT WORKED JUST FINE IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT, "IT DOES NOT WORK WHEN IT IS COLD!"

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY ON THE PARKWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVE. SCC

MY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND I HAD STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR TO GET THE MAIL. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED DRIVING FORWARD AND ACCELERATING ALL BY ITSELF. IT ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE SIDE OF MY HOME.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

THIS IS A COMPLAINT IN GENERAL ABOUT THE BLINDING HEADLIGHTS BEING PUT ON VEHICLES NOW DAYS. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO REGULATE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS PLACED IN CARS. ALSO, DRIVERS WHO DRIVE WITH THEIR DRIVING LIGHTS ON WHEN NOT NEEDED REALLY CAUSE PROBLEMS. CAN'T IT BE REGULATED THAT DRIVING LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHEN APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HEADLIGHTS NOWDAYS ARE JUST TOO BRIGHT. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO BEING BLINDED BY THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS.

THIS NOTE IS TO ACCOMPANY THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEFECT NOTIFICATION FOR MY 2002 DURANGO, VIN 1B8HR48N42F188761. THIS IS THE SECOND DEFECTIVE DURANGO I HAVE PURCHASED IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS AND IT PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST DURANGO WAS ONLY GOOD FOR FOUR DAYS AND LESS THAN 400 MILES. WE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH IT TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING, ENGINE VIBRATIONS, AND POOR HANDLING PROBLEMS. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT MULTIPLE COMPUTERS WERE BAD AND IT WOULD TAKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AS A SOLUTION, THE DEALER PROVIDED US ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CURRENT DURANGO IS ONLY FIVE MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EVERY WEEKEND FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, IT DROPS TO FIRST GEAR COMING TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, LAUNCHING THE OCCUPANTS FORWARD DUE TO THE SUDDEN SPEED REDUCTION. THIS IN ITSELF IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE OCCUPANTS COULD GET HURT, NOT TO MENTION LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE DRIVER, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, OR THE VEHICLE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. IN ADDITION TO COMING TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE LOCKS THE TRANSMISSION ON FIRST GEAR (IF IT MOVES AT ALL SINCE THE SECOND TIME IT MALFUNCTIONED, IT WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER). PROBLEMS CONTINUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION MODULE BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND APPLIED BRAKES SUDDENLY. BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ONLY "BARELY" SLOW DOWN. ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO EFFECTIVELY SLOW IT DOWN. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. TS