Enter VIN number
Get the most accurate report for the vehicle. Basic information is FREE
Use this form now and GET 20% DISCOUNT for CarVertical reports!




We found the following complaints for DODGE DURANGO (1998)

Read complaints for DODGE DURANGO (1998)


"takata airbag"i was in a accident where a person ran a red light, going about 45 mph and i t-bone that person's vehicle, with me going about 40 mph.the airbag delayed on deployment in my vehicle.i had my seat-belt on but i still ended up hitting my chest on the steering wheel and hitting my head on the windshield before airbag deployed.i am trying to figure out if my airbag can get defective over years because of the delay of deployment.i don't know if it is a takata airbag that isn't on the recall list yet or not.i still have the vehicle and the airbag part itself that i can give you the numbers off of.someone reminded me about the takata airbags so i figured i ask.

Rear abs failure when a dear ran out in front of me.front brakes locked up, rear of suv passed the front.dear was hit with the left front and left side as the vehicle skidded out of control.1 death if you count the dear

During vehicle collision seat belt did not restrain properly, no deployment of air bags until after consumer hit windshield,resulting in injuries

While traveling at about 55 mphconsumer's vehicle hit a cow, and air bags did not deploy.no injuries reported.

The vehicle experienced the same defect with the clock springas stated in recall 01 v 153 000, but vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.

No deployment of air bags during vehicle collision.

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

Brakes failed at 50mph. Slammed into the back of semi truck at 40mph and totaled vechile. The seatbelt restrant and airbag system failed to engage. I slammed into the steering wheel to break 2 ribs and crack my sternum. If the airbags would have went off i wouldnt be having back and neck problems either. I wish dodge would help us instead of hurting us.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph over a patch of black ice, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wallbefore rolling over. The contact mentioned that the air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt unlatched instead of restraining the driver. A police report was filed. The contact stated that neither the driver nor the passenger sustained any injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 96,000 and the current mileage was 124,000. Updated 11/20/14 the consumer stated both the passenger and driver were in shock and have had ongoing back problems. The passenger needed a metal rod in the back due to the failure of the seat belt. Updated 5/6/2015

Check engine light came on; cracked left cylinder head at 40,000 miles. Dealer repaired under warranty; claims to not know why head cracked.exactly 40,000 miles later, left cylinder head cracked again. Dealer will not repair; car is 3 months outside of extended warranty. Dealer still can't give reason for cylinder head failure. Other mechanics/dealers believe cylinder heads fail due to faulty casting. *nlm there was a scraping noise when the steering wheel was turned.the service dealer found internal damage in the clockspring and replaced the unit.the consumer requested reimbursement. *scc

Faulty clock spring. $178 to replace/repair.my vehicle apparently not affected by recall of 216,000 vehicles.clock spring failure results in failure of airbag to deploy. I guess i'm extremely lucky i was not involved in a life-altering accident. *nlm refer to recall # 01v153000. Per invoice, the engine light had come on and there were rattles upon acceleration, the service dealer found #5 cylinder misfire and removed the #5 spark plug and viewed signs of coolant on the spark plug.(recommended removal of the left cylinder head for further inspection/consumer declined)there was also a scraping noise when the vehicle was turned, the clockspring was found faulty due to internal damage, the clockspring unit was replaced. *scc

Air bag warning lights came on and stayed on because of the defect described in the clocksrping material recall 01v153000. Bu tthis vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin.

Airbags did not deploy when head on accident occurred, consumer sustained permanent injuries, consumer stated 2 other people were also injured.

Consumer was involved in a frontal collison, and was hit at 55mph, consumer suffered injuries due to the air bags not deploying, 2 other people were also injured in the accident.

Consumer was involved in a frontal collision in which the driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy, cause unknown.please give any further details.

Coming off the ramp while driving at 15 mph on wet pavement,consumer applied the brakes,and the brakes went straight to the floorboard, causing the consumer to rear end vehicle in front, and neither air bag deployed.

The driver ran into a new ford pick up truck and hit him with the front end of vehicle. The vehicle was going about 30 mph at impact. The airbags did not deploy upon inpact. Neither the driver's side or the passenger side.

I was in a head on collision, hit at 55 miles per hour.my airbags did not deploy!i sustained permanent injuries, including a knee surgery from hitting the dash.recently, and article hit the press about daimler/chryslerminivans 1996-2000, airbags not deploying causing injuries. What do i have to do, to get someone to listen to me?i have filed 3 complaints, and left messages and have yet to see a complaint filed or a phone call returned.if i had died, then, maybe someone would pay attention to a problem.i would appreciate confirmation of this complaint.thank you for your time.

The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and none of the air bags deployed.

Consumer was involved in a frontal collison, and was hit at 55mph, consumer suffered injuries due to the air bags not deploying, 2 other people were also injured in the accident.

Car/deer head on collision at 65mphair bags failed to deploy, causing wipelash, strained spine and shoulder injury.suv was a total loss per ins. Company.

Consumer's vehicle was involved in an collision while going about 55-60 mph and a van crossed in front, causing consumer's vehicle to rear-end the other vehicle. Abs brakes failed.consumer pushed the brakes down to the floor, but vehicle still did not stop. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy.

Vehicle impacted front end at 40 mph and airbags did not deploy.the rep. From chrysler doesn't think anything is wrong with the airbag system.help please>.

Abs brakesfail to operate properly,and air bags failed to deploy during a crash at approx. 28 mph impact.manufacturer notified.

During vehicle collision, no deployment of air bags, resulting in injury. Mjs

Consumerheard a noise coming fromsteering that got louder with time. Dealer stated clock spring assembly needed to be replaced. There is a recall, but this vehicle is not affected.

Consumer was traveling in mexico where he was involved in a front end crash.upon impact,driver and passenger air bags did not deploy.vehicle sustained radiator damage, and was repaired in mexico.consumer was able to drive the vehicle home, and had not taken the vehicle to a deale or made contact with the manufacturer.

In a head-on collision at 40 mph frontal air bags did not deploy.dealer has been contacted.

While driving 40 mph, vehicle was involved in a head-on collision, air bags did not deploy, consumer sustained major head injuries. *yd

Vehicle was in a frontal collision while driving at 45 mph. Upon impact neitherthe driver's sidenor the passenger's side air bags deployed.truck sustained severe front end damage.

The air bag light illuminated. Dealer found that the air bag module was burned out and inoperable.

Consumer found the seat belt buckle undone a few times owning it to them becoming a little loose and the child seat tilting over on the release button.*jg

When traveling on hwy 70 chico ca. To quincy ca when switching head lights from high beam to low beam lights went off.

While driving electrical control system would shut off,causing a distraction to consumer.

I own a 1998 dodge durango and i was driving home from olympia with my son in the back seat, he was a sleep. The vehicle stalled out and i drifted to the side of the road, i smelt a funny smell and immediately got my son out of the vehicle. We were on a busy highway. The vehicle then was engulfed in black smoke coming from underneath the dash, the interior of the car was soon filled with flames, all this happened within a matter of minutes. The vehicle had 141,000 miles on it and had no previous signs of problems. The police report and everything states the fire was an electrical fire originating form underneath the dashboard. I don't know what to do, we only had liability insurance and it does not cover what happened. I just keep thinking what if my other two children was in the vehicle with me, they would have probably been a sleep and it would be extremely hard for me to get all three of them out 2,5 and 7 on a busy highway. Has there been any other scenario's like this? the entire vehicle was destroyed the dash, seats, etc all melted and burnt. The fire dept. Was dispatched and they had to put out the fire. I can provide police report, etc. That will back up what we just said, the fire did not affect anything under the hood, just the interior.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. While the vehicle was idling, the engine suddenly shut off. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injection lines were faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued to occur. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the ceiling light inside the vehicle would erroneously turn on. In addition, when depressing the brake pedal, a banging noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000.

The odometer says "no bus".

The consumer went to the dealer to have a front wheel alignment done.the technician told the consumer that the alignment could not be performed because the upper and lower control arms were worn.the technician also noticed slight play in the gear box and adjusted it.a faulty solenoid in the cab controller caused the brake and abs lights to illuminate intermittently. *nlm

I had to have the ball joints replaced 6 months after i bought the truck. The dealership said that my wheels were getting ready to fall off and the truck was to dangerous to drive. Then the transmission went out in august of 2003. I barely had 50,000 miles on it. The brakes on it are terrible. When it is raining i hydroplane just about ever time i put on the brakes. The anti lock brake system is not working properly. Thelight is now on. The speedometer is now broken. It stays at zero most of the time but will occasionally jump up and down while driving. The electric door lock makes a horrible sound when it locks. Last but not least whenever i drive on the interstate and go over 60 mph the engine makes a rattling noise.

Heard metal to metal rubbing on 2/2/09 now on 2/6/09 hub bearing broke right side.... Wheel is tiled in to wheel well.

Transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle and eventually the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt one.all four ball joints were and tie rods were replaced. The vehicle experiencedelectrical problems, because the back brake light continued to blow out.the front hub bearings and seals were replaced.

Weon the road driving around 7:30 and i noticed my truck was losing power...i looked in my side mirror and saw smoke... I pulled over and my truck was on fire... The fire dept was called they had to remove the boot around the 4 wheel drive lever to put the fire out... Truck destroyed..

Electrical system suddenly went out all gauges radio etc front area. Checked all fuses and nothing was burnt out.restarted engine four times before reset and then was ok.have had recurring locking of brakes and grinding lose of control at low speeds and on wet roads.disc brakes have no wear indicators on pads and it resulted in being worn down and ate into the front rotors before i was aware that the pads were shot.i had to buy new rotors and pads and the replacement pads also did not have indicators.the dealer stated that was the way that they were manufatured and i then stated that this was a severe and potentially dangerous and deadly oversight and that it should be corrected.i contacted chrysler and they stated that they had no recall on this and that they had no technical problems or bulletins on this.my battery also suddenly went out without any warning and it caused the engine to die.i could not restart the engine and a new battery had to be installed.power windows went out and could not be opened or closed by drivers switch.

Battery suddenly died, preventing engine start.all systems functioned normally prior to incident, but battery tested completely dead after attempting to start vehicle.attempted jump starting and charging battery with no results.

Consumernoticed fluid in the driveway under the vehicle.upon closer inspectionthe consumer saw that the battery was leakingand the acid was dripping on the brake line. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed the fact that the acidburned through the brake line.*ph

Battery failed.

Battery replaced on two occasions. Mjs

Battery failed.

Battery failed. Mjs

Horn on steering wheel does not operate at all. Took to dealer over 2 months ago. Dealer said that parts are on back order for the horn. As of this date, parts still not available.

Intake manifold resealed, intake & plenum gasket replaced, intake & pan & o-ring replaced, intake resealed & pcv valve replaced, manifold & intake replaced, rod bearings & valve guide seals & #4 spark plug & intake replaced. Purchased as trade-in at ford dealer 21504 miles. Problems began 2-3 wks after purchase. Previous/original owner had similar service performed (tsb performed 4/05/99). Problem is not resolved. Warranty has expired. Dealership refuses to repair as pre-existing problem under warranty or at their cost. Dealership never determined exact cause of problem.

Consumer startedvehicle and heard a buszing noise. Later that day, vehicle starting shaking and making a rattling noise. Then, consumer turned off car. Tried to restart, and it would not. 3 hours later, tried to start again, and there was nothing at all.

Ball joints casuing undue wear and tear on tirereplaced front tire 3 times in 2 years

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

Engine check light has come on, and from time to timelight will stay on when gettingvehicle checked out. Spark plugs were melted and , head cylinder was cracked.

Vehicle will not start due to security system alarm failure caused bt defective computer.

Nar 02/28/2003mr defective electronic control module

Vehicle is currently at bigelow motors in belleville,nj (973) 759-4220 ,waiting for a computer to be delivered. Also, there are four other dodge durangos' waiting for the same computer at this dealership.

Pcm failed.mjs

Repeated starter replacement. *ph the starter was defective and was replaced.the ball joints also had to be replaced. *sc

Consumer states there is an electrical crackle in dash when using left blinker, the crackling noise goes from the driver's side door to the cd player.

While driving vehicle went to pull over and cut off.mechanic said that it was an electrical problem.consumer could hear car arking.

Electrical: driving approximately 10mph and smelled wires burning, stopped vehicle and got out and the smell got stronger. Got back into vehicle anddrove another 25 feet, and noticed the smoke coming from underneath the hood. Pulled over and called fire dept . Vehicle totaled. Cause of fire loose nut on power source box.

Consumer drove 2miles parked vehicle in driveway, 10 minutes later there were flames coming from the hood area. The horn started to blow continuously. Both front tire exploded . The fire department. Is holding vehicle until fire marshal comes to look at vehicle on march 09 1998.

Consumer was traveling about 70mph onhighway.she was driving indessert and rolled down the window, andstrarted smellingwires burning.she was insideof parking lot, andvehicle burst into flames.

When turning on headlights in or outside of vehicle headlights will turn off or dim untilconsumer plays withknob, and headlights get back to normal.

Electrical system suddenly went out all gauges radio etc front area. Checked all fuses and nothing was burnt out.restarted engine four times before reset and then was ok.have had recurring locking of brakes and grinding lose of control at low speeds and on wet roads.disc brakes have no wear indicators on pads and it resulted in being worn down and ate into the front rotors before i was aware that the pads were shot.i had to buy new rotors and pads and the replacement pads also did not have indicators.the dealer stated that was the way that they were manufatured and i then stated that this was a severe and potentially dangerous and deadly oversight and that it should be corrected.i contacted chrysler and they stated that they had no recall on this and that they had no technical problems or bulletins on this.my battery also suddenly went out without any warning and it caused the engine to die.i could not restart the engine and a new battery had to be installed.power windows went out and could not be opened or closed by drivers switch.

Nyle maxwell dodge supercenter in austin texas was paid to fix my sensor light for the antilock brake system which comes on continuously and stays on 100 percent of the time.i was told that they needed to replace a sensor which would cost just over $1100, and was required to sign off on a form so they could begin the work.after they had my dodge durango a couple of days, february 27, 2013, i got a phone call from service to say they could not completely fix the problem and that the light still comes on "intermittently".their explanation was confusing.so i believe that i understand from this, if the warning light is on that the abs brake will not be working at all.after this, i was given an option of paying another $350 for a separate part, perhaps "module" and the service man felt it would be the solution.i collected my car without nyle maxwell dodge supercenter having fixed this $1100 issue.but i paid their bill.(i need to take it somewhere for a second unbiased opinion.)as a customer/consumer of their service agreement, i should have the right to expect them to fix it from here on out to completion at the expense of nyle maxwell dodge supercenter; or refund me.

62k miles doing the speed limit on i/70 east of mt comfort exit. Oil pressure went to 0 before i could slow and get to the shoulder the engine blew a rod threw the oil pan. Had it towed to my repair shop. He took the pan off and said he thought the oil pump had failed from what he could see. Local dealer did not want to talk about it. Said it was out of warranty. I told him of the failures i had found on the internet and he referred me to dodge and hung up. Dodge replied to my inquiry by telling me to talk with my local dealer.

Oil pressure drops to 0 when running.it has been parked since.

The consumer had to replace both left and right ball joints and tie rods due to premature wear.*pha faulty intake gasket caused an oil leak.the consumer notified the manufacturer and requested reimbursement. The consumer was denied reimbursement.*sc

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

I have had several problems with my 98 durango. I am the original owner, and the vehicle has 31,000 miles.the current problem, and the one for which i filed the complaint, deals with the electric windows not unctioning.the left rear window went out last year.within the past two months, the passenger window went out, and the right rear has begun to operate inconsistently.as for repairs, a local chrysler dealer said they believe theproblem are the window regulators.as to cost, i am currently working with chrysler corp.(national customer service center) as to what they will do to fix.my own investigation indicates that this is a common problem on this year durango.just today chrysler has asked me to have the problem re-diagnosed at the local dealership (at my cost).they will then determine if and what they will do.however, the representative said he felt a total repair compensation for this problem will not happen and suggested i should have taken an extended warranty.i informed him of my research on this problem to little avail.he also said he was the final decision maker for this situation, and in case of my disagreement with his decision, i had no other recourse through chrysler corp.i also have a worsening rear main seal oil leak. The preliminary repair estimate is over $1200.again, because of the low mileage, i've asked chrysler to assist in the repair cost.they said they would consider, but feel this problem is not their responsibility.

I have had the same problem with my 98 dodge durango. Vehicle ran fine for entire time we owned it. Maintenance was done properly, as my husband is a generator mechanic in the military and keeps a very rigid maintenance schedule for all of our cars. Mid may the vehicle suddenly lost oil pressure, after and oil change vehicle was fine for months. Then mid august it starts again, again oil changes were done at least every 6000 miles by chrysler's instructions. Before we can even get off of the interstate the engine started knocking and now will run but losses oil pressure before we get out of the driveway and knocking starts soon after. Compression is lost in two head gaskets due to this and the mechanic says the sludge is the problem, though the mechanic can't explain why because he knows how often the oil has been changed. He can only explain that an oil change does not drain the build up that is already inside of the engine and that it has just been developing over time but is very abnormal. Chrysler/dodge should take action, i have seen hundreds if not thousands of complaints of this exact problem online and am very disappointed in what i thought was going to be a good vehicle.

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

Front brakes (replaced 3x's in one year) keep failing on dodge durango causing uneven tire wear and alignment to shift. I've had to replace the front tires 4 times and the rear tires twice since i bought this vehicle january 2,2000. All tires wear at an angle with several bald spots in different places. I also replaced the water pump and radiator february 2003. Now the air conditioner is not working. The transmission went out a couple of months after i purchased the vehicle. It was still under warranty, but i still had to pay 300.00 out of pocket for whatever reason.

Faulty clock spring. $178 to replace/repair.my vehicle apparently not affected by recall of 216,000 vehicles.clock spring failure results in failure of airbag to deploy. I guess i'm extremely lucky i was not involved in a life-altering accident. *nlm refer to recall # 01v153000. Per invoice, the engine light had come on and there were rattles upon acceleration, the service dealer found #5 cylinder misfire and removed the #5 spark plug and viewed signs of coolant on the spark plug.(recommended removal of the left cylinder head for further inspection/consumer declined)there was also a scraping noise when the vehicle was turned, the clockspring was found faulty due to internal damage, the clockspring unit was replaced. *scc

With 40,000 miles had to install lower ball joints and right side inner tire rod i installed left inner tie rod and upper ball joints when vehicle was apart, also installed mono-max kyb shocks front and rear and install new bf goodrich tiresfront and rear had 2 different people check and set alignment and can not get vehicle to stop drifting right andhas chopped wear patten on right front wheelhas to install new thermostat gasket.

Oil pressure on 1998 durango kept dropping to 0.many trips to dealer were unable to determine cause of problem.sept '01, engine failed.replaced engine at cost of $4500.sludge was found in old engine.chrysler tried to say it was because of improper oil changes.not true.march, 2005 oil pressure is dropping to 0 again.car is at repair facility.they say it needs a new oil sending unit.i am concerned that the engine will fail again due to the apparent defect in this particular engine chrysler makes.what can be done?dec. 2003 we replaced the ball joints for $1300.find out in 2004 that chrysler recalled 2000-2003 durangos for defective ball joints.why were the 1998 and 99 models left out?is this not the same part as the 2000?chrysler merely says no more information other than 98 is not included.

Heard metal to metal rubbing on 2/2/09 now on 2/6/09 hub bearing broke right side.... Wheel is tiled in to wheel well.

When co. Rep said the co. Would not compensate due to age and milage even though parts failed far short of normal service life. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.dt

The fan on my durango came off the water pump and destroyed the fan shroud the radiator, the idler pulley the belt and the water pump shaft. I was traveling about 60 mph and the fan can off and it cost me $855.31 to fix i was wondering if there was a way to recoup the cost for the repairs to my durango.*nlm

Vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost power at highway speeds.dealer has replaced the clutch fan on the cooling system and the problem still exists.the manufacturer has been notified.

Engine overheating due to failure of the fan/clutch assembly. Mjs

The cooling fan, when engaged, requires a significant portion of the available horse power.the cooling fan, in normal traffic conditions on cool summer day in colorado, runs excessively. The change in available horse power between fan-engaged and fan-disengaged situationsis a safety hazard in that one does not know how fast the vehicle will accelerate when the gas pedal is depressed fully.the difference is significant and striking.

Drive fan failed causing overheating.

Radiator cap failed.

Thermostat failed causing leakage. Mjs

While driving on highway heard a loud clanking noise. Then, engine checklight iulluminated.took vehicle to dealer, and they stated thatcrankshaft had broken. Consumer had a lack of brakes and steering.took vehicle to dealer again,and they stated thatcrankshaft should notgo out. Please provide any further information.

During a drive oil pressure dropped. I stopped, to check the oil which was fine. 2 days later i completely lost oil pressure after having chnged my oil recently. I owned the vehicle less than 2 months and had to have the oil pump and screen replaced. After reading the web i realized this is a dodge defect that they have know about.

While driving 70 mph the vehicle's oil pressure dropped to zero and there was a ticking sound coming from the engine. The dealer has informed the consumer that a new engine is needed.the manufacturer is aware of the problem.

First failure oil light kept coming on intermitently took it to dealership they replaced oil pump. No mention of sludge or any build up of material in pan. They said they had seen this happen often at this mileage range. One year later and 4 oil changes the same thing happened only i lost all oil pressure. Was towed to dealership for repair and was told that we should have the gasket replaced between the head and the block because the head was aluminum and the block was steel and over time and heating and cooling the gasket gets extruded and the antifreeze will get into the oil and sludge up the oil causing the failure of the pump. I feel dodge has a problem that they are not telling the consumer.

My 1998 dodge durango continues to show problems with steering and front. There are only 57000 miles on this vehicle and the miles have been easy miles, (all on road and easy driving).i've replaced the power steering box, and the lower ball joints plus the front wheel bearing and drum.all of this has cost $550 the first time and $880 the second time.this cost come in addition to replacement a head gasket and rear windows that don't work.

Oil sending unit failed 2 times causing oil pressure to drop. *et

Service manager looked at the dip stick smeared his finger inside and said sludge lack of maintenance.the factory rep came on tuesday i waited finally went to work but they had the head gasketlid off and the whole thing was crispy sludge and black.the dealer said it wasn't going to be covered under warranty.the windows are supposed to be fixed under the warranty but if it had held off a coulpe more mounths i would be paying for that!!! this is a leased vehicle. My wife pregnaunt wweith twins and i and another couple were on our way on a 45 min trip to a comedy club.on i-75 the check guages light came on along with the dinging bell. I was in the passing lane and after checking the guages i found the oil pressure was at 0.just a few miles ahead was a rest area and thats were i was headed because it was cold and windy.i thought it was just the guage because eairler at the gas station i know she was good. Did the old, fill up wash and wax job! she was looking good! the suv began loosing power as we hit the on off ramp to the rest stop she was a tickin i threw it in n. And coasted down to a parking spot by then it was knocking.turned it off and popped the hood pulled the dip stick out it was steamin hot and black!i gave copys of the four oil changes that i could round up the other three were at a place that went out of buisness and no longer had records, somebody told me they had to keep them for three years well they dont have them. I talked to another mechanic and he said that my wife driving in town maybe 5miles to work could produce sludge.the places i get my oil changed are probablly 15- to 25 city blocks. The mechanic i talked to also said if i got my oil changed at different places something about to different types of oil could also sludge up.i then asked the service manager what could make and engine sludge up?his response was " i been doing this for 25 yearsonly thing is lack of maintaince."so thats why i writing to you.

Engine shut down on 1998 dodge durango.*mrthe vehicle was taken tot he dealer who indicated that in order to check the engine the consumer may incur a $1000 inorder to properly diagnose the problem.he was the told that the problem was likely a blow engine and that a neww one would cost $3000-$4000. The consumer feels that the manufacturer should be responsible for repairing the vehicle.

While driving 65 mph vehicle stalled.driver restarted the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for analysis.the mechanic could not resolve the problem. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for seat release failure, whining noise in reverse, and knocking sounds while accelerating. Mechanic test drove the vehicle and noticed a loose and wobbly steering wheel. He replaced upper ball joint and left upper control arm.*ph

I own a 1998 dodge durango. In the last 2 years i have had to replace the engine and drive shaft, simply because they failed. The suv has been meticulously cared for; all maintenance schedules have been followed. In addition, the abs computer/system had to be replaced, and now 15 months later, the abs light has come on again. I wanted to know if other customers have experienced similar problems with this vehicle. When i called customer service, the only people i have been able to talk to have beenthe low level employee. They will not, and probably have been instructed not to, forward the call to someone in upper management. They will not give me any information as to whether the problems i have had with this vehicle are common.this has been very frustrating.

Oil sending unit failed 2 times causing oil pressure to drop. *et

Dodge durango sludge engine

A broken crankshaft while driving at 60 -65 mph. Dealer / manufacturer werenotified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of its warranty, and nothing could be done.feel free to provide any further details on this matter .

Returning home from a business trip, the durango started making a loud noise, then quit within seconds of the original noise, with a loud clunk.the "check engine guages" light did not come on prior to the loud noise.i live in the mountains, and fortunately the engine quit next to a vehicle turnout.if the engine failure had occured a few seconds earlier, or a few seconds later, my life would have been in serious danger, and i would have endangered the lives of the people at risk of hitting my stalled vehicle.my mechanic found a used engine and installed it.new installed engine ran quite well for about 300 miles.this time, the failure was forwarned by a "check engine guages" light and bell.checking the guages, i found nothing out of the ordinary - oil pressure and temp were ok.this happened with the second bell as well.the third bell, and i turned the engine off due to the oil pressure guage falling to zero.towing the durango to a local mechanic, he advised that we should change the oil pump, but advised me that metal shavings were found in the oil pump screen, and that further damage was probbable.my mechanic told me that i should have the pump changed, and drive it to his shop for inspection - a distance of approximately 35 miles.the durango made it 15 miles before quitting.the catastrophic failure of this engine creates a definite safety hazard.the manufacturer should be allowed to do a recall on this engine.if the manufacturer does not think a recall necessary, the nhtsa should force a recall.this engine will create serious harm to someone.it is just a matter of time....

Check engine light came on; cracked left cylinder head at 40,000 miles. Dealer repaired under warranty; claims to not know why head cracked.exactly 40,000 miles later, left cylinder head cracked again. Dealer will not repair; car is 3 months outside of extended warranty. Dealer still can't give reason for cylinder head failure. Other mechanics/dealers believe cylinder heads fail due to faulty casting. *nlm there was a scraping noise when the steering wheel was turned.the service dealer found internal damage in the clockspring and replaced the unit.the consumer requested reimbursement. *scc

Note: two oil changes within 2,000 miles of breakdown (have receipts).traveling on busy highway when oil pressure dropped to 0 and engine immediately began to make loud tapping noise.oil pan was removed and "a lot of metal shavings from the engine" had clogged the oil screen causing the oil pump failure.as a result of the oil pump failure, the engine was damaged and needs replacement.based on ntsa database and discussions with area experts, this oil pump failure/engine damage defect condition for the 1998 durango (5.2l) is common, yet frequently unreported. No assistance from manufacturer.warrants detailed agency scrutiny and product recall due to defect condition.will be pursuing legal action to recover cost of oil pump and engine replacement.

Oil pressure dropping....dealer told us that they thought it was the gauge...not to worry. The engine seized up that evening....we were slightly over the mileage on the warranty so was told that it would not be covered.....we had the engine rebuilt and the lines cleaned out (oil was sludge....lots of metal shavings) and when the pressure started dropping (about 10000 miles) again we immediately took it in for service.......again there was lots of sludge and metal shavings......we had the oil pump replaced and the durango functioned for a short time and is now in the shop again with the same problem.......the mechanic feels like it has spun a main bearing and that is the cause for the metal shavings that keep occurring......there is something seriously wrong with the engines in this particular model vehicle....

Engine check light has come on, and from time to timelight will stay on when gettingvehicle checked out. Spark plugs were melted and , head cylinder was cracked.

This trouble mimics dozens and dozens of the same problem i have read about on multiple websites, including this one concerning 1998-99 5.2 v8 dodge durango's.oil pressure gauge will go to zero. Truck is turned off and oil checked, confirming correct oil level. Upon restarting of truck the pressure returns to normal. When the pressure gauge bottoms out the valves will begin to tap shortly after if the truck is not immediately shut down. This has occurred 4 times within 2 days and has since been taken to my mechanic. Per a conversation with the dealership where i bought the vehicle, they do not wish to get involved as they are not a dodge dealer. I need some sort of assistance; judging by all the other reports on this problem my engine is due to fail and there is nothing i can do about it!!!*nlm

I purchased a 1998 dodge durango, slt, brand new.over the last two years we have had the oil pressure gauge drop to zero and twice have replaced the oil sending(?) unit.in july, 2004, while on vacation, the oil pressure drops to zero, it starts knocking and before we can get to an exit it gets loud and dies. We coast into a filling station and the oil is running out on the ground. My husband walks to a u'haul and rents a truck and trailer, goes to a hardware store and buys a come-along to get the durango onto the trailer to tow it home.after doing research on the internet, i find this is a common occurance among the dodge durangos.when we started out for vacation, the durango had 69,000 miles on it.i had to rent a vehicle to tow mine home, buy a new engine, rent a vehicle to get back and forth for the next few weeks and without even being close to finished with this nightmare, i am at the $3,000 mark.i also bought the extended warranty.any recourse possible?

Dt:engine kept overheating. Had two new engines put in the vehicle, and overheated a third time,andvehicle was back in the shop.first time mechanicsaid it was due to oil leaking. Secondtime dealer got a used engine that was cracked, and thirdtime wanted to put another used engine .

I had to have the ball joints replaced 6 months after i bought the truck. The dealership said that my wheels were getting ready to fall off and the truck was to dangerous to drive. Then the transmission went out in august of 2003. I barely had 50,000 miles on it. The brakes on it are terrible. When it is raining i hydroplane just about ever time i put on the brakes. The anti lock brake system is not working properly. Thelight is now on. The speedometer is now broken. It stays at zero most of the time but will occasionally jump up and down while driving. The electric door lock makes a horrible sound when it locks. Last but not least whenever i drive on the interstate and go over 60 mph the engine makes a rattling noise.

Cracked cylinder from date of delivery but not repaired until one year later.

Main engine bearing failed.previous oil pump failure at 23000 miles pinging at 15,000 miles.

The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson dodge) twice. The first time , they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. The second time , the window went down by itself , we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin dodge), theytold us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (i don't remember the time span after being "fixed". So this time we took it to evans chrsler-plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was aobject rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin dodgecould not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000.00 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides aroundthen stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

Complete engine and oxygen (o2) sensor failed.yh

While drivingenginechecklight illuminated, indicating a malfunction within the system,shortlyafter a noise occurred in the engine compartment, then the vehicle completely shut down, cause unknown. Please give any further details.

Engine control module. Low pressure fuel tube. Both were recalled.

While driving at state speed limit, engine light illuminated, engine stalled due to a constant oil leak.the engine was blown.the engine always burned oil and the engine light always came on.the engine was defective from day one.when previous problems with the engine would occur the dodge mechanics always informed consumer that everything was fine.consumer would like reimbursement of monies paid.*jg

When co. Rep said the co. Would not compensate due to age and milage even though parts failed far short of normal service life. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.dt

Engine failure due to oil sludgedealer maintains it is due to poor maintenancewe maintain that the vehicle was properly cared for and that we are not the only ones that this has happened to.

Check engine light came on and the engine shut down after making a loud noise.yh

While driving down interstate on the way to work, oil pressure goes to 0 and truck stalled.got truck towed to shop and was informed by shop that the engine had seized up.engine failure due to oil sludge.this is the first and only problem we have ever had with this truck and now i search the internet and find hundreds of people this has happened to and that the company does not stand behind their engines and doesn't admit there is any problems.now we have to come up with the $4,000 - $6,000 to get a new engine and still make a truck payment.

While driving at any speed engine check light illuminated ondashboard andvehicle cut off withoutprior warning. Consumer has contacteddealer, dealer stated that no electrical components have failed, causing the problem. Please provide any further details.

Vehicle continually overheating causing air conditioner to kick off, when temperatures are over 95 degrees.

Engine needs to be replaced after 53,000 miles despite regular maintenance

While driving on the highway engine check light came on,vehicle started idling and cut off.pulled over and sat for awhile to cool off, then shift indicatorjumped out of gear.went to putfog lights, and they failed to operate properly. Fog light switch replaced three times,battery and throttle body also replaced.*ml

While driving my1998 durango the oil pressure gauge suddenly started to go up and down.with in a minute or two total engine failure i called a mechanic he stated this was a common problem with durangos said it would cost over 3000 to fixi have had this vehicle 1 yr and have replaced brakesac compressor ball joints and tie rodsi can not afford this kind of repairs i am a single mom and recently lost my job.

Consumer notices a banging noise coming from engine. Vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed no cooling. Engine needed to be replaced. Metal chips and sludge were found in the motor after the dealer diagnosis. The bearings for cylinder 1 and 5 spun the crank shaft, dealer replaced the pitman and idler arms.

Abs lights came on intermittently for several months then finally stays on all the time.the dealer said that the abs unit is defective and charged her $750 for replacement.the consumer was rather upset because the vehicle was just outside of warranty.

Vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost power at highway speeds.dealer has replaced the clutch fan on the cooling system and the problem still exists.the manufacturer has been notified.

My husband and i were driving down i-71 and the check guages light came on and the oil pressure had dropped to 0 causing engine failure due to a clogged oil pump intake screen.was told that it was due to improper maintenance although oil was changed in a timely manner.had the vehicle towed to a dealership where the oil pan was taken off and engine components and metal shavings were found.the service advisor himself told us that he could not sayfor sure that the problem was improper maintenance.he also maintained that if we had a chrystler inspector come in we would end up paying for a new engine.here we are making payments on a $30,000 that we cannot drive until we come up with almost $5000 to replace the engine.

Dodge fails to recognize this is a product defect......and they are doing nothing. No safety defect.

I took my 1998 dodge durango into allen mello dodge 6/21/01 for a whistling noise coming from the front end. They decided to replace the serp.entinebelt. When i picked up the car the noise was louder than when i dropped it off. They suggested that i bring it back 7/10/01 when i had an appointed to have the cat. Converter replaced. June 23, 2001 i took a day trip and on the way home the car broke down. I had to have the car towed to the nearest dealer where they advised me that the universal joint broke causing the drive shaft, transfer case, shift rod, rod gear, pivot gear and some other parts to be destroyed. I asked the mechanic in tilton nh is the universal joint makes a whistling noise and he said that could have been a sign. I have called chrysler and allen mello dodge in nashua nh and they have apologized for the problem, but have both said there was nothing they could do. I feel that after only 53,000 miles on the car this type of damage should not be experienced. It is my understanding that the unit where the universal joint is, cannot be greased because it is a sealed unit. I believe this is a flaw in the design of the vehicle. If i could have had this maintained this problem may not have happened. I asked chrysler what could have caused this and they suggested hard driving. My wife is the primary driver of this vehicle and we have two very small childern, the car does not have a tow package, and other than the winter, the car has not been in four wheel drive. Please review this problem and please contact me if you need any other information. I appreciate your time.

1. Stops or misses gears on upshift when accelerating.this occurs frequently, and is most apparent when towing/merging into faster traffic, or traveling up an incline.this slip causes the engine to rev into the very high rpms.the last time this occurred, a belt broke and caused the loss of steering in the truck. 2. Shift indicator on the dash does not display indicator when in d drive position.the indicator is lost between neutral and drive positions. 3. Noticeable vibration in the gas pedal when driving in certain speed ranges.it is most noticeable when accelerating between 30 to 40 and 60 to 70. 4.vibration noise can be heard and can be felt in the gas pedal.this is a recent development ( since nov, 1998 ).

We have had to replace our serpentine belt, and tensioner at considerable cost.this is not a standard wear item, and there are thousands of people who are replacing these belts and tensioners on a regular basis.the design and parts of this serpentine belt and tensioner system are defective.

Complaint received via e-mail. I have a 1998 ball joints,and that the car is unsafe. I figured they were just trying to make money for another job. I went directly to my neighborhood shop to see what they said and they agreed. Dodge knew that this is a problem.also, a cash cow to them at $1500.00. I have driven this vehicle gently and only had high 50000 miles at the time of repair. 1998 durango should be included in this recall.the consumer stated that the oil pump failed and the tranny failed.the intake gasket manifold failed and consumed 1 qt of oil in two days.the vehicle uses excessive anti freez.the crank shaft was replaced as well as connecting rod and bearings.the consumer stated that the vehicle had to many problems and dealer knew of the problems beforehand. Four ball joints have been replaced.*tc

Driving approx. 25 mph on icy road, turned right onto another road and "it was as if you thowed the vehicle into nuetral". Causing vehicle to come to a complete stop in the middle of the roadway.

Complete engine and oxygen (o2) sensor failed.yh

Fuel emission valve failed. Mjs

Intake manifold resealed, intake & plenum gasket replaced, intake & pan & o-ring replaced, intake resealed & pcv valve replaced, manifold & intake replaced, rod bearings & valve guide seals & #4 spark plug & intake replaced. Purchased as trade-in at ford dealer 21504 miles. Problems began 2-3 wks after purchase. Previous/original owner had similar service performed (tsb performed 4/05/99). Problem is not resolved. Warranty has expired. Dealership refuses to repair as pre-existing problem under warranty or at their cost. Dealership never determined exact cause of problem.

Intake manifold resealed, intake & plenum gasket replaced, intake & pan & o-ring replaced, intake resealed & pcv valve replaced, manifold & intake replaced, rod bearings & valve guide seals & #4 spark plug & intake replaced. Purchased as trade-in at ford dealer 21504 miles. Problems began 2-3 wks after purchase. Previous/original owner had similar service performed (tsb performed 4/05/99). Problem is not resolved. Warranty has expired. Dealership refuses to repair as pre-existing problem under warranty or at their cost. Dealership never determined exact cause of problem.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.while driving uphill at 30 mph, the contact heard a large bang.she looked in the rearview mirror and noticed the spare tire flying off her vehicle down a steep hill.the dealer stated that the cable rotted and broke apart.the contact has pictures.the current and failure mileages were 170,000.updated 10-07-08updated 10/09/08.

Dangerous flaw with the luggage racks.*mrwhile driving the luggage rack broke and as a result the carrier came off and bounced down the interstate.no accidents resulted from this failure. The consumer would like to be compensated for the broken luggage rack or the abandoned car top carrier.

I have complained with this previously but now have a more in depth complaint. I took my truck to the shop to finally have the air ducts checked. After removing the complete dashboard, the mechanic found a door which was broken that was causing the air to flow out the feet ducts instead of the dash vents. The door broke because some sticky-back foam got unstuck and stuck to something else putting the door under strain and finally breaking it. The foam, i believe, was to keep down the noise of the door opening and closing. Anyway, when that part in question was ordered, part #21, a door was sent but it wasn't the correct door. After intense investigation by the local dodge dealer, it was determined that the manufacturer could not produce the correct door because the numbers in their system didn't match the numbers on the door. I have all the numbers written down, unfortunately they are not with me. I can produce them if needed. When inquiring with other dealers about the door, we found they also had run into the problem and had no solution for their customers as well. We found out that this is a nation-wide problem and those dealers who actually have the part on their premises will not give them up for fear of needing them for their own customers. I am appalled that a manufacter can not or will not produce a much needed part to a consumer and will brush them off. I spent right at $500 for a someone to tell me that they can't do anything to help me. I live in a very hot part of the country and have spent many days sweltering in my vehicle. This is an absolute outrage and i demand either a fix or a reimbursement for my hard-earned money or really both. I need cool air and i need to fix my broken pocket book. When i ever get rid of this vehicle, i will never buy another daimler product. It is sad to think they can't even service or supply parts for their own creations. Please don't ignore this complaint. I haven't gotten anywhere with dodge and i feel ignored. Thanks.

Compressor failed.

Air conditioner not cooling, required tsb repair. Mjs

I stopped at a service station to have the air checked.when he put air in the tire, it was leaking more.the tire repair station took the tire off the rim and noticed that the tire was splitting from the inside out.he said he has never seen that happen before....splitting from the inside out.the tire is no good anymore and i still have a lot of tread left on it.he took my spare off, from under the vehicle and noticed that it has been hot and melted the rubber from the exhaust.i have smelled rubber before but thought that was from the air conditioner that i have been having so much trouble with since i bought the vehicle.it has caused an electrical shortage before.the air conditioner is leaking freon and every few months, i have to go have it filled.can't find the leak and have taken it to 4-6 different dealers for the problem.when running the air conditioner, moisture runs down the sides of the dash vents with all the windows closed.the last dealer i took it took, told me that they can't find the leak and believes it is somewhere in the dash.they have been too busy and shorthanded to get to it right now.i have also complained to several dealers about the floor between the drivers seat and passenger seat.i lay my purse on there and when i go to town and pick my purse up, the bottom of my purse is really hot.when i drive for a long period of time, my foot that runs the gas pedal gets really hot and swollen from the heat coming from the same area.the dealers have all told me that nothing was wrong.when i first bought the vehicle i noticed a noise in where i thought it was the brakes and took it to the shop.i found out that the suspension was falling apart and bolts were missing.luckily, there was no accident over that. Manufacturers need to be more cautious.( dot number: tire size: 31x10.50r )

I had a complete automatic transmission failure at just over 60,000 miles. I contacted dodge and they acted as if it wasn't their problem. Cost me $2000 dollars for a complete rebuild. Then after one month of having transmission redone the air conditioning went and cost me another $800 dollars. I complained again and again was treated as if it were my fault. I have a friend that works for a local dodge dealership and he told me that dodge does know about this problem and are denying it exists because of the large number of recalls that would result. He said they did a study and found out that the transmissions that were installed from '97 until 2000 were to small to handle the payload of the durango. They have since fixed that problem but will not admit to earlier damages to the earlier models. By the way, dodge only charges the dealers $400 dollars for the rebuild kits. *ph

Air conditioning failure on 1998 dodge durango.charged with r134 with a leak detection dye.found dye pouring out bottom of heater core housing.evaporator failure and was told by my mechanic that the evaporator is made from real inexpensive "pop" metal and is subject to a high failure rate on this type of vehicle.quoted $900-1100 to remove dashboard and install new evaporator.

I have been advised by my goodyear mechanic that my 1998 dodge durango is not safe to drive because allupper and lower ball joints are wore out and need to be replaced. The vehicle has 82000 miles on it. The repair is going to cost over $400.00.i have receipts that show regular maintenance is preformed on the vehicle. I think someone is not doing there job, because it seems that there are a lot of complaints about this problem. As well as major media coverage. On your complaint form you ask how many deaths. Well i'm glad i didn't have any to list .how many people have to die before you people decide to react to this complaint. I have also had to replace the front a/c evaporator core at a cost of $750.00. No deaths to report in this case either (sorry).this is the first dodge i have ever owned. It may be my last. I am replacing to 4 ball joints as we speak...because i am concerned with my family's safety. Even if you are not. Thanks for letting me vent...tom bottoms *la

Air conditioner out of order.yh

Needed to replace evaporator core on a 98 dodge durango.had the same problem with a 1994 plymouth, voyager a little more than a year ago.have been told by a friend that works as a service advisor for a dealer that chrysler has problems with evaporator cores.seems to me, he may be right, since i've replaced 2 in 2 different chrysler vehicles at $700 each in just a little over a year.i have never had this problem with any other make vehicle that i've ever owned, plus it seems that this new of a vehicle should not need an evaporator core already.air conditioner just started blowing warm air.husband bought a charging kit and charged the air conditioner.it worked for a very short time, then was blowing warm air again.we could hear a hissing or leaking noise under the dash board on the passenger side of the vehicle.confirmed by garage that it was an evaporator core that needs replaced.we were also told at the auto parts store where we bought the charging kit that there had been five people in that day who had also bought charging kits for dodge durangos.

While driving my vehicle in congested traffic, the air conditioning unit released all of the r-134 a into the enclosed cab. I was exposed to the substance for quite awhile before i realized what had happened. I finally pulled off of the road, and exited the vehicle. I had severe headaches and nausea for a couple days. If i had an infant in the vehicle, there could have been a death due to this malfunction.*la

Air conditional has not cooled properly since we bought vehicle, during summer hot months the vehicle is unable to keep the inside cool and comfortable. First trip to dealership was 5 days from taking ownership, i have been to 3 dealerships over the past 1 1/2 yrs and no one has been able to fix this.most say i'm crazy.brakes have squeaked constantly not only during morning hours.pad have been replaced once at 9000 miles and did not help and now at 29,000 miles it's extremely loud pad were checked last week and still they say it's normal.engine is pinging on acceleration and has since we bought vehicle, once again dealership is saying this is normal we have tried higher octane fuel and also mid to supreme gas and it still continues, i can only get roughly 280 - 290 miles to a tank of gas.when i met the dealer rep he informed me tires were wearing badly and to be sure we rotate these tires every 3000 miles which we have done.tires have now worn out and dealership is saying that this is normal.some how this differs if i had not rotated them then they would have worn out differently but due to the rotating it's evenly worn out and now they won't take care of this problem.

Cigarette lighter inoperative.

Front brakes (replaced 3x's in one year) keep failing on dodge durango causing uneven tire wear and alignment to shift. I've had to replace the front tires 4 times and the rear tires twice since i bought this vehicle january 2,2000. All tires wear at an angle with several bald spots in different places. I also replaced the water pump and radiator february 2003. Now the air conditioner is not working. The transmission went out a couple of months after i purchased the vehicle. It was still under warranty, but i still had to pay 300.00 out of pocket for whatever reason.

Cd/stereo is not working.yh

The right front speaker replaced.yh

No tire jack was in the vehicle at time of purhase.

There was no owner's manaul in vehicle at time of purchase.

Light switch, when switching from high beam to low beam this results in no lights at all. Drove off the side of the road into a field.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 241,000.

Light switch failed.

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

The 4 wheel drive light came on because the switch was bad.yh

Automatic transmission.back-up lights will come on when shifting between park and reverse, but go out once fully engaged in reverse.we have noticed this on at least one durango besides our own.

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

Brake light switch.

While driving on the highway engine check light came on,vehicle started idling and cut off.pulled over and sat for awhile to cool off, then shift indicatorjumped out of gear.went to putfog lights, and they failed to operate properly. Fog light switch replaced three times,battery and throttle body also replaced.*ml

Consumer states that while driving at any speed and without warning the headlights will flicker causing a distraction to the consumer view during nighttime. Dealer notified. Ts

Low beams would go out whenever high beamswere activated. This affected visibility while driving in a dark area/road. Dealer notified, and informed that nothing could be done.

Low beams go out when high beams are activated. This created zero visibility while driving on a dark rural road. Inotified the dealer, and was told that nothing could be done.

When going from high-beam to low-beam, all headlights went out.could not see anything.defective switch.

Headlight switch fails to make headlights turn on.

Head light switch knob failed.yh

I own a 1998 dodge durango. The headlight switch has been replaced previously for failure to operate properly, ie: the headlights would not turn on. Subsequently, the replacement switch failed to operate properly however with slight inward pressure on the switch, the lights would come on. I have recently been informed that the switch will not pass state safety inspection in its current condition. I think there is a design flaw or manufacturing defect in this switch because of recurring failures, and since it has become a safety issue by decree of the state, i feel it should be examined nationwide for recall consideration.

Headlight switch pulled out of the dashboard. Mjs

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph over a patch of black ice, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wallbefore rolling over. The contact mentioned that the air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt unlatched instead of restraining the driver. A police report was filed. The contact stated that neither the driver nor the passenger sustained any injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 96,000 and the current mileage was 124,000. Updated 11/20/14 the consumer stated both the passenger and driver were in shock and have had ongoing back problems. The passenger needed a metal rod in the back due to the failure of the seat belt. Updated 5/6/2015

Intake manifold resealed, intake & plenum gasket replaced, intake & pan & o-ring replaced, intake resealed & pcv valve replaced, manifold & intake replaced, rod bearings & valve guide seals & #4 spark plug & intake replaced. Purchased as trade-in at ford dealer 21504 miles. Problems began 2-3 wks after purchase. Previous/original owner had similar service performed (tsb performed 4/05/99). Problem is not resolved. Warranty has expired. Dealership refuses to repair as pre-existing problem under warranty or at their cost. Dealership never determined exact cause of problem.

The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson dodge) twice. The first time , they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. The second time , the window went down by itself , we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin dodge), theytold us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (i don't remember the time span after being "fixed". So this time we took it to evans chrsler-plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was aobject rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin dodgecould not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000.00 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides aroundthen stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

Consumer states that the intake manifold is causing vehicle to stall.

Consumer stated the vehicle made noises.it was taken to the mechanic to diagnose the problem. They had to replace the upper ball joints, the right inner tire rod and the idle arm. *phthefuel pump assembly malfunctioned which caused the vehicle not to start. *ph

"#5 injector circuit had shorted to the fuel pump input in the powertrain control module." gas was leaking out of the muffler!

Intake manifold resealed, intake & plenum gasket replaced, intake & pan & o-ring replaced, intake resealed & pcv valve replaced, manifold & intake replaced, rod bearings & valve guide seals & #4 spark plug & intake replaced. Purchased as trade-in at ford dealer 21504 miles. Problems began 2-3 wks after purchase. Previous/original owner had similar service performed (tsb performed 4/05/99). Problem is not resolved. Warranty has expired. Dealership refuses to repair as pre-existing problem under warranty or at their cost. Dealership never determined exact cause of problem.

Recall 99v342000 and 99v-341, dealer refused to correct recall problembecausefuel tank was full.also,recall information gives no indication that tank has to be empty to haverecall problem complete.please give any further details.

Manufacturer's recall notice received, and taken vehicle to dealer for repairs.dealer repaired tank strap, but unwilling to honor brake tube.

Recall 99v342 000/tank attaching straps: been waiting on dealer to honorrecall notice. Kept on informingthat they are still waitingfor the parts. Please provide further details.

1998 dodge durango has a recall on fuel leak.possible underbody fire can happen.my truck was totally engulfed in flames with my son driving and he managed to get out of vehicle.the truck is a total loss.

Fuel gauge sender failed. Yh

Engine control module. Low pressure fuel tube. Both were recalled.

Gas tank flow back valve failed.yh

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. While the vehicle was idling, the engine suddenly shut off. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injection lines were faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued to occur. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the ceiling light inside the vehicle would erroneously turn on. In addition, when depressing the brake pedal, a banging noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. While the vehicle was idling, the engine suddenly shut off. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injection lines were faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued to occur. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the ceiling light inside the vehicle would erroneously turn on. In addition, when depressing the brake pedal, a banging noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000.

My mechanic notice unable to keep tires. While driving with my 2 kids noticed extremely loose action while driving, car unable to stay on road. Mechanic checked and upper and lower ball joints defective. I have research and noticed no recall with these vehicles. Lots of complaints something needs to be done. We should not have to suffer for there lack of making a safe vehicle.

Ball joints casuing undue wear and tear on tirereplaced front tire 3 times in 2 years

Trunk lock fails when in direct sunlight.yh

Turn signals intermittant - dealer service unable to locate cause.power windows also intermittant except driver's.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact applied the accelerator pedal to the floorboard but the vehicle would not respond beyond 30 mph.the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was not available.

Due to to uneven driveway the vehicle stalled, or transmission began to spin and not move, at which the vehicle ignition was shut-off. It was attempted to push the vehicle about 50 feet to a parking place. Another person offers to help, then pushes vehicle 25/50 feet...advises to turn the wheel. The wheel does not want to turn. The vehicle has used a lot of power steering fluidalmost daily(has a history of squealing and hard turning at start unless lubricated). So advice to place vehicle in reverse caused the steering wheel to be even harder to turn, if at all. I requested help from the bystander, who at which point comes to the driver side where i was standing outside of the vehicle also. It's unknown if the bystander help turned the ignition on, or if the ignition somehow turned on by itself. The vehicle was occupied by one addition passenger at the time of the crash. The vehicle traveled in reverse gear, without anyone pushing on the accelerator. There were minor to severe injuries, and damage to 2 vehicles and one structure.

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

Engine check light has come on, and from time to timelight will stay on when gettingvehicle checked out. Spark plugs were melted and , head cylinder was cracked.

Bought my durango new in may 1998. The automatic transmission started shifting improperly in july 2000. Took it to a dodge dealer because it was still under warranty (31,418 miles). They dropped the transmission pan and pronounced it doa (pan was full of metal shavings). Should have seen the writing on the wall but i loved this vehicle. Took it to an inspection station for safety & emissions tests in may of 2006. It failed for bad ball joints. I asked the manager why his mechanics seemed to pay special attention to the front end during inspection and his reply was it was very common to find bad ball joints on approx. 50% of all 1998-2000 durangos. Had my mechanic replace upper & lower ball joints, both sides, at 74,064 miles, to the tune of $701 plus tax. I then started hearing about other durango owners with similar ball joint woes. I went online and started researching. Found a site where folks like myself with the same ball joint problems, some with accidents, were trying to get nhtsa to do something. I guess people actually have to die first before nhtsa will step in and tell an auto manufacturer they need to fix their faulty products. I also learned that the 1998-2000 durangos were built on the dodge dakota pickup chassis. A dakota weighs about 4,600 lbs. While a durango 4x4 weighs in at 6,400 lbs. It's no wonder the 1998-2000 durango front-ends were falling apart. Seriously, what kind of idiot engineers does dodge have working for them. Sometime later i heard that dodge rushed the durango into production in 1998 to compete for the suv market bucks and didn't have time to engineer a new chassis so they just modified the dakota chassis without beefing it up. When people started to complain about ball joints and such, they built a whole new chassis for durangos in 2001. I stumbled across this site today while researching another vehicle i'm thinking about buying.

Front brakes (replaced 3x's in one year) keep failing on dodge durango causing uneven tire wear and alignment to shift. I've had to replace the front tires 4 times and the rear tires twice since i bought this vehicle january 2,2000. All tires wear at an angle with several bald spots in different places. I also replaced the water pump and radiator february 2003. Now the air conditioner is not working. The transmission went out a couple of months after i purchased the vehicle. It was still under warranty, but i still had to pay 300.00 out of pocket for whatever reason.

1998 dodge durango transmission hesitates to shift into 3rd gear, causing rpm to fly past 3500, making it difficult to enter highways, 3 times i nearly had a rear end collision because truck will not accelerate into 3rd gear.the durango transmission is a common complaint among owners, and something needs to be done.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 mph, there was a knocking noise coming from the engine compartment.the vehicle was returned to the sales dealer for service, who determined the problem was with the transmission.the dealer sent the vehicle to a transmission shop.the knocking continued each time after 5 more visits to the transmission shop, so the sales dealer sent the vehicle to a service dealer.the knocking continued.the manufacturer was not notified.

1998 dodge durango with only 59200 miles on it which now needs a new transmission. (have been told it is the over drive in the transmission that is bad) this, fortunately, has not caused any type of accident but after hearing all the horror stories about the durango's,my wife and i believe there should be a recall to fix the never ending problems with these trucks - before someone does get seriously injured!

Pe 03-032, front suspension/upper ball joint failure:consumer took vehicle to dealer because ofexcessive tire wear.mechanic determinedupper ball joints needed to be replaced.alsogear shift indicator was off center. Whenvehicle was in drive indicator was between drive and neutral.consumerhad one transmission replaced, and another oneneeded to bereplaced.

I bought a 1998 dodge durango in november of 2002. The vehicle had 59939 miles on it. I have maintained the car as one should. On 9/2/03 i took the auto into aamco transmissions as the car was not shifting down into 1st gear. It cost me $500.00 to fix this transmission problem. At the same time they told me my transfer case was going out and needs to be rebuilt. The estimate-$1350. In nov of 2003, i took the car in to get a lube job. The mechanic told me that my lower ball joints were not accepting grease & the upper boots were rotted. That eventually i would need new ball joints but i still had time. In dec 2003, i started having problems with the electrical system. The front passenger window would not roll down. Then if my steering wheel was turned as i put the car in park, it would not start, or it would die as i was backing out. In january i heard metal in my front tires as i was braking. A new brake job cost me $350.00. The end of january, while driving this vehicle with 72,000 miles, my front right tire fell off. Reason: upper ball joint broke off. Every mechanic has stated that this is a defect, as they have never seen ball joints do this at this low mileage. I then saw nhtsa interviewed on the news for the very same reason. Dodge durangos and their ball joints with tires falling off. My car landed in a ditch. I was lucky i was only travelling at 35 mph. It could have been fatal, and who ever manufactures these ball joints better stand up to the plate and take responsibility. This auto has been nothing but a mechanical problem since i bought it. And costly at that!

Consumer states transmission acts up, dealer stated the synchronizers were burning out, however even after dealer repairs the problem, transmission acts up again, consumer also stated that vehicle would rev up and sit still.

Transmission light illuminated in the instrument panel. Dealership informed the consumer that the problem was pertaining to a burned transmission. The transmission was serviced at 30000 miles then had to be replaced at 60000 miles.

-on 3/13/06 the contact took 1998 dodge durango to cottman transmission because the transmission was slipping into first gear.at that time, cottman replaced the valve body.on 3/31/06 the contact took it back to cottman for the same reason, and cottman stated that they would rebuild the whole transmission.when contact picked up the vehicle it was making a loud squeaking noise, and cottman told him to drive it for a few days and the noise would go away.after driving it for a few days contact continued to hear the same squeaking noise, so cottman replaced the transmission.at which point the contact continued to hear the same noise, he took vehicle to at pro transmission and they stated to the contact that the damage was probably internal because they couldn't see anything wrong with the vehicle.on 6/16/06 contact took it back to cottman, and cottman stated that they replaced the transmission; after contact picked it up he continued to hear the same squeaking noise, so contact brought vehicle back to cottman on 12/11/06.cottman once again replaced the transmission.the contact stated that the transmission is pouring fluid from the pump.contact will take the vehicle to cottman.updated 2/6/2007 -

Transmission failed.yh

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

Vehiclehas automatic transmission ; there was hesitation when shifting into second gear. When shifting into reverse, itwas clanking.dealership was aware of problem.

Dealer replaced vehicles pressure governor for transmission which had been damaged due to low fluid level.

The transmission slips or double shifts as you are leaving any stopped position. While at about 50 mph and you put the gas pedal to the floor the transmission will work great. But then when you come to a stop and proceed at a normal pace the trans just slips or double shifts and jerks you around. This has been talked about on other sites that chrysler has bought back some of the durango's. I currently have a 1998 model. 5.2 automatic 4x4.

The defective automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing the gears to slip, resulting indecreased speed while driving which almost caused an accident.cause unknown.please provide details.

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

While driving the vehicle or starting/parking and then stopping the vehicle goes from park to another gear without lettingdriver touch the brake or pedal. Contacted dealer, they don't know anything about a problem within this vehicle.

1998 doge durango - 60000 miles.transmission failure.had problems with transmission since purchase in 1999.

Transmission slips almost resulting in vehicle collision due to lack of acceleration.

Complete transmission failure at 60,000 miles. Symptoms prior to failure were hesitation shifting into second gear when truck was initially started. *nlm

Transmission went out at 65000, costing $2300 to replace (i was unemployed at the time too).a chrysler a-500 transmission was installed with complete pump assembly, torque converter (which had pieces of metal rattling around inside of it) value body, a complete rebuild. This vehicle never towed anything and always maintained. Notified dodge of this problem and they replied, sorry but not under warranty so nothing they would do about it. Even asked if they would reimburse for the parts only and they just said sorry. Spoke to several mechanics and they were very knowledgable about the problems with dodge transmissions. Will be checking the ball-joints out now after the latest reports.

1. Stops or misses gears on upshift when accelerating.this occurs frequently, and is most apparent when towing/merging into faster traffic, or traveling up an incline.this slip causes the engine to rev into the very high rpms.the last time this occurred, a belt broke and caused the loss of steering in the truck. 2. Shift indicator on the dash does not display indicator when in d drive position.the indicator is lost between neutral and drive positions. 3. Noticeable vibration in the gas pedal when driving in certain speed ranges.it is most noticeable when accelerating between 30 to 40 and 60 to 70. 4.vibration noise can be heard and can be felt in the gas pedal.this is a recent development ( since nov, 1998 ).

Usually driving at highway spped about 60 mphtransmission will keep slipping. Consumer has been at dealer 3 times, and cannot determine cause.

I started having problems with my transmission shifting on its own and the 4x4 selector would slip and make an awful noise when you put it in gear.on 31 january 2004, my transmission went out and left my 2-toddlers and i stranded approximately 2-hours away from home.it is a 1998 dodge durango.it is ironic that an older gentlemen had asked me if i had problems a month earlier with my transmission.when i spoke with a couple repair shops (even a technician at hilikelly dodge in daphne, al), all of them stated that it was a common problem with the dodge transmissions.

Premature wear on upper and lower ball joints on both sides of vehicle. The separation of these components cause the driver to lose control of the steering and could cause the vehicle to roll over causing serious injury or death. In addition to the ball joints, the wheel bearing assemblies fail prematurely which in combination with the ball joint problem greatly increases loss of control of the vehicle.this vehicle also has a problem with the transmission slipping with less than 70,000 miles on it. This causes slow acceleration which could cause an accident resulting in serious injury or death.

Consumer complained about atransmission problem.vehicle hesitated when driving. The front differential pin failed and seized to the pinion shaft the upper and lower ball joints were replaced.

Upper and lower balljoints and front tie rod ends had to be replaced at my expense due to being totally worn out and front tires where worn bald on the inside due to this problem. Gear shift indicator is also not aligned properly since purchase, sits in between neutral and drive while in drive position,transmission will hang in first gear or slip when accelarating causing high rpms, have mainly experienced this problem when vehicle is low on gas, as strange as that may be.have also experienced problems with the vehicle leaking a clear liquid on the passenger side floorboard which appears to be coming from the air conditioner condensation.

I had to have the ball joints replaced 6 months after i bought the truck. The dealership said that my wheels were getting ready to fall off and the truck was to dangerous to drive. Then the transmission went out in august of 2003. I barely had 50,000 miles on it. The brakes on it are terrible. When it is raining i hydroplane just about ever time i put on the brakes. The anti lock brake system is not working properly. Thelight is now on. The speedometer is now broken. It stays at zero most of the time but will occasionally jump up and down while driving. The electric door lock makes a horrible sound when it locks. Last but not least whenever i drive on the interstate and go over 60 mph the engine makes a rattling noise.

I own a 1998 dodge durango front end was popping and the transmissionwas slipping at 51000 miles. It goes into the shop to be checked dec.23, with all the known problems with the front end this makes me very concerned. My wife and i are cheerleding sponsers and travel all over the state with the girls.

Transmission failure at 52,000 miles.total rebuild costing $2,084.00.

At 85000 miles i started having significant problems with the transmission. When first started in the morning the transmission does not shift out of first gear until the tach reads 2500 rpm. This causes a check engine light to come on because the transmission is sending a fault code to the computer. Also there are many many time that the car bogs down when trying to accelerate and then will finally kick into gear however passing speed is very very poor. I had the problem diagnosed and was told it is going to cost well over 1500.00 to repair which is why i have yet to have it done because quite frankly i cannot afford that right now.that is how i found out abnout this complaint service because i was told that 98 durangos have had this problem since the car was built and the more research that i do on it the more i discover that there is truth to that statement. There is no way that a transmission should go out that quickly. I have never used this vehicle to tow anything and it has just been used to go back and forth to work and other normal family errands. I have never taken it off road and therefore i cannot understand why this transmission uis acting so flaky. I am also now getting some very wierd grinding noises when i back up...this is a new sound and will be having this looked at next. It seems as if this car is just deteriorating too quickly. After all i am not even at 100k yet...any help or suggestions would be greatly greatly appreciated.

All four power windows went out in 2001. Transmission is shifting at a higher rpm. It does not shift until 3800 to 4500.this accured at 58000 miles june 4.

Transmission hesitates between 2nd and 3rd gear. When it does shift into 3rd gear the vehicle surges. When shifting into reverse the transmisson gives a clunk noise.took vehicle to dealership for diagnosis and repair.was told from dealer the minimum repair would cost $1400-$1500 but could be more. I opted for a local repair facility.i was shown a complete service and technical bulletin describing the problem and repair for dodge vehicles. The local repair facility service owner had just gotten back from a training seminar on this problem. This really sounded odd, as the dealer when asked by me if there was a class problem in transmissions denied any. Then why would they print manuals and train personnel for problems that do not normally occur.the local repair facility performed hydraulic pressure testing and determined all pressure parameters were being met.then changed all transmission fluids to a higher viscosity.since this was done, i have not experienced any shifting hesitation or problems.the dealer when pressured would only offer 10% off the repair costs. Dodge regional refused to assist in any way.i have personally talked to 4 individuals who own dodges and have had similar problems.

I had a complete automatic transmission failure at just over 60,000 miles. I contacted dodge and they acted as if it wasn't their problem. Cost me $2000 dollars for a complete rebuild. Then after one month of having transmission redone the air conditioning went and cost me another $800 dollars. I complained again and again was treated as if it were my fault. I have a friend that works for a local dodge dealership and he told me that dodge does know about this problem and are denying it exists because of the large number of recalls that would result. He said they did a study and found out that the transmissions that were installed from '97 until 2000 were to small to handle the payload of the durango. They have since fixed that problem but will not admit to earlier damages to the earlier models. By the way, dodge only charges the dealers $400 dollars for the rebuild kits. *ph

Transmission: i bought a 1998 durango in 2001 and have had problems with the transmission since the day i bought it. The transmission slips horribly and may times the truck will not accelerate at all once i reach30 mph and the rpms red line almost every time. Now the transmission is completely shot and i've been told it will be a minimum of 2,000.00. No transmissions could be found at junk yards because it turns out that these vehicles are known to have bad transmissions. *nlm

When co. Rep said the co. Would not compensate due to age and milage even though parts failed far short of normal service life. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.dt

1998 dodge durango...transmission slips between 2nd & 3rd gear.tachometer lurches forward with no power to the axle.this is a very dangerous situation when on the highway attempting to merge or pass.being that chrysler knows about this, they should be forced to remedy the problem, regardless of cost.this has been happening since i purchased the vehicle.i've returned it to the dealer and they said they've never heard of this problem.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.after parking the vehicle, it began moving in reverse.there were no warning indicator lights prior to the failure.the dealer confirmed that the manual shifter was not working properly and the vehicle was unsafe to drive.the dealer serviced the vehicle for a tune up and changed the transmission fluid; however, the failure continued.the dealer also advised the contact to use the parking brake at all times to prevent the vehicle from shifting out of gear.the contact does not feel safe driving the vehicle.the current and failure mileages were 71,109.

Shift indicator replaced, misaligned. Mjs

The end knob on the shift lever of the transmission became loose and can easily be removed. Mjs

Transfer case exploded on i-75 near west branch michigan with parts flying in all directions.lost power and parts blew out driver side rear tire.durango almost flipped over going at this speed.fortunately, there was very little traffic going southbound and as i fishtailed form lane to lane i was able to stop it with incidence.i felt this was an extremely dangerous situation.i still have the damaged transfer case that showshow it exploded.there was no warning.crysler could not have cared less about this situation.all they said was that parts fail so live with it.

Transfer case exploded while driving 70 mph.dealer was contacted. Feel free to provide any further information.

While driving on the highway engine check light came on,vehicle started idling and cut off.pulled over and sat for awhile to cool off, then shift indicatorjumped out of gear.went to putfog lights, and they failed to operate properly. Fog light switch replaced three times,battery and throttle body also replaced.*ml

Vehicle started losing transmission fuel, vehicle stalled out.transfer case had a large crack in it, which was causingfuel to leak out.

There is noautomatic transmissioninterlock system in the 1998 durango.a child moved the automatic transmission, and the vehicle rolled away. It caused a crash.

Vehiclewas shifted out of gear by a two- year old child while parked, causing vehicle to roll into another vehicle.vehicle gear shift was not suppose to moved unless foot was pressed on brake pedal.dealer notified.

Child accidentally moved gear shifter out of park, causing vehicle to go into a lake.

My wife put the car in park to walk into a store and the car jumped into reverse, moving quickly toward a busy street with my son in the back seat.she was able to open the door and dive in, hitting the brakes in time to avoid a collision.her only injury was a bruise on her head from hitting the door frame, but had she not been able to recover in time the car certainly would have ended up in the middle of the street.i have experienced problems with the indicator (telling what gear i am in) in the past, but the dealer dismissed all claims of defect.when i heard of the grand cherokee probe i realized there was somehting i could do to report this problem.i hope others do as well.

Vehicle can be placed in gear from park without applying the brake.this situation could allow unintentional movement of the vehicle and subsequent injury.

While driving in very cold weather, transmission will shift into neutral intermittently, vehicle taken to dealer numerous times in 3 years. Dealer did not have a remedy. Currently, warranty has expired, dealer wanted to rebuilt transmission.

A three year old son climbed into vehicle and shifted gear from park to reverse and again from reverse to drive without ever applyingbrakes.then, shifted again into forward without touching the gas pedal or brake pedal. Crashed into the garage.

Reporting 2-year old child was able to shift vehicle out of gear ( from reverse to forward ).vehicle ran intoanoffice building wall. No injuries reported.

Vehicle was running but it was in park.vehicle slipped into reverse and started to back up.consumer jumped into the vehicle and put the brakes on.

Four wheel drive fails to disengage when going from 4th wheel full time to 2nd wheel drive, drive train torque converter problem.

Replaced power steering pump at 38,627 miles.eplaced lower left ball joint at 38,657 miles.eplaced upper control arm and upper ball joint at 41,634 miles.replaced right front axle and lower right ball joint at 45,946 miles.

The rear axle assembly failed and was replaced.*nlm

My front passenger wheel broke and nearly fell off. The mechanic who fixed it said he didn't know what caused it, probably a defect. It is a 1998 dodge durango.

Abs light stayed on intermitently.abs system locked in normal driving conditions.4- wheel drive malfunctioned. It will not engage in 4- wheel drive. Entire rear end was replaced do to leakage. Ransfer case was replaced to rectifyproblem. Consumer has been arguing that4- wheel drive never worked.

A loud howling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. Took the vehicle to the repair shop where i was told that the rear axle bearings and possibly differential ring and pinion were bad. I was advised by my mechanic to go back to the dealer since this was an original equipment material and workmanship defect obvious by the low (22,000) mileage on the vehicle that looks like the day it came out of the showroom. This vehicle has never been used off-road. I received no satisfaction from the dealer and was told since the vehicle is 9 months out of warranty that i was responsible for repair costs. I strongly disagree. There are several other complaints listed in this section with the same problem i experienced and i've been told by an expert that the rear differential in this vehicle has a serious design defect involving the ring and pinion not being capable of handle the forces imposed by the drivetrain of this vehicle. Repair costs are estimated at $1500 - $2000. Chrysler/dodge should step forward and admit a design flaw exists. I will fight this in court if i have to. Dodge, you should be ashamed of yourself for not fessing up to this.

All four ball joints have failed. Lowers replaced at 80000 miles and uppers at 100000.seems excessive.front axle inner bearings complerte failure which damaged front axle itself and needed replaced.from looking at the many other front suspension complaints lodeged, there appears to be a real problem that should be investigated.front suspension is a real safety concern.

Transmission out put shaft bearing failed.yh

Dealer replaced right axle shaft which included lower and upper ball joints. Consumer stated vehicle was running without warranty, as result cost $650.00.*ph

Vehicle was experiencing loud noise from the rear differential unit. Taken to dealer for repairs, and dealerreplaced differential ring and pinon and rear axle bearing at consumer's cost.also, dealer noticed that some of the bearings were missing when removed.*ml

Whole housing of rear end is defective which eats away the bearings, causing rear end to lock and stop wheels from rolling. Dealer contacted.

Consumer has stated that since she has owned the vehicle all lower ball joints have been replaced once.at this time, all upper ball jointsand cv bootsneed to be replaced as well.

Spoke to dealer about failure and he claimed this is normal. I do not believe the joints should fail at 37000 to 38000 miles.

1998 dodge durango with left turn steering problems. Shop greased the cv joints but now is telling me because of bad design that is the same as what is happening with 2000-2003 i have to spend $1,150 on new upper and lower ball joints.

Vehicle was experiencing loud noise from the rear differential unit.took to repair shop and they replaced left and right side of rear differential.wanted to also repair differential ring and pinion because there was still a loud noise.

When co. Rep said the co. Would not compensate due to age and milage even though parts failed far short of normal service life. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.dt

While driving the vehicle, a loud whining sound was heard coming from the rear of the durango.after verifying the tire pressure was correct and attempting to make sure that the 4wd was not engaged, the whining sound became louder.i took the vehicle in for service to a dealer in north richland hills, tx (a suburb of fort worth).the service advisor was sure that the rear differential needed to be changed and all would be fine.after servicing the differential the service advisor contacted me to let me know that the problem still existed. After further investigation the dealer found that the "ring and pinon set, and cup and cones" needed to be replaced ( this is the ring and pinon gear, the pinon seal, and the side bearing that support the differential case).the estimated cost for this repair was $1323.08.i reminded the service advisor that a 1998 dodge durango with 47333 miles should not have this problem and why should i pay for this repair since i believe that the rear differential problem is a manufacture defect.the service advisor told me that there was nothing that he could do and he suggested i call dodge customer service.after speaking to dodge customer service three times,they "reviewed" my situation.since i did not have any extended warranty, dodge offered to pay half of the repair cost as a "good will gesture".in the end, the rear differential was repaired at a cost to me of $502.28.the total cost of the repair was $1004.56 and with dodge's "good will gesture" the repair cost me out of pocket $502.28.however, after reviewing the numerous complaints listed on this site i feel more strongly that there is a defect in the rear differential of this vechicle.

While on the highway, vehicle's differential freezes and is unable to move forward or backwards.this is not uncommon for this model. There have been failures reported previously by other consumers.consumer feels dodge should recall and repair the problem.*jg

Pinion shaft broke while driving, causing rear end to lock up. Gear busted, and there was a hole in rear end.the gears broke and put a hole in the bottom of rear end.

Had rear rebuilt in 2003 by dealer.back in 12/15/05 rear went again.talked to mechanic he said dodge knows about rears being bad.due to tight tolerances in gears.

This vehicle has had major component breakdowns since purchase.initially, immediately after purchase there was a clicking sound in the steering column.the dealer indicated that there was a tsb and replaced steering column.the second problem occurred in february 2000, some three months after purchase.we began to notice a significant pulsing in the brake pedal.the dealer attributed this to abs brakes.several months later when the pulsing was significantly greater and the braking was being affected, an independent shop reviewed the brakes and indicated that the rotors were severely warped and causing the pulsing sensation.this was repaired out of pocket.in february, 2001 the temperature began fluctuating, spiking higher temperatures causing the check gauge light to illuminate.it would then reset.hanover dodge, a different dealer indicated that the thermostat housing seal was leaking and replaced the thermostat and gasket. This was paid out of pocket.approximately ten days later, the radiator had a major failure requiring replacement.this was paid out of pocket in the amount of $610.33. In may, 2001we were alerted to a problem involving the front end.in bringing the vehicle to the dealer, a leak was noticed from the transmission cooler and also and more critically it was determined that the left upper ball joint required replacement as well as the inner tie rods.these repairs were also paid out of pocket in the amount of $923.45.the latest issue arose several weeks ago when a howling sound was noticed coming from the rear of the vehicle.through research and independent evaluation it has been determined that the rear differential has a design defect whereby the ring and pinion cannot handle the load of the vehicle.i have noted several of the same complaints being made to your organization in this database.we believe that the vehicle we have is defective.each problem has involved a major component or system.

Rear differential locks up.under normal driving conditions it makes the vehicle feel as though the rear end is loose on the road as a low tire pressure problem.when attempting to make a tight turn at an intersection the vehicle requires considerable power to force it through the turn.the unit will release with a sudden bang that would make you think the drivetrain gave way.the vehicle will not achieve its turning radius under these conditions, taking the driver by surprise when trying to pull into traffic.

A loud howling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. Took the vehicle to the repair shop where i was told that the rear axle bearings and possibly differential ring and pinion were bad. I was advised by my mechanic to go back to the dealer since this was an original equipment material and workmanship defect obvious by the low (22,000) mileage on the vehicle that looks like the day it came out of the showroom. This vehicle has never been used off-road. I received no satisfaction from the dealer and was told since the vehicle is 9 months out of warranty that i was responsible for repair costs. I strongly disagree. There are several other complaints listed in this section with the same problem i experienced and i've been told by an expert that the rear differential in this vehicle has a serious design defect involving the ring and pinion not being capable of handle the forces imposed by the drivetrain of this vehicle. Repair costs are estimated at $1500 - $2000. Chrysler/dodge should step forward and admit a design flaw exists. I will fight this in court if i have to. Dodge, you should be ashamed of yourself for not fessing up to this.

1)initially heard a "clunk" from right rear every time we'd hit a bump. Turned out to be not a broken shock absorber, nor the bolt which attaches the shock absorber to the frame, but the actual frame piece to which the bolt/absorber assembly attaches. 2)while observing problem 1, noticed oil/dirt "leak" on driver's side of rear differential/axle.

Defective rear-end of the vehicle including the ring andpinion of the differential. Dodge durango 1998.

Dodge dealer reported that ball joints on 1998 dodge durango have excessive wear and require replacement.the quote to replace exceeded $2000 and i was told at the time that the recall was pending.i am the original owner, vehicle mileage is 76,898.vin is [xxx].i see that the recall is for 2000 through 2003 and that warranty on 2000 thru 2003 models was extended to 100,000 miles for ball joints.is there any recourse? isn't this the same suspension design as the 2000 model? i also replaced the rear axle in 2003 following a total failure resulting in rear locking up and shearing the u-joint and dropping the drive shaft while driving.replacement cost exceeded $3000 and i was told at the time that this is a known problem with durango's as well.updated 07/24/2012*jsinformation redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

I have a 1998 dodge durango with 52,000 miles on it. This past week i noticed a high pitched whine from the rear differential. I have taken the vehicle to the original dealer in corydon, indiana. That i have purchased 2 other vehicles from.they are telling me that i am responsible for either all the cost of repairs, or that they might be able to get chrysler to pay half. I think this extremely unfair. I have had rear differential vehicles with well over 100,000 miles that are still moving with no differential failures. When is someone going to make these car companies stand behind there product. Thanks, for your time. Rlc.

Vehicle was making high pitch sound when gas pedal was pressed. Truck only had 70,000 miles on it when i bought it (april 2003) used. I was assured by well known and respected car dealer (koeppel of new york) that vehicle was in great shape. 6 months later the vehicle need to have the front differential and rear differential to be replaced. Front differential was leaking fluid and rear was causing high pitch noise.*la

We had noticed that the tranmission was acting very sluggish.despite having the vehicle checked, our local shop could not find a problem.while on our way to florida, just outside of birmingham alabama with two children in the car, driving 70 mph on the interstate, we had a catastrophic failure in the vehicle.the transfer case blew up and both driveshafts broke.we were able to be able to stop the vehicle without causing an accident, or having another vehicle hit us, despite the black coud of transfer case fluid trailing behind us.the vehicle required extensive service - to the tune of $ 2,600.00.we had 95,000 miles on the vehicle and were offered no assistance by chrysler.in fact, not even an offer to assist us with the rental cars we were forced to take.

Rear end noise due to failure of the differential unit/ bearings/ pinion. Mjs

Vehicle was experiencing loud noise from the rear differential unit. Taken to dealer for repairs, and dealerreplaced differential ring and pinon and rear axle bearing at consumer's cost.also, dealer noticed that some of the bearings were missing when removed.*ml

While driving, the vehicle had a high pitch squeaking noise. This was caused by a failure in the rear end.the front rotor disk,ring gear and pinion was replaced. *scc

The 1998 dodge durango rear differential unit seized and failed on a major highway . I was unable to move the vehicle and caused us to immediately exit the vehicle to avoid on coming traffic. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where i was told that the rear differential was in pieces. The dealer denied to absorb the repair cost for they said it was out of warranty. I appealed to the customer service representative who denied the claim. I called an independent insurance tech rep and he concluded it was a serious design flaw.in my personal opinion i feel dodge should inspect and repair these vehicles.

While backing out of driveway car made a loud noise, car was inoperable, car was towed to dealer. Was notified by the dealer that the ring and piniongar had cracked, and rear needs to be replaced.

Whining noise coming from rear.took to dodge dealership.needs complete rear end rebuild.$1300-$1500 estimate. Only 63k miles.apparently it's a design defect by dodge.

I own a 1998 dodge durango. In the last 2 years i have had to replace the engine and drive shaft, simply because they failed. The suv has been meticulously cared for; all maintenance schedules have been followed. In addition, the abs computer/system had to be replaced, and now 15 months later, the abs light has come on again. I wanted to know if other customers have experienced similar problems with this vehicle. When i called customer service, the only people i have been able to talk to have beenthe low level employee. They will not, and probably have been instructed not to, forward the call to someone in upper management. They will not give me any information as to whether the problems i have had with this vehicle are common.this has been very frustrating.

Ball joints casuing undue wear and tear on tirereplaced front tire 3 times in 2 years

My 1998 durango drive shaft had to be replaced due to metal flaking off from corrosion.car has only 53000 miles and is parked on blacktop driveway and is not used for plowing or off-road activity.used for travel in northeast winter climate. *ph

Was driving approximately. 60mph when vehicle started to vibrate. Had rear windows down & front windows up. Mechanic said driveshaft was causing problem & vehicle was working like it was made.

When first accelerating or braking to a stop there is a shimmying in the front end took vehicle to dealership was told wheel alignment was needed got alignment problem stillthere was told i had a busted belt went out and purchased four new tires took vehicle back to dealership to have them look at it again was told had defective u-joint and driveshaft has to be replaced. I feel this is a manufacturing defect that probably is not just my durango.

We had noticed that the tranmission was acting very sluggish.despite having the vehicle checked, our local shop could not find a problem.while on our way to florida, just outside of birmingham alabama with two children in the car, driving 70 mph on the interstate, we had a catastrophic failure in the vehicle.the transfer case blew up and both driveshafts broke.we were able to be able to stop the vehicle without causing an accident, or having another vehicle hit us, despite the black coud of transfer case fluid trailing behind us.the vehicle required extensive service - to the tune of $ 2,600.00.we had 95,000 miles on the vehicle and were offered no assistance by chrysler.in fact, not even an offer to assist us with the rental cars we were forced to take.

Consumer states that while driving, the rear drive shaft fell off of vehicle. *ph

Consumer has been experiencing a loud grinding noise, at first consumer thought it was the brakes, then discovered it was not the brakes, but the driveshaft, consumer was told that chrysler had been having a lot of similar problems. Could have an accident if rear end locked up. Chrysler was unwilling to assit with the repairs.

Suspension, drive train, and front ball joints bad - 1989, dodge, durango.

While drivingthe vehicle on a highway at high speed, approximately 70mph. Whenpushing on the gas pedal, attempting to pass another vehicle, the transmission starts to slip and would not find the higher gear. The transmissionfailed, and was unable to pass the other vehicles. Dealer was notified, and stated it wasa normal problem with these vehicles, and cannot duplicate the problem

The overdrive failed at 65 mph, the transmission locked up/failed at 30 mph and vehicle skipped to a stop.

We had noticed that the tranmission was acting very sluggish.despite having the vehicle checked, our local shop could not find a problem.while on our way to florida, just outside of birmingham alabama with two children in the car, driving 70 mph on the interstate, we had a catastrophic failure in the vehicle.the transfer case blew up and both driveshafts broke.we were able to be able to stop the vehicle without causing an accident, or having another vehicle hit us, despite the black coud of transfer case fluid trailing behind us.the vehicle required extensive service - to the tune of $ 2,600.00.we had 95,000 miles on the vehicle and were offered no assistance by chrysler.in fact, not even an offer to assist us with the rental cars we were forced to take.

Vehicle was in park w/emergency brake on.when putting boat on trailer transfer case popped into neutral causing car to roll into water.transfer case had popped into n before, but was not repeatable.

Driving approx. 25 mph on icy road, turned right onto another road and "it was as if you thowed the vehicle into nuetral". Causing vehicle to come to a complete stop in the middle of the roadway.

The consumer stated theseal on the transfer case leaked fluid. In addition the rear end disintegrated. Dealer notified. Consumer stated a trucks rear end shouldn't disintegrate with 81000 miles. *ph

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

My husband and i own a 1998 dodge, durango.we have a 17 month old daughter that we have installed a car seat in the back seat for and on several occassions we have noticed the seat belt that holds her seat in has become unlatched.it has recently been brought to my attention that this is a gen3 seat belt and this is a common problem with this latch.

1998 dodge durango with gen 3 safety belts.

While driving at 40 mph in a head-on collision without warning, seat belt failed to restrain driver from moving forward, consumer sustained major head injuries. *yd

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph over a patch of black ice, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wallbefore rolling over. The contact mentioned that the air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt unlatched instead of restraining the driver. A police report was filed. The contact stated that neither the driver nor the passenger sustained any injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 96,000 and the current mileage was 124,000. Updated 11/20/14 the consumer stated both the passenger and driver were in shock and have had ongoing back problems. The passenger needed a metal rod in the back due to the failure of the seat belt. Updated 5/6/2015

Dt*:the contact stated that the left seat belt in the second row of the vehicle would not unlatch once it was buckled.the belt on the right failed to latch at all, and the metal in the buckle was exposed.the vehicle was not taken to a dealer.

The driver and passenger seat belts failed to restrain consumer, when the vehicle was involved in an accident.

While traveling on highway and without prior warning driver's side seatbelt will comeloose.dealership is aware ofproblem.

I have the gen3 seatbelts and chrysler refuses to recall these vehicles.

Consumer found the seat belt buckle undone a few times owning it to them becoming a little loose and the child seat tilting over on the release button.*jg

Seatbelt are defective and prone to unlatching improperly.

During vehicle collision seat belt did not restrain properly, no deployment of air bags until after consumer hit windshield,resulting in injuries

Driver seat belt doesn't always fasten.

Gen three seatbelts are in this vehicle.they need replaced to gen 4.

There has been no incident yet, but the driver side seat belt is coming apart and is so twisted as to be unsafe. The red button in the center of the buckle is coming out of the casing. I am concerned for my family's safety.

Almost every time i go to put my children in their car-seats the safety belts have been released from the children wiggling to get into their car-seats.we make a big issue of our children being properly installed intheir car-seats.we have read all the user manuals and even taken classes to insure we are installing them properly.none of this does us any good when the seat-belts release so easily.i have problems with this almost daily.will it take one of my family being injured or even killed before there will be something done.this has happend more times than i could even count.

1998 dodge durango seat belt buckle broke.

Front of driver's seat has separated fromtrack.dealer has been notified, and toldconsumer thatpartswere on back order.dealer replaced track.back seat buckle broke.

Seat belt latch.

Brakes failed at 50mph. Slammed into the back of semi truck at 40mph and totaled vechile. The seatbelt restrant and airbag system failed to engage. I slammed into the steering wheel to break 2 ribs and crack my sternum. If the airbags would have went off i wouldnt be having back and neck problems either. I wish dodge would help us instead of hurting us.

Shoulder restraint fails to operate in cold temperatures (less than 25 degrees). Chrysler will not replace untill dealership can duplicate problem. Chrysler has been notified that this is unacceptable, due to unreliability of said seat belt. If seat belt will not retract, children will not have the means to be safely restrained in the vehicle.

While drivingshoulder belts for the middle seats tighten around the occupant for no reason.occupant has to keep taking the seat belt off to readjust it. Van taken to the dealership. Problem has not been corrected. Please provide any further information.

Defective seatbelt:the locking seatbelt mechanism on my doge durango fell apart in my hands.i contacted doge who told me the car was too old (98) and too many miles (60,000)they suggested i buy a new doge vehicle.

The rear seat belt locking mechanism fell apart in the consumer's hand.*mr

While pulling vehicle out onto the roadfront driver's side seat broke.seat itself rocks back and forth. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.

The bracket for the driver side seat broke while driving making the seat rock back and forth. Had to hold onto the stearing wheel to make it home. After reviewing saw that this is a commin problem and dodge should fix not have me pay the $400 i had to pay to fix their faulty equipment.

Drivers side electric seat moves back when accelerating and goes forward when braking feels like your going to go through the windshield.

Seat back repaired and ultimately replaced.yh

Front of driver's seat has separated fromtrack.dealer has been notified, and toldconsumer thatpartswere on back order.dealer replaced track.back seat buckle broke.

The front drivers seat rocks back and forth the seat adjustor is broken not sure how it happened just went to go some where one day and it started rocking when i would accelerate.

I own a 1998 dodge durango 5.9l that has the driver side seat bracket broken and the seat slides 1 inch or more when braking.after doing some research i find out that this is a common problem.there are several websites discussing this.this could be a major problem if an accident occurs resulting in possible fatalities.links:http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279098http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/dodge/durango/r33777/comments/

Driving along when seat track "broke" seat now travels back and forward while driving, braking or accellerating...causing my body to be pushed forward or backward.could cause an accident within itself. Something needs to be done about this situation. My durango only has around 87,000 original miles an extremely well taken care of truck but with this problem, i fill like i am driving a broke down peice of sh.. And i love my truck.seems like i have been lucky for mine to have lasted as long.

While accelerating, heard a "snap" under the drivers seat. This power seat now has a rocking motion when accelerating or slowing down. Checked the internet and found countless number of blogs and comments on this exact problem, with some saying their seat is actually sliding back and forth on the seat rails. This is a known problem and i cannot believe that this is not a safety issue, warranting some recall or remedy by chrysler. If this seat can slide free in a hard acceleration or emergency stop, this could create accident or severe injury. This has not been addressed by the manufacturer !

98 dodge durango drive side seat failure.the drive side seat rocks unless in the extreme forward/back positions.dealers what$500-$900 to fix this common problem that they claim they never heard of.this is an obvious design flaw that happens in a wide rang of dodge suvs/trucks.if i hit the brakes my seat slides forward causing me to unitentionally "slam" on my brakes.

The driver's seat started to travel when braking. Now the seat will not stay in an adjusted position. I am concerned because the seat will travel in the event of a crash.

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

Noticed driver's seat rocking force and aft during acceleration and stopping.took vehicle to dealer for repair.dealer said parts on order.parts never arrived.dealer now claims situation normal.failure of this component during operation will result in loss of vehicle control leading to possible injury and/or damage.

I have a 98 durango and for the last 4 yrs the seat has moved about an inch back and forth.now they say it wont pass inspection.

1998 dodge durango (purchased new)drivers power seat slides up to 1+ inches backward and forward when applying brakes or accelerating.problem began several years ago, thought it was an isolated issue to my vehicle, however, upon reviewing other owners' online comments it appears that there may be hundreds or more with this serious safety defect.when driving, if you do not hold onto the steering wheel 'tightly' you slide 'back and forth' to the point of it affecting both braking and acceleration control of the vehicle. This is only one of many website locations that has been describing this serious problem since year 2002 or before.http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/dodge/durango/r33777/comments/.

The driver's seatloosened from the seat tracks, causing the seat to move back and forth. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

I just purchased a 1998 dodge durango with 116,000 miles. When i drove it off the dealer's lot i noticed the drivers power seat travels at least an inch back and forth when accelerating or decelerating. The dealer says this is normal for this model. The travel interferes with braking. Online research indicates this is a common problem. Dodge indicate the problem is a failure caused by cracks in the seat track. Shouldn't the seat track be expected to last as last as the vehicle?

I was crossing thru a unpaved road which was a little bumpy rocking my truck from left to right an my driver seat slid forward an back in which i heard a snap an my seat dropped in the back after sliding forward an back a couple times. Now my seat is at an odd position and when i come to a stop or drive off from a stop my seat slides back or forward. Very uncomfortable.

Front driver'sseatis held down with a plastic piece.now seats rocks to the back. Also,with sudden accelerationfront seat tilts.

1998 dodge durango slt drivers power seat rocking and tilting due to faulty power seat track.

The lumbar support lever was activated by my husband and when activated, it sticks out beyond the driver's seat about 1/2 inch.when i got into the vehicle, my lower back hit the lever resulting in two bulged discs and a tear in the l4-s1 region on the right side.the severity of the injury has resulted in approximately $10,000 of medical bills.this is obviously a design flaw in that a lumbar support lever should not be in the pathway of one's back when entering the vehicle.

The drivers seat a slides back and forth and feels as if it is going to come off of the tracks.i see on the internet that this is a common problem, however, i talked with dodge customer care and they say they have never heard of it.this is a major safety issue if the seat bracket fails.

The drivers side power seat moves backwards about 2 inches when i accelerate and comes forward the same amount when i brake.i purchased the vehicle used and the previous owner said it has always been that way.after researching online i have found hundreds of cases of the same thing.a recall is in order here as not only does this malfunction affect the safety of driver and passengers, it will only get worse as the movement will eventually cause the entire thing to fail.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.whenever the contact depresses the brake pedal, the driver's seat suddenly jerks forward.she did not notice any differences beforehand.the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer.the current and failure mileages were 200,000.

Date complaint filed: 04/26/2014component(s): seatsdate of incident: 04/02/2010nhtsa id number: 10565005 vehicle identification no. (vin):summary:the drivers side power seat moves backwards about 2 inches when i accelerate and comes forward the same amount when i brake. I purchased the vehicle used and the previous owner said it has always been that way. After researching online i have found hundreds of cases of the same thing. A recall is in order here as not only does this malfunction affect the safety of driver and passengers, it will only get worse as the movement will eventually cause the entire thing to fail.

The mechanical connection between the front cushion motor and the front of the seat failed, allowing the driver's seat to rock back and forth about 8 inches on the rear seat pivot. This rocking motion results in the lifting of the driver's foot from the brake or gas pedal, and a possible loss of vehicle control. If backing up, especially while on an incline, and the brake is applied, the seat will rock to the rear, lifting the driver's foot from the brake pedal. If the accelerator is hit too hard in drive, the foot is lifted from the accelerator, resulting in a sudden loss of vehicle control..

The drivers seat rocks back and forth as if it is loose if not in the fully forward or fully rearward positions.i have seen on the internet from other dodge owners that it is due to the seat rails (or tracks) being cracked.

Interior headliner, seat cushion and interior trim panel materialloose. Mjs

The bracket that holds the drivers seat down is made out of plastic and it broke when i sat in it and leaned back in the seat.i am a 6'3" man that only weights about 190lbs., it should not have broke.it concerns me because if all i did was lean back in the seat....what will happen in a auto accident?

Plastic tilt seat motor which operates different seating positions broke.this part also holds seat toframe. Please give further details.

The power adjuster driveseatbroke,making the seattoo loose. It moved back and forthwhile driving, causing a distraction to the consumer. Dealership was notified.

Driver's side seatis fastened to an electrical motor with a three inch piece of plastic.plastic piece had snapped in half which has causedseat to back away fromseat frame while driving. This hascausedseat to fully collapse. Consumer has contacteddealer. Please provide any further details.

I would like to report 2 safty defects with my 1998 dodge durango.first is the poor quality wheel studs.during various tire rotations at a qualified service center, six studs have broken (twice at the dealer).i'm really worried that at some point a wheel may come off while i'm driving.second, the drivers power adjust seat rocks back and forth during braking & acceleration.this is annoying and i'm afraid that eventually, it's going to break all the way loose.

The driver seat broke while i was in the car. I leaned back to adjust my coat and seat belt and the seat broke off its mounting to the floor of the vehicle. It rocked violently backward.i momentarily lost control of the vehicle.had i been in traffic this could have led to an accident.

Drivers power seat uses plastic nuts that have both broken requiring me to by a new seat for $500.the nuts are used to change the level of the seat cushion and after the nut broke the seat reclines back when i excellerate making it difficult to drive as you can imagine.

While driving 65 mphnoticed that driver's seat was rocking back and forth.vehicle at dealer at this time.

Drivers power seat is rocking back and forth. There was no event leading up to the failure.one day i got in the car and it was rocking. Vehicle has not been in an accident and from research i have done it seems that many other 1998 dodge durango owners are also affected.this defective component is costing durango owners between $500-$600 to replace.if this seat issue isn't addressed, it can cost dodge durango owners their lives if these "cheap" seats let loose during a collision.i am calling chrysler customer care to report problem.

While driving 25 mph front driver'sside seat collapsedbackward.consumerwas able to maintain control ofvehicle, and drove it to the dealer.mechanic determined thatfront seat needed to be replaced , and the seat was on back order from the manufacturer.

Seat belt web is in close proximity to second row seat base latch mechanism for the outside seat and can drop down, interfering with the latch.seat will pivot back to its normal position, but may not be properly latched. If this happens and vehicle wasto make a maneuver, such as hard braking, the second row outside seat can pivot forward and hit driver in back of head.

Third row of seats, when applying the latch to get out of the vehicle, the third row of seats won't allow the door to open.

The driver side seat track has broken off.the seat now will rock back and forth when the vehicle is in motion.

The driver seat collapsed while the consumer was driving. *mr the consumer requested reimbursement. *scc

Nyle maxwell dodge supercenter in austin texas was paid to fix my sensor light for the antilock brake system which comes on continuously and stays on 100 percent of the time.i was told that they needed to replace a sensor which would cost just over $1100, and was required to sign off on a form so they could begin the work.after they had my dodge durango a couple of days, february 27, 2013, i got a phone call from service to say they could not completely fix the problem and that the light still comes on "intermittently".their explanation was confusing.so i believe that i understand from this, if the warning light is on that the abs brake will not be working at all.after this, i was given an option of paying another $350 for a separate part, perhaps "module" and the service man felt it would be the solution.i collected my car without nyle maxwell dodge supercenter having fixed this $1100 issue.but i paid their bill.(i need to take it somewhere for a second unbiased opinion.)as a customer/consumer of their service agreement, i should have the right to expect them to fix it from here on out to completion at the expense of nyle maxwell dodge supercenter; or refund me.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. While the vehicle was idling, the engine suddenly shut off. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injection lines were faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued to occur. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the ceiling light inside the vehicle would erroneously turn on. In addition, when depressing the brake pedal, a banging noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000.

Anti-lock system failed.

Brakes lock and car highly succeptable to hydroplaning when turning, especially from a stopped position, on any level of rainfall.most serious incident involved car turning 360 degrees twice then resting opposite side of roadway, in oncoming traffic lanes, after jumping a low median, completely out of my control.i was attempting to turn on a green arrow from a dead stopped position, going approx 0-5 mph when losing control of the car.i do not feel safe driving this vehicle.

Front brakes lock up on wet surfaces during braking resulting in a loss of control.one time nearly slid into a curb sideways.another time nearly slid into oncoming cross traffic at an intersection.several times the durango has slid in wet parking lots.

Consumer's vehicle was involved in an collision while going about 55-60 mph and a van crossed in front, causing consumer's vehicle to rear-end the other vehicle. Abs brakes failed.consumer pushed the brakes down to the floor, but vehicle still did not stop. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy.

I own a 1998 dodge durango. In the last 2 years i have had to replace the engine and drive shaft, simply because they failed. The suv has been meticulously cared for; all maintenance schedules have been followed. In addition, the abs computer/system had to be replaced, and now 15 months later, the abs light has come on again. I wanted to know if other customers have experienced similar problems with this vehicle. When i called customer service, the only people i have been able to talk to have beenthe low level employee. They will not, and probably have been instructed not to, forward the call to someone in upper management. They will not give me any information as to whether the problems i have had with this vehicle are common.this has been very frustrating.

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

Dt: contact stated both lower ball jointswere replaced twice on vehicle.also, both front tireshad to be replaced twice.the service dealer stated the tires needed replacement due to the failure of the ball joints.the first replacement occurred when the vehicle'smileage was at 27,280.the second replacement occurredat 43,908 miles. Consumer statedfront end was making a squeaking noise and was driving differently.consumer contacted manufacturer, and was sending the service receipts.there was a recall on different modelyearfor this specific component, but consumer's vehiclewas not included in the recall campaign due to vin.consumer didnot have the complete address for the dealership where the vehicle was purchased.repair receipts attached for ball joints.windshield sprayer sprays one side.connector repalced.front brake pads and rotors machined.

I took vehicle to my mechanic, complaint regarding left front brake.already had new brakes, rotors replaced one year ago.mechanic found that the ball joints need replaced.vehicle has 59,000 miles on it, and has already had ball joints replaced, during a tsb repair bulletin, several years ago, on my 1998 dodge durango, 4x4.mechanic says that spindles need replaced, along with ball joints.premature failure, vehicle should drive for 100,000 miles before a failure such as this on the ball joints.currently waiting on parts from dealer, to replace worn parts, had extended warranty, but already ran out in may 2005.am also having bushings replaced, due to extreme temps in phoenix area.will cost over $3000.00 to do the repairs, which should either be recalled by dc, or covered under warranty.will also call and complain to dealer.

Vehicle failed state inspection.needed to replace the upper and lower ball joints.both upper and lower ball joints were replaced and vehicle passed inspection.the front brakes and rotors were also replaced.*ph*nlm

Front brakes (replaced 3x's in one year) keep failing on dodge durango causing uneven tire wear and alignment to shift. I've had to replace the front tires 4 times and the rear tires twice since i bought this vehicle january 2,2000. All tires wear at an angle with several bald spots in different places. I also replaced the water pump and radiator february 2003. Now the air conditioner is not working. The transmission went out a couple of months after i purchased the vehicle. It was still under warranty, but i still had to pay 300.00 out of pocket for whatever reason.

Dodge durango 1998 brake line rusted through .i checked your web site and found recall id nhtsa:99v341000 which is exactly what happened .icontacted two dodge dealers , and they said there was never any recall for that problem .

Brakes malfunction in rain, causing vehicle to skid.

The front wheels do not lock when applying the brakes. The rear brakes seem to be defective. The dealer can find no defects.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.while driving approximately 35 mph on normal road conditions, the brake pedal required greater force in order for the vehicle to slow down.suddenly, the brake pedal extended to the floor.the abs and brake warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit until the engine was turned off.the stopping distance increased when braking.the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and they discovered nhtsa campaign id number 99v341000 (service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses).the vehicle was previously repaired under a recall; however, it was insufficient in remedying the failures.the vehicle has not been repaired.the failure mileage was 130,000 and current mileage was 139,000.

Rear brakes squeak.

I bought this car used in the last week of november '08. I had my brakes done by an individual maybe two weeks later. A couple of day later driving home from work i started hearing a real loud iron grinding noise. The next day i had the car towed to aamco, who told me my caliper pins had came out, and i would need a new steering knuckle and a set of caliper pins.the truck was fixedcosting me $525 (noting: mechanic used a used steering knuckle.) now 2 months after those repairs i need a wheel spindle, and caliper bolts because the threading have stripped away and something totally unrelated a neutral safety switch. Costing me $580. I was told that by firestone who told me i needed new tie rods and then corrected themselves by telling me i needed a new steering knuckle - who wouldn't even work on my car because of liability told me that it was unsafe to drive because the right front tire could literally fall off due to lack of support and cause a major or serious accident, and that i needed to take it back to aamco. I didn't want to because i felt aamco should have fixed this the first time.but after fighting with them and reading the other complaints maybe they're not in the wrong.

I purchased my durango in 1998, i have had it in to the dealer because of steering column noise, was told nothing was wrong with it.my front right brake squeals and i get grease on my wheels, had replaced, still makes the noise.my fuel strap was replaced in a previous recall.now i am going to have to have the ball joints redone, they are separating.was told vehicle is unsafe to drive, wheel will fall off.i would like to know why there has been no recalls on this problem.we also have a friend that has a 2000 that needs to replace his because of the same situation.will there be a recall?

Brakes failed at 50mph. Slammed into the back of semi truck at 40mph and totaled vechile. The seatbelt restrant and airbag system failed to engage. I slammed into the steering wheel to break 2 ribs and crack my sternum. If the airbags would have went off i wouldnt be having back and neck problems either. I wish dodge would help us instead of hurting us.

Brake pedal gradually becomes stiff until it wont move.truck begins to shake and burning smell form front brakes.increased stopping distance.

On two different occasionsthe vehicle was invoved in twoaccidents. Inboth cases vehiclewas coming down a hill whenbrake failed to operate onwet road conditions. Reason unknown. Vehiclehave been inspected by dealer and informed that nothing could be found.

Abs/brake lights came on. We took the car to a reputable dealer for repairs. First, we were told that the rear speed sensor was defective. The lights came back on 3 months later. Then, we were told that the main relay was open and it need resetting. The lights came on again. We took it back and was told the same thing again( main relay was open). The lights came back on again. This last time we took it in we were told that it needs a antilock controller module, which cost at the minimun of $600.00.

When pressing the brake pedal hears a knocking noise, and the pedal goes to the floor. Provide further details.

Front brakes lock up on ice. Also, there's a bad howling noise when the brakes are applied in cold weather.dealerfound nothing wrong. *ml

1) abs and brake lights came on, whining noise from front end2) dealer determined ball joints in front and wheel bearings in serious shaped, laughed at how i was just driving on the highway since the likelihood of the wheels falling off was so high.3. Dealer installed 2 hub brakes, bearings in front ($1025.30 cost) and overhauled rear differential, bearings worn and excessive movement in pinion ($924.48).* now i hear nhtsa has discovered this on 00-03 durangos (mine is a 98) and wants chrysler to recall them. I paid all this money to correct a problem even the federal government says is chrysler's fault. They should give me at least a credit for future repairs.

While traveling in damp weather andwhen depressing the brakes, one of the rear wheels would lock up, causing consumer to skid. Dealer has been contacted. *ml

Brakes lock up duringfirst few times they are used in the mornings.this problem occurs at any speed. Dealership has examinedvehicle and cannot reproduce the problem.please provide any additional information / attachments.

Abs failure,vehicle had 500 miles.car slammed on brakes in front of me.i slammed on brakes.front brakes locked, rear brakes did not work at all.the dealership and mechanincs can not find failure.dealership claims there is nothing wrong with the brakes.

When applying brakes on wet pavement abs systemactivated, but failed to stop vehicle, causing extended stopping distance, andresulting in a collision. Please give any further details.

I had to have the ball joints replaced 6 months after i bought the truck. The dealership said that my wheels were getting ready to fall off and the truck was to dangerous to drive. Then the transmission went out in august of 2003. I barely had 50,000 miles on it. The brakes on it are terrible. When it is raining i hydroplane just about ever time i put on the brakes. The anti lock brake system is not working properly. Thelight is now on. The speedometer is now broken. It stays at zero most of the time but will occasionally jump up and down while driving. The electric door lock makes a horrible sound when it locks. Last but not least whenever i drive on the interstate and go over 60 mph the engine makes a rattling noise.

All of the vehicle's ball joints had to be replaced.the consumer stated that there was a problem in the front end of the vehicle.the recall did not include the consumers vehicle.the consumer would like to be reimbursed for the amount she paid for service. The abs and brake light came on . Theright inner tie rod assembly was replaced. *tc

After parking car in driveway, abs motor turns on and stay on even after turning the key off, had to act quick to pull the 40 amp fuse under hood before the abs hcu motor over heat. Can someone explain why dodge needs a 40amp fuse to power a less than 20amp abs control unit, and why does the motor stays on when the ignition should have shut everything down. That could have being a fire hazard if i have let the motor stay running. Both abs fuse or pulled at this time so i can commuted to and from work without worry about the hcu motor running.

While driving on highway and when brakes are applied or vehicle hits abump in the road vehicle will pull to right or left.driver lost control of steering. Contacted dealer. Also, steering column had totally disengaged. Caused by design flaw.

Upon traveling on dry or wet pavement and when making any stop consumer had difficulty instopping. Brake faded away, resulting in extended stopping distance. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.

Consumer was driving at 50 mph whenvehicle started to accelerate on its own ,hitting speeds of 80 mph.consumer applied brakes, but did not override the accelration. Consumer then shifted into park ,lost control of vehicle, turned igntion to off positon and pulled it out , wheels was still spinning for about 2-3 seconds afterwards.

Anti-lock brake system is not working.when applying brakes, wheels locked up causing vehicle to drive straight throughan intersection.

Brakes lock up on wet surfaces, resulting in a loss of control.

While driving in one lane and approaching a stop light on a 35mph road. On weet streets, and while trying to slow down, front brakes locked up and vehicleslid into another vehicle.

Abs light stayed on intermitently.abs system locked in normal driving conditions.4- wheel drive malfunctioned. It will not engage in 4- wheel drive. Entire rear end was replaced do to leakage. Ransfer case was replaced to rectifyproblem. Consumer has been arguing that4- wheel drive never worked.

Abs brakesfail to operate properly,and air bags failed to deploy during a crash at approx. 28 mph impact.manufacturer notified.

Rear abs failure when a dear ran out in front of me.front brakes locked up, rear of suv passed the front.dear was hit with the left front and left side as the vehicle skidded out of control.1 death if you count the dear

The abs never worked since purchasing the car. It was reported to the dealer but they kept saying that it was working probably due to the fact that there were no error codes being captured. Recently the abs and brake lights came on. Even with the lights on no error codes were being reported. After several visits to the dealer they finally replaced the control module. The abs works with the new control module and it is now obvious that the abs never worked.

No summary listed for this vehicle.

Abs lights came on intermittently for several months then finally stays on all the time.the dealer said that the abs unit is defective and charged her $750 for replacement.the consumer was rather upset because the vehicle was just outside of warranty.

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

Abs light ondashboard stays on whenconsumer is drivingvehicle. Contacted dealer, anddealerwas not willing to do anything.

Abs light stays illuminated while driving. Dealer has inspectedvehicle.

Consumer experiencingbrake failure.whenever vehicle is used in reverse on an incline the vehicle would only slow down, but will not stop properly. Dealer/mfr. Notified;dealer informed consumer that they cannot duplicate or resolve the problem.

2 accidents,in last year where hitting brakes fast & hard failed at 30mph to stop vehicle.

Electrical system suddenly went out all gauges radio etc front area. Checked all fuses and nothing was burnt out.restarted engine four times before reset and then was ok.have had recurring locking of brakes and grinding lose of control at low speeds and on wet roads.disc brakes have no wear indicators on pads and it resulted in being worn down and ate into the front rotors before i was aware that the pads were shot.i had to buy new rotors and pads and the replacement pads also did not have indicators.the dealer stated that was the way that they were manufatured and i then stated that this was a severe and potentially dangerous and deadly oversight and that it should be corrected.i contacted chrysler and they stated that they had no recall on this and that they had no technical problems or bulletins on this.my battery also suddenly went out without any warning and it caused the engine to die.i could not restart the engine and a new battery had to be installed.power windows went out and could not be opened or closed by drivers switch.

On wet pavement, approaching stop sign or stop light, when applying the brakes normally, the brakes lock up, causing the vehicle to skid.accidents have narrowly been avoided.the problem seems similar to the one that led to the recent recall of gm suv's and other vehicles.the vehicle has been taken back to a dodge dealer to be checked out, but they found nothing wrong.

Whiledriving in neighborhood another vehicle pulled outinfront. Consumer slammed on brakes and front wheels locked up, vehicle skidded andslammedinto the vehiclein front. Contacted dealerwho said that brake pads never touched the drums. Also, rear arm actuator power windows will not go up or down.

Brake rotors wear unevenly due to the brake pad being rusted. This causesextended stopping distance.please provide further information.

This vehicle has had major component breakdowns since purchase.initially, immediately after purchase there was a clicking sound in the steering column.the dealer indicated that there was a tsb and replaced steering column.the second problem occurred in february 2000, some three months after purchase.we began to notice a significant pulsing in the brake pedal.the dealer attributed this to abs brakes.several months later when the pulsing was significantly greater and the braking was being affected, an independent shop reviewed the brakes and indicated that the rotors were severely warped and causing the pulsing sensation.this was repaired out of pocket.in february, 2001 the temperature began fluctuating, spiking higher temperatures causing the check gauge light to illuminate.it would then reset.hanover dodge, a different dealer indicated that the thermostat housing seal was leaking and replaced the thermostat and gasket. This was paid out of pocket.approximately ten days later, the radiator had a major failure requiring replacement.this was paid out of pocket in the amount of $610.33. In may, 2001we were alerted to a problem involving the front end.in bringing the vehicle to the dealer, a leak was noticed from the transmission cooler and also and more critically it was determined that the left upper ball joint required replacement as well as the inner tie rods.these repairs were also paid out of pocket in the amount of $923.45.the latest issue arose several weeks ago when a howling sound was noticed coming from the rear of the vehicle.through research and independent evaluation it has been determined that the rear differential has a design defect whereby the ring and pinion cannot handle the load of the vehicle.i have noted several of the same complaints being made to your organization in this database.we believe that the vehicle we have is defective.each problem has involved a major component or system.

The consumer heard that there was a recall on dodge durangos.the consumer stated that when he was driving his vehicle and made a hard turn it sounded as if his tires were rubbing.while driving slowly, the front end of the vehicle felt funny. The consumer stated he was afraid to drive the vehicle any distance.the abs brake light also came on and stayed on.

Consumer was traveling about 45mph on highway and appliedbrakes.pedal went all the way tofloor, and brakes didn't grab. Vehicle lost control and ws involved in a collision.dealership was aware of problem.

Dt*: the contact stated while at the dealership for a tire replacement and alignment the dealership observed the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced prior to the tire replacement.there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint.the vin was not included in the recall.the dealership replaced the upper and lower ball joints on both sides.since purchase, the abs light and brake light intermittently illuminate.as a result, smoke comes from the wheel well area.the dealership was notified about the problem however, they are unable to duplicate it.

Consumer stated that while driving and without warning front lower ball joints are wearing out. Dealer notified.this would be the third time for both abs sensors to be replaced as well as the rear differential. *scc

Abs indicator light comes on intermittently, brakes work as they should. Dealer replaced the sensor. One week later,abs light illuminated again. Dealer stated brakes were working, but they could not find the source of the problem. The solenoid was replaced. The following dayabs indicator came on four times. Dealer suggested replacing the computer.

I special ordered two 1998 durangos that were built within 3 months of each other.both units were ordered with the optional 4 wheel abs system. One vehicle the abs sensors failed, and then within 90 days the abs module failed casuing erratic driving behavior. The module was replace at 93k miles. The unit has 150k on it currently with no more abs problems. The second durango with 63k miles just experienced the same problem. Abs failure that caused the unit to sway and drive irratically especially on turns and when braking. A 5 star rated dodge dealerin the dc area replaced the abs module and actuator (sp) to correct the problem. In both instances the cars were very unstable to drive. Abs module repair to unit one was @$650, the other durango abs repairs were $1450. Contacted daimler-chrysler to see if there were any tsbs on this problem they said sorry, and they were not responsible for saftey related repairs beyond the oringinal warranty period, and unwilling to investigate the problem. I find it very alarming that 2 trucks built with in months of each other, with identical mechanical specs experience the same saftey related problem. I also own a 2001 durango, and a 2002 dodge ram 1500 and both of these units were ordered with the upgrade 4-wheel abs brakes. My concern, is there a design flaw in this system that could cause harm to my family in these new model trucks, or is this a covered up problem on the 1998 models. Both 1998's had different drivers, my father (82)and my oldest son (34 yrs) have been primary drivers on the 63k mile durango, and my self and spouse (50) the primary on the other unit. Both units have full servicehistories at 5 starr rated dodge dealers...please advise...remeber you guys said the abs was the safest way to protect my family from harm......

Truckis not equipped with abrake warning sensor. Owner has no way of knowing when the brakes need to be serviced which could lead to a crash.*ml

Brakes failed.yh

While pulling inside of a parking space consumer applied the brakes.there was a loud squeaking noise and the pedal was very hard. The dealership is aware of the problem. Tsthe abs light would intermittently illuminate.consumer feels this is an issue of design or part flaw.*jg

Coming off the ramp while driving at 15 mph on wet pavement,consumer applied the brakes,and the brakes went straight to the floorboard, causing the consumer to rear end vehicle in front, and neither air bag deployed.

During wet conditions 1 brake will lock up causing the other 3 brakes to fail to operate. This has happened several times, once causing me to slide into an intersection. I had the same problem with a 1997 dodge dakota which, i assume has a very similar br

In 3 occurrences,the brake pedal was stiff when pressed and the vehicle did not break.on one occasion, no braking at all resulted in a crash.visited the dealer several times, dealer cannot determine the problem.

Rotors and padswere replaced every 13.000 miles. The last time vehicle was repaired the rotors/pads were replaced.consumer stated brakes were replaced four times.also, upper ball joints were replaced at 50.000 miles.

Brake rotors wear unevenly due to the brake pad being rusted. This causesextended stopping distance.please provide further information.

Electrical system suddenly went out all gauges radio etc front area. Checked all fuses and nothing was burnt out.restarted engine four times before reset and then was ok.have had recurring locking of brakes and grinding lose of control at low speeds and on wet roads.disc brakes have no wear indicators on pads and it resulted in being worn down and ate into the front rotors before i was aware that the pads were shot.i had to buy new rotors and pads and the replacement pads also did not have indicators.the dealer stated that was the way that they were manufatured and i then stated that this was a severe and potentially dangerous and deadly oversight and that it should be corrected.i contacted chrysler and they stated that they had no recall on this and that they had no technical problems or bulletins on this.my battery also suddenly went out without any warning and it caused the engine to die.i could not restart the engine and a new battery had to be installed.power windows went out and could not be opened or closed by drivers switch.

Lower control arm boot on the front wheel leaks oil onto the brakes, damaging the rotors and the pads. Dealer has been notified.

The plastic piston in the calipers are engaged against the brake pads and have worn down the disc(rotor) over time.i do long distance driving, not start and stop; hence, it has taken this long to manifest itself.i complained about the front brakes grinding a second time on november 27, 2000.

The front braking system malfunctioned, causing the rotors and the pads to rub together and spark a fire in the brakes 2 times.dealer replaced pads and rotors.cause unknown.

The power window motors/regulators have failed on all 4 windows repeatedly.repairs under warranty have been done, however after approx 2 months the windows fail to go up or down.. ...during low speed braking the front disc brakes make a grinding noise, the problem is continuous and the dealership says all items are within specifications.

While driving home from work vehicle had abrupt braking, and clunking noises were heard inside vehicle. Vehicle was stopped and non intrusive visual inspection was completed prior to further operation. Continuous noise was heard throughout transit home. Once vehicle was home and in driveway, inspection by removal of drivers side wheel revealed loose brake caliper. Stripped mounting threads were found on steering knuckle at brake caliper attachment. Calipers are only attached to vehicle using (2) threaded pins, once they are stripped caliper is free to seperate from vehicle.

While replacing the front disc break pads i observed the passenger side upper caliper bolt was no tightening. Upon further inspection i observed that the threads in the knuckle were stripped completely. The price to fix it with a heli coil repair was around 250.00 not including labor or 750.00 for a new steering knuckle not including labor.

Brake caliper failed resulting in lock up. (mjs)

Whiledriving in neighborhood another vehicle pulled outinfront. Consumer slammed on brakes and front wheels locked up, vehicle skidded andslammedinto the vehiclein front. Contacted dealerwho said that brake pads never touched the drums. Also, rear arm actuator power windows will not go up or down.

Brake pads replaced due to being worn.

Front brake padsexperienced excessive wear and overheating, causingpads to separate frombrake plate which separated from caliper. Consumer has contacteddealer. Pads were replaced every three months. Please provide any further details.

Air conditional has not cooled properly since we bought vehicle, during summer hot months the vehicle is unable to keep the inside cool and comfortable. First trip to dealership was 5 days from taking ownership, i have been to 3 dealerships over the past 1 1/2 yrs and no one has been able to fix this.most say i'm crazy.brakes have squeaked constantly not only during morning hours.pad have been replaced once at 9000 miles and did not help and now at 29,000 miles it's extremely loud pad were checked last week and still they say it's normal.engine is pinging on acceleration and has since we bought vehicle, once again dealership is saying this is normal we have tried higher octane fuel and also mid to supreme gas and it still continues, i can only get roughly 280 - 290 miles to a tank of gas.when i met the dealer rep he informed me tires were wearing badly and to be sure we rotate these tires every 3000 miles which we have done.tires have now worn out and dealership is saying that this is normal.some how this differs if i had not rotated them then they would have worn out differently but due to the rotating it's evenly worn out and now they won't take care of this problem.

Brakes & hubs-ball joints

My 1998 dodge durango has approximately 85k miles on it. It is in the shop today getting new top and bottom ball joints on both sides. Heard about possible investigation. Read others complaints and feel lucky mine made it this may miles. Also have to replace front rotors because they are out of round. *ph

Rotors and padswere replaced every 13.000 miles. The last time vehicle was repaired the rotors/pads were replaced.consumer stated brakes were replaced four times.also, upper ball joints were replaced at 50.000 miles.

While driving, the vehicle had a high pitch squeaking noise. This was caused by a failure in the rear end.the front rotor disk,ring gear and pinion was replaced. *scc

The consumer stated the vehiclemade a loud clanking noise while backing out of the driveway. The consumer took thevehicle to the dealer/mechanic and was told theball jointsfailed and the vehicle had a cracked front disc rotor.both lower and right upper ball joints were replaced. *sc

Brake rotor destroyed/replaced.

After inspectingbrakes had found the front rotors cracked.dealer had inspected and tried to repair.

Complaint received via e-mail.there was brake failure.the front disc brakes replaced september 2004.october 27, 2004 the consumer applied brakes while approachinga stop sign at 30 mph and pedal went to floor, and ended up in the street with the semi bearing down on me.the truck driver swerved barely missing me and my vehicle.the consumer called the dealer and was advisedthat it was not their problem since i bought vehicle used.they were the ones that knew the vehicle had problems with brakes, that was why they sent me to cox automotive to have brakes replaced.cox indicated that piston on rotors blew out,and one brake line needed replacement.i paid for repairs and towingout of pocket.i surely felt like i was dead for a moment.i got chest pains and took medication.*sc

I won a 1998 dodge durango 4x4.i recently had to replace the brakes on my durango.i had one of the pads on the passenger side break loose from the shoe.i had to replace the rotors as well.costing me $435.the mechanic doing the work wanted to know if i had replaced the rear brakes recently.i informed him that i had not.the front and rear were replace at the same time maybe a year earlier.he said there was next to no wear on my rear brakes.sincfe having my brakes replaced there is this awful grinding sound in the front of the vehicle. I took it back to the mechaninc and he said all 4 ball joints, upper and lower, needed to be replaced at a cost of $1400.parts and labor.i know dodge recalled the 2000-2003, but this is rediculous.i have not read alot of complaints about the 2000-2003, i've read more about the 98-99.also my brakes have failed to engage twice and they locked up on me once on dry pavement.

Dt: the front brake rotors pulsated after being brought to the dealership. They turned them then they worked fine for a short period,then theypulsated again.

This vehicle has had major component breakdowns since purchase.initially, immediately after purchase there was a clicking sound in the steering column.the dealer indicated that there was a tsb and replaced steering column.the second problem occurred in february 2000, some three months after purchase.we began to notice a significant pulsing in the brake pedal.the dealer attributed this to abs brakes.several months later when the pulsing was significantly greater and the braking was being affected, an independent shop reviewed the brakes and indicated that the rotors were severely warped and causing the pulsing sensation.this was repaired out of pocket.in february, 2001 the temperature began fluctuating, spiking higher temperatures causing the check gauge light to illuminate.it would then reset.hanover dodge, a different dealer indicated that the thermostat housing seal was leaking and replaced the thermostat and gasket. This was paid out of pocket.approximately ten days later, the radiator had a major failure requiring replacement.this was paid out of pocket in the amount of $610.33. In may, 2001we were alerted to a problem involving the front end.in bringing the vehicle to the dealer, a leak was noticed from the transmission cooler and also and more critically it was determined that the left upper ball joint required replacement as well as the inner tie rods.these repairs were also paid out of pocket in the amount of $923.45.the latest issue arose several weeks ago when a howling sound was noticed coming from the rear of the vehicle.through research and independent evaluation it has been determined that the rear differential has a design defect whereby the ring and pinion cannot handle the load of the vehicle.i have noted several of the same complaints being made to your organization in this database.we believe that the vehicle we have is defective.each problem has involved a major component or system.

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

Brake line had a hole inside of the line which caused less braking power.a loss of braking power was sudden and the abs/brake lights had come on.the original repair did not work due to the isolator becoming dislodged.the dealer paid for the repair. *scc

Dodge durango 1998 brake line rusted through .i checked your web site and found recall id nhtsa:99v341000 which is exactly what happened .icontacted two dodge dealers , and they said there was never any recall for that problem .

Dt*:the contact stated while driving less than 3 mph the brake pedal was depressed and the brakes did not hold.the brakes were pressed harder and the vehicle finally stopped.when exiting the vehicle the smell of smoke was present. Upon inspection there wasn't any brake fluid in the master cylinder.after adding brake fluid, the vehicle was driven for a short distance. The fluid was check again and there was very little fluid left. The vehicle was then taken to a dealership. There is a nhtsa campaign id # 99v341000 concerning the service brakes, hydraulic foundation components: hoses, lines, piping and fittings.the manufacturer was contacted and it was determined the vin was not included in the recall.

Recall 99v342000 and 99v-341, dealer refused to correct recall problembecausefuel tank was full.also,recall information gives no indication that tank has to be empty to haverecall problem complete.please give any further details.

Consumernoticed fluid in the driveway under the vehicle.upon closer inspectionthe consumer saw that the battery was leakingand the acid was dripping on the brake line. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed the fact that the acidburned through the brake line.*ph

While traveling 55 mph applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor.consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle,and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that the brake line and hose needed to be replaced.

Complaint received via e-mail.there was brake failure.the front disc brakes replaced september 2004.october 27, 2004 the consumer applied brakes while approachinga stop sign at 30 mph and pedal went to floor, and ended up in the street with the semi bearing down on me.the truck driver swerved barely missing me and my vehicle.the consumer called the dealer and was advisedthat it was not their problem since i bought vehicle used.they were the ones that knew the vehicle had problems with brakes, that was why they sent me to cox automotive to have brakes replaced.cox indicated that piston on rotors blew out,and one brake line needed replacement.i paid for repairs and towingout of pocket.i surely felt like i was dead for a moment.i got chest pains and took medication.*sc

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

While my 1998 dodge durango being driven a on surface street, one of two 8 mm studs that are welded to the power brake booster and that attach the master brake cylinder to the power booster suddenly broke during braking which disengaged the master cylinder which then caused a total loss of vehicle hydraulic braking.to avoid a rear end crash the vehicle had to change lanes and the parking brake was used to eventually bring the vehicle to a stop in the middle of an intersection.i am the original owner of this vehicle and the master cylinder is original equipment and has never been removed or serviced since it was installed by the factory.

The brakes tend not to release fully when temperature is above 80 degrees.when this occurs the maximum speed is 30-40 mph.onece the engine compartment cools the problem disappears.

Upper and lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango need to be replaced.evaluated at local chrysler dealer and was told that ball joints would need to be replaced.experiencing tire wear and humming vibration when driven in addition to loose steering.problem found at 38,000 miles.

Excessive play and off-centered steering was corrected at 47k miles by dealer- adjustment to the steering box.problem has resurfaced at 87k miles.continued problem with off centered steering and now-growing tracking problems with constant corrections needed to keep vehicle in straight line at highway speeds.

We bought a 98' durango w/ 123k miles & after driving it less than 500 miles i began to notice a loud-repeating noise "thud...thud.." coming from the front passenger wheel wall.then i began to notice extreme steering problems so i stopped the vehicle and inspected it further.i jacked up the vehicle and observed a lot of "play" in the front tire.i was actually able to "wobble' back and forth and the lug nuts were still secured.i contacted a very reputable mechanic (3rd generation race car driver too!) and he advised that there have been massive problems with the ball joints failing on the durango's , but they only will fix back to 2000' model year.well, any reasonable auto company that knows it has a faulty part should take responsibility for the safety of its people....if not, then they are liable for continuing to allow a product that endangers the safety of the driver, its occupants & other motorist's/citizens-who expect their safety to be looked upon, not "investigated internally." i have been in law enforcement for +13 years, and as a result i have worked many vehicle accidents (some causing death) that just didn't make sense-until now!something needs to be done here...and not just "only 2000' year models and up" thing.do the right thing, because its the right thing to do!

Consumer notices a banging noise coming from engine. Vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed no cooling. Engine needed to be replaced. Metal chips and sludge were found in the motor after the dealer diagnosis. The bearings for cylinder 1 and 5 spun the crank shaft, dealer replaced the pitman and idler arms.

Front end had to be replaced because of loose steering. Dealer notified.both control arms and bearings were replaced.*ph

1998 dodge durango slt ball joints have worn out twice.loose steering, drifting in lane, difficult not to over steer.diagnosed by dodge dealer 12/27/2001 at 71,000 miles and had been bad for a long time.replaced upper, lower, and tie rod ends on 4/23/02 not at dodge dealership.diagnosed again by dodge on 9/23/2004 at 103,000 miles and replaced lower ball joints again, at the dealership.

Nar 9-8-03. Excessive movement in steering. Excessive amount of noise in suspension front ball joints. Dealer wasnotified

My 98 durango makes a squeaking noise (front end)every time i drive over a bump.in addition to the noise, the vehicle's steering is also very loose.vehicle tracks well, but there's a couple/few inches of play in the steering wheel.very noticeable when driving at higher speeds.suspect upper/lower ball joints.awaiting outcome of investigation for repairs.*la

1998 dodge durango. Upper and lower ball joints. I had thought i needed shocks and an alignment and brought the vehicle to my mechanic who told me that the vehicle needed upper and lower ball joints, tie rod end and idler arm. The vehicle has become unsafe to drive. The vehicle was never abused, and 90% of the miles are highway miles. I have read many accounts of the exact same problem and believe further investigation and recall is necessary.

We noticed problems with uneven front tire wear on our 1998 dodge durango. Local repair shop determined that upper ball joints are shot and need replaced.received quote of $800 to replace upper and lower ball joints. Ball joint problem caused tires to wear out prematurely and uneven, steel belts almost showing on inside of one tire.

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

Bushings on steering shaft bearing made from cheap materials wear quickly causing loss of vehicle control. Chrysler does not currently produce a part to fix the problem and no aftermarket parts are available.

After vehiclewas running about 10-15 minutes and was shut off, the vehiclestarted to roll backwards anddown a slight incline-, hitting a carport.

Due to to uneven driveway the vehicle stalled, or transmission began to spin and not move, at which the vehicle ignition was shut-off. It was attempted to push the vehicle about 50 feet to a parking place. Another person offers to help, then pushes vehicle 25/50 feet...advises to turn the wheel. The wheel does not want to turn. The vehicle has used a lot of power steering fluidalmost daily(has a history of squealing and hard turning at start unless lubricated). So advice to place vehicle in reverse caused the steering wheel to be even harder to turn, if at all. I requested help from the bystander, who at which point comes to the driver side where i was standing outside of the vehicle also. It's unknown if the bystander help turned the ignition on, or if the ignition somehow turned on by itself. The vehicle was occupied by one addition passenger at the time of the crash. The vehicle traveled in reverse gear, without anyone pushing on the accelerator. There were minor to severe injuries, and damage to 2 vehicles and one structure.

The consumer heard that there was a recall on dodge durangos.the consumer stated that when he was driving his vehicle and made a hard turn it sounded as if his tires were rubbing.while driving slowly, the front end of the vehicle felt funny. The consumer stated he was afraid to drive the vehicle any distance.the abs brake light also came on and stayed on.

1998 durangos should be recalled also they all have the same ball joints as the others in the recall

Consumer states since she has purchased her truck, she has had steering wheel was off set. Mr

Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed.nlm

While driving on highway and when brakes are applied or vehicle hits abump in the road vehicle will pull to right or left.driver lost control of steering. Contacted dealer. Also, steering column had totally disengaged. Caused by design flaw.

This vehicle has had major component breakdowns since purchase.initially, immediately after purchase there was a clicking sound in the steering column.the dealer indicated that there was a tsb and replaced steering column.the second problem occurred in february 2000, some three months after purchase.we began to notice a significant pulsing in the brake pedal.the dealer attributed this to abs brakes.several months later when the pulsing was significantly greater and the braking was being affected, an independent shop reviewed the brakes and indicated that the rotors were severely warped and causing the pulsing sensation.this was repaired out of pocket.in february, 2001 the temperature began fluctuating, spiking higher temperatures causing the check gauge light to illuminate.it would then reset.hanover dodge, a different dealer indicated that the thermostat housing seal was leaking and replaced the thermostat and gasket. This was paid out of pocket.approximately ten days later, the radiator had a major failure requiring replacement.this was paid out of pocket in the amount of $610.33. In may, 2001we were alerted to a problem involving the front end.in bringing the vehicle to the dealer, a leak was noticed from the transmission cooler and also and more critically it was determined that the left upper ball joint required replacement as well as the inner tie rods.these repairs were also paid out of pocket in the amount of $923.45.the latest issue arose several weeks ago when a howling sound was noticed coming from the rear of the vehicle.through research and independent evaluation it has been determined that the rear differential has a design defect whereby the ring and pinion cannot handle the load of the vehicle.i have noted several of the same complaints being made to your organization in this database.we believe that the vehicle we have is defective.each problem has involved a major component or system.

Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed.nlm

There is a noise coming from steering column and at times "feels" like something is very loose in this area! asked dealer about it, and was informed that noise was normal!! it appears to be getting "worse" as time goes on! thanks.

While traveling noticed steering wheel making a poping noise. Dealer was contacted, and replacedsteering column and coupling.please provide further information.

Steering column failed.

When making a turn vehicle would feel like it was losing control . Owner tookvehicle to the dealer and was advised that the ball joints were bad, the box in the steering column was cracked.manufacturer has been notified.

Dt: owner complained aboutseveral vehicle problems. . on all four windows the regulator has had to be replaced more than once. Driver's side having to be replaced the most. Also,lower ball joints / left upper ball joint, and steering column has been replaced twice in less than one year time.currently the upper right ball joint had tobe replaced. These has been ongoing issues with this vehicle since consumerowned it.consumerdealt withdealership and manufacturer,but chrysler refused to help since there was no recall. Chrysler was very rude and hung up on the consumer.

There are popping and clicking sounds coming from my steering column and there is too much play in the steering.i brought it to my local dealer and they said it needed to be replaced.with only 55,000 miles on my vehicle chrysler said they would not replace the steering column.the steering shouldn't have these problems with such low mileage.there is no preventative maintenance available for steering so i don't see how this problem could have been avoided. I will continue to pressure chrysler to do the right thing, which is to take care of their customers and the defective parts on the vehicles they've sold.

I purchased my durango in 1998, i have had it in to the dealer because of steering column noise, was told nothing was wrong with it.my front right brake squeals and i get grease on my wheels, had replaced, still makes the noise.my fuel strap was replaced in a previous recall.now i am going to have to have the ball joints redone, they are separating.was told vehicle is unsafe to drive, wheel will fall off.i would like to know why there has been no recalls on this problem.we also have a friend that has a 2000 that needs to replace his because of the same situation.will there be a recall?

Noise in steering column, sounds like something is loose or broken! durango has been to dodge dealer twice for correction, not repaired!

Intermediate steering column failure

Consumer complained that there was too much play in the steering column. Consumer had to constantly adjust the bearings to keep going straight.

While drivinga very loud clicking and popping sound was coming from the front endwhen making left or right turns. Tookvehicle to the dealer. Dealer stated steering column was causing the popping and clicking noise. *la

Vehicle will not start due to security system alarm failure caused bt defective computer.

Loss of steering control while driving 30-35 mph;. Vehicle towed to dealer, and informed consumer of a lower steering shaft failure.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed that the steering was looser than normal.he took the vehicle to a local mechanic on february 21, 2008 and both upper and lower ball joints as well as the steering box were replaced.the repair cost $1,001.24.the failure mileage was 59,298 and current mileage was 59,598. Updated 05/05/08 the consumer stated on april 10, 2003 had to replace both rear window regulators. Updated 05/05/08

Excessive steering wheel play; requring early replacement of front suspension parts including, tie rods, steering arm linkages, steering gear, etc.

Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed.nlm

Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed.nlm

My 1998 dodge durango continues to show problems with steering and front. There are only 57000 miles on this vehicle and the miles have been easy miles, (all on road and easy driving).i've replaced the power steering box, and the lower ball joints plus the front wheel bearing and drum.all of this has cost $550 the first time and $880 the second time.this cost come in addition to replacement a head gasket and rear windows that don't work.

Ball joint and steering box failures on a 1998 dodge durango with 70,000 miles.*la

The consumer went to the dealer to have a front wheel alignment done.the technician told the consumer that the alignment could not be performed because the upper and lower control arms were worn.the technician also noticed slight play in the gear box and adjusted it.a faulty solenoid in the cab controller caused the brake and abs lights to illuminate intermittently. *nlm

A mounting boltfor power steering pump, located behind power steering pump pulley (where they cannot be seen nor serviced) became loose and detached from mounting bracket. The bolt attempted to exit between the pulley and the bracket causing the engine to lock up. Damage reulted to pulley which caused 2 strands of the serpentine belt to shred. Bolt is still behind pulley and cannot be removed without pulling the assembly off the engine and using a pulley puller to remove the bolt. I know of 3 other people with dodge durango's that have had the exact same thing happen. One of the three's incident happened going approx. 65 mph on an interstate highway, locking the engine up and causing them to lose control of the steering. I do believe chrysler knows there is a problem, but their customer service depart gave me a cool response to my inquiries. When ordering a new pulley from the dodge dealor parts department, the parts manager told me to expect delays, as there was "some sort of problem" going on and there were backlogs on that particular pulley. He also stated, that it is almost unheard of to have to replace a pulley on a power steering pump, an he also told me the people he had talked to had told them of the bolts becoming loose and trying to eject as mine has done. I think this is a manufacturer's defect that should be repaired by chrysler corp. And is potentially a major safety issue which could or has caused vehicle crashes or loss of control of vehicles. You may call me if you need further information.

Replaced power steering pump at 38,627 miles.eplaced lower left ball joint at 38,657 miles.eplaced upper control arm and upper ball joint at 41,634 miles.replaced right front axle and lower right ball joint at 45,946 miles.

I have a 98 dodge durango that has to have the entire front end linkages replaced. All ball joints, tierods, linkages etc. Entire front was loose. Saw newsreport of this problem and took truck in for free inspection. Now, $2000 later i have my truck back. Dodge claims no responsibility. Its just news and no recall is done. This is unacceptable and this appears to be a national problem and this defect should be recalled and reimbursed for expenses.

Consumer notices a banging noise coming from engine. Vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed no cooling. Engine needed to be replaced. Metal chips and sludge were found in the motor after the dealer diagnosis. The bearings for cylinder 1 and 5 spun the crank shaft, dealer replaced the pitman and idler arms.

Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed.nlm

Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed.nlm

Front rt & lt (upper & lower) ball joints & tie rod needed replacement causing improper alignment & excessive & uneven wear on the tires....we have purchased new tires 3 times due to this problem! in april of 2001, we find that we need replacement of the lt upper ball joint and chrysler will not do anything as they say we have too many miles!almost entire mileage is open road driving & vehicle is well maintained.a vehicle that is 3 years old should not need ball joints repaired/replaced let alone 2 times in lessthan 10 months!!!

Excessive steering wheel play; requring early replacement of front suspension parts including, tie rods, steering arm linkages, steering gear, etc.

Upper and lower ball joints have failed at 65000 miles on 98' dodge durango. Also had to replace pitman and idler arms.

Consumer stated the vehicle made noises.it was taken to the mechanic to diagnose the problem. They had to replace the upper ball joints, the right inner tire rod and the idle arm. *phthefuel pump assembly malfunctioned which caused the vehicle not to start. *ph

When making a left or right turn there is a grinding noise in the driver's side front wheel. Tookvehicle to dealer, and dealer stated that upper & lower ball joints weredefective due to rust. Also, idler arm was replaced. However,none of the fixes corrected the problem.

The upper control arms, ball joints, and idler on my 1998 dodge durango with 38,000 miles wereseverely worn as identified during a routine inspection. I was forced to repair these items so to prevent a failure of the front suspension. I contacted dodge regarding this defect yet they would not cover the repair. This is clearly a defect in the durango and should be covered by the manufacturer.

I have a 98 dodge durango that has to have the entire front end linkages replaced. All ball joints, tierods, linkages etc. Entire front was loose. Saw newsreport of this problem and took truck in for free inspection. Now, $2000 later i have my truck back. Dodge claims no responsibility. Its just news and no recall is done. This is unacceptable and this appears to be a national problem and this defect should be recalled and reimbursed for expenses.

I have a 98 dodge durango that has to have the entire front end linkages replaced. All ball joints, tierods, linkages etc. Entire front was loose. Saw newsreport of this problem and took truck in for free inspection. Now, $2000 later i have my truck back. Dodge claims no responsibility. Its just news and no recall is done. This is unacceptable and this appears to be a national problem and this defect should be recalled and reimbursed for expenses.

While driving approximately 5-10 mph the right front wheelshook. Would hear noises every time steering wheel was turned, stopping or even braking.took vehicle to mechanic, who determined that upper ball joints separated.also, the steering knuckleseparated, and the suspension moved. Mechanic indicated that this was causing the shaking problem.vehicle would need to be lubricated every 2-3 months.after having the vehicle serviced the consumer stated that the left side began having the same problem.*tc

Front end problems cause difficulty steering.the front end is acting up again and putting unusual wear on front tire.second time for the same car which suggest manufacture error or design problem.

I have a 98 dodge durango that has to have the entire front end linkages replaced. All ball joints, tierods, linkages etc. Entire front was loose. Saw newsreport of this problem and took truck in for free inspection. Now, $2000 later i have my truck back. Dodge claims no responsibility. Its just news and no recall is done. This is unacceptable and this appears to be a national problem and this defect should be recalled and reimbursed for expenses.

Upon replacement of the tiresdealership was unable to perform a front end alignment. Upper and lower ball joints and the inner tie rod were defective and needed to be replaced.

Consumer called complaining about having problems with the upper bolt joints. He was aware of the new investigation. Manufacturer was contacted, and stated that they had no recalls.there was continued squeaking in the front end. Sway bar and tie rods were replaced. *ph

Theupper ball joints, wheel bearing and tie rod needed to be replaced because they were loose, per dealership. *ph

1998 dodge durango 45,311 miles needed upper and lower ball joints and inner tie rods replaced.*la

While driving down a paved road the vehicle suddenly jerked to one side as i braked i attempted to correct with the steering but it did not respond.i came to rest approximately 3 feet from a 70 foot embankment.i laid down under the car to see if i could find an apparent problem and noticed that the steering tie rod end was hanging down.upon further inspection i noticed that all of the threads on the inner tie rod end and on the steering drag link to be completely bare of thread.i am currently pricing the cost of a new tie rod end and drag link which hopefully will repair the problem, however the problem may have caused additional damage to the 4 wheel drive system.after talking to the local tire store and checking on the internet i find that this is a problem that seems to be occurring quite often on this model and could possibly be fatal if the driver panics or doesn't have the strength to hold the wheel.

Intermittently vehicle made a clanking noise while driving under normalconditions . Vehicle was taken to a dealership for inspection, who indicatedthat the upper ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced, and they were replaced. Three months later, the outer and inner tie rod ends needed to be replaced.

Excessive steering wheel play; requring early replacement of front suspension parts including, tie rods, steering arm linkages, steering gear, etc.

Both upper ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.upper and lower control arms as well as the inner tie rods were worn and were replaced.

Consumer tookvehicle to dealer for an alignment,and was told that an alignment could not be done becausevehicle needed upper and lower ball joints.consumerstated that tie rod in upper left arm wasreplaced.consumerhad not yet had a problem with vehicle, but was told that the 1999 model was being recalled forball joints.

Ball joints wore out on front steering mechanism.top and bottom ball joints and tie rods had to be replaced in order to pass state inspection.over $1,000 for repairs.told this is probably a manufacturing defect.dealer informed me that they go out a lot and that a recall could be in the process and to check with dot because they decide on recalls.

Consumer complained aboutball joints andtie rod problems.while pulling out of the driveway front right wheel came off the vehicle.

The consumers 1998 durango needed both front and rear upper and lower ball joint replacement . The consumer experienced a spin out accident due to front end instability and bad tie rod ends.the consumer suggested that the front tires wore out in one year. *sc

Daimler chrysler issued a recall (04v596000) for ball joint and extended warranty to 10 yr / 100000 miles for 2000 - 2003 durangos. My question is why the '98 durangos were not included since my 98 durango had the same failure and the current mileage is only 69,000

I have a 1998 dodge durango with 78,000 miles on it, having problems with upper and lower ball joints they all need to be replaced because of this, tire wear is uneven and horrendous, i have also had to replace the drivers side front wheel bearing twice in the last six months and because it is a closed bearing you replace the entire hub.i expect normal wear and don't expect a vehicle to never cause expenses, but this is extremely excessive.

Tie rods & ball joints already needed to be replaced on the vehicle.*la

Consumer stated the vehicle made noises.it was taken to the mechanic to diagnose the problem. They had to replace the upper ball joints, the right inner tire rod and the idle arm. *phthefuel pump assembly malfunctioned which caused the vehicle not to start. *ph

I own a dodge durango 1998 and i saw that you are doing an investigation of the durango's. I recently took my durango to a tire specialist to get an alignment done the vehicle has been pulling for some time now. They informed me that the ball joints and the 2 outer and 1 inner tie rods are bad and need to be replaced. If i take the vehicle to the dealership its going to be about a 900 procedure where if i take it to someone else it will be a 700 procedure but in order to be re-imbursed if a recall does come out i was told that i have to take it to the dealer. I am a pregnant woman and i have a 1 year old child. I am really worried that something that other mothers have experienced will also happen to me and my family. I am the one that drives this vehicle day in and day out. Since we bought the durango in 2002 we have had to replace tires, brakes, water pump, radiatior, now the ac is not blowing cold or even cool air and we need the ball joints and tie rods replaced. You have my word that i will never buy another dodge. I know this is being investigated and i wanted to let you know that this is a severe problem and i hope they do something soon before people die.

My dodge durango started making a clunking noise in the front suspension upon turning or going over rough pavement. I took the car into the shop and there was a failure of both the upper ball joints as well as the tie-rod ends, nearly separated.per the garage, unusual for a 7 year old car with 66,000 miles.they need to be replaced before the catastrophic failure occurs.replacement will include both upper and lower ball joints on left and right side and 4 tie rods.old parts are available.total cost of repair $1,100.

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

Transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle and eventually the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt one.all four ball joints were and tie rods were replaced. The vehicle experiencedelectrical problems, because the back brake light continued to blow out.the front hub bearings and seals were replaced.

I owned a 98' dodge durango that had a tie rod break while i was driving on the n.y., thruway with my children which also resulted in a brake line behind severed luckily i was able to get my car stopped with out a serious accident. I had to pay to have this fixed out of pocket even thought i sent chrysler an e- mail telling them that under 65,000 miles i did not think a vehicle should be doing this. Then i also had to have the upper and lower ball joints and tie rods and a ball bearingreplaced. All totali spent $3000.00 to replace these tings without dodge helping me at all. I had to finally trade this vehicle in last month because the vehiclecontinued to need repairs.

My 1998 dodge durango 4x4 is in need of replacement of the following front end parts:driver's side upper and lower ball joints, and outer tie rod, passenger side upper and lower balljoints, and inner tie rod.the suv is very difficult to handle because of this and i feel extremely dangerous putting my life in jeopardy on several occasions on highways.

The upper and lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced at 62,000 miles. This seems to be low mileage for such repairs. Also, the dealer indicated the tie rod ends were wearing as well and recommended replacing them but they posed no immediate danger but they suggested the tie rod ends may fail soon. Repairs were guoted in excess of $1200.00! this seems to be low mileage for these repairs as well. With the number of complaints on file it would seem to be prudent to issue a recall on the front suspension, all components, on the durangos. And to issue reimbursements for those repairs already completed.

Consumer has a concern that a second tie rod needs to be replaced with less then 11,000 miles of wear. Dealer was not notified. Please provide any further information. *la

Tie rod ends and driver side balljointremature wearing of front tires due to failure of tierod ends both sides and the upper ball joint is going out last tire almost blew out due to the type of wear. The tire only had 15,000 miles on it the inner portion was down to the steelbelt the only way i saw it was because i was under the truck replaceing the tierods turns out the upper ball joint is bad also.i think five sets of tires due to poor manufactureing of a suspention is quite over kill. Speaking of the last one may have killed me if i didnt happen to be under the truck. Replaced the tie rod ends because i was told that was the reason for the tire wear. It turns out thats not the only reason.yes the old parts are available for your inspection.

Bad ball joints and tie rod ends. *nlm

Pe 03-032, front suspension upper ball joint failure. The upper ball joints, and the tie rods have been replaced.vehicle barely has 74000 miles.

1998 dodge durango with bad upper and lower ball joints due to the bad ball joints the tierod is now warped.

Two lower ball joints and two tie rods had to be replaced in my 1998 dodge durango.*la

Bad front end parts on 1998 dodge durango.

Tie rod ends and both lower ball jointsfailed. Prior to the ball joint failure the vehicle could not be balanced or aligned properly.

Pe 03-032, front suspension/upper ball joints: consumer took vehicle to dealer for a new light switch and found that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out. Also, the inner tie rods needed to be replacedthe dealer refused to replace the ball joints free of charge.

While driving at low speedsnoise could be heard from the front end. Steering column shifted when accelerating and braking.all four ball joints were replaced along with the inner tie rods. But the noise could still be heard.the cause of the problem had not been determined.

The consumer had to replace both left and right ball joints and tie rods due to premature wear.*pha faulty intake gasket caused an oil leak.the consumer notified the manufacturer and requested reimbursement. The consumer was denied reimbursement.*sc

Events leading up to failure:1.) noise eminating from the front of the vehicle ? clunking, squeaking; 2.) loose steering associated with clunking; .) wandering at speed.failure and consequences:1.) prior to complete failure the vehicle was diagnosed by a local dealer as worn lower ball joints, right inner tie rod end, and sway bar bushings2.) possible consequences of not determining the problem prior to failure ? unsafe operation or life threatening accident due to steering failurecorrection:1.) replaced lower both lower ball joints, sway bar bushings, and the right inner tie rod end ($777.78 parts and labor) in light of recent recalls regarding ball joints of 2000-2003 dodge dakotas and durangos, we believe investigation into earlier models is warranted.extremely similar symptoms are evident on the earlier models prior to 2000 leading us to believe the problem existed prior to the 2000 model year.given this vehicle was rarely placed in extreme conditions (off-road maneuvers, etc.), never in an accident, and with the majority of the time spent on paved roads, failure of ball joints and other suspension components in the 50,000 to 60,000 mile range is premature.we request an investigation into including 1998-1999 dodge durangos into the formal ball joint recall as detailed for the 2000-2003 models.

Upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice.alsocontrol arms, upper arms on booth sides were replaced twice since ownership of the vehicle. Replacement of tie rods were also made on vehicle.*la

During a vehicle inspection dealer determined that the upper ball joints wore out and must be replaced.there was no indication of a problem before the inspection.the dealer also stated the tie rods needed to be replaced.

The front end of my durango has had over 3 thousand dollars worth of work, and has never had an accident and only has 60,000 miles on it. Both drivers and passenger side ball joints have been replaced (twice).tie rod ends,control arm,and front shocks have had to all be replaced.the vehicle pulls to the right (dramtically) especially when braking, and has always done so, no matter what we do. This is an on going problem, the last replacement was done approximately 1 year ago.

With 40,000 miles had to install lower ball joints and right side inner tire rod i installed left inner tie rod and upper ball joints when vehicle was apart, also installed mono-max kyb shocks front and rear and install new bf goodrich tiresfront and rear had 2 different people check and set alignment and can not get vehicle to stop drifting right andhas chopped wear patten on right front wheelhas to install new thermostat gasket.

All of the vehicle's ball joints had to be replaced.the consumer stated that there was a problem in the front end of the vehicle.the recall did not include the consumers vehicle.the consumer would like to be reimbursed for the amount she paid for service. The abs and brake light came on . Theright inner tie rod assembly was replaced. *tc

Whenever driving on freeway or making turns vehicle would shake violently & make noises. Took to dealership & mechanic changed & balanced.steering was changed &wheels aligned. But,problem still exists.also, was informed by mechanic that rack & pinion steeringneeded replacing.

Pinion shaft broke while driving, causing rear end to lock up. Gear busted, and there was a hole in rear end.the gears broke and put a hole in the bottom of rear end.

I have a 98 dodge durango that has to have the entire front end linkages replaced. All ball joints, tierods, linkages etc. Entire front was loose. Saw newsreport of this problem and took truck in for free inspection. Now, $2000 later i have my truck back. Dodge claims no responsibility. Its just news and no recall is done. This is unacceptable and this appears to be a national problem and this defect should be recalled and reimbursed for expenses.

When turning right or leftvehicle makes noise. This is due to a faulty steering rack. Dealer says steeringrack needs to be replaced.

Unidentified thump in back of truck.

Interior headliner, seat cushion and interior trim panel materialloose. Mjs

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

Power door lock switch failed.mjs

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

Power locks and power windows failed. Mjs

Automatic liftgate door lock failed.yh

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

Rear lift gate support rod broke.

The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson dodge) twice. The first time , they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. The second time , the window went down by itself , we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin dodge), theytold us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (i don't remember the time span after being "fixed". So this time we took it to evans chrsler-plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was aobject rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin dodgecould not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000.00 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides aroundthen stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson dodge) twice. The first time , they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. The second time , the window went down by itself , we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin dodge), theytold us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (i don't remember the time span after being "fixed". So this time we took it to evans chrsler-plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was aobject rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin dodgecould not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000.00 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides aroundthen stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that there was rust under the front bumper on the driver side, right door on the passenger side and under the rear hatch. There was slight rust when the vehicle was purchased but had since spread. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The contact had the motor replaced so the mileage was unavailable.

1)initially heard a "clunk" from right rear every time we'd hit a bump. Turned out to be not a broken shock absorber, nor the bolt which attaches the shock absorber to the frame, but the actual frame piece to which the bolt/absorber assembly attaches. 2)while observing problem 1, noticed oil/dirt "leak" on driver's side of rear differential/axle.

Independent shop replaced the upper ball joints and lower control arms.it cost the consumer $1,229.oo. Dealer notified.*la

Suspension, drive train, and front ball joints bad - 1989, dodge, durango.

Consumer stated thatvehicle was driving as if itneeded an alignment.but when she took vehicle to dealer, andmechanic determined that suspension systemmalfunctioned.also,ball joints cracked in half. Consumer was told that if she hit a hard bump front tires would have fallen off.consumer never receivedrecall or any warning.

1998 dodge durango developed problems with the front hub assembly and the upper and lower ball joints.***no answer required***. *mrin the year 2000 the consumer had the rear differential totally replaced.

Transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle and eventually the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt one.all four ball joints were and tie rods were replaced. The vehicle experiencedelectrical problems, because the back brake light continued to blow out.the front hub bearings and seals were replaced.

Consumer took vehicle for alignment service due to excessive tire wear.upon inspection,the dealer advised consumer they were unable to perform an alignment because of excessive upper ball joint wear.all four ball joints failed and both front tires had badly worn out. *scc

The consumers 1998 durango needed both front and rear upper and lower ball joint replacement . The consumer experienced a spin out accident due to front end instability and bad tie rod ends.the consumer suggested that the front tires wore out in one year. *sc

Consumer experiencing ongoing problemwith virbation whenever vehicle reaches high speed of 50 or more mph. Between 50-70 mph vibration appears to be coming from rear, and 70-75 mph, the whole vehicle would vibrate. Vehicle been in /out dealer shop on five occasions, and problem cannot be resolved.

The cv joint came out ruin the lower ball joints which caused rubbing on my inner rim, after a while it hascause the inner rim to to break out while i was driving.we have replaced the cv joint, wheel hub bearing, upper and lower ball joints and the steering ball joint. Now the lower ball joint is still hitting the inner rim and i can't drive

Consumerhave a 1998 dodge durango,withball joints problem andhad to replace the whole front end. The consumer believes the older models should also be recalled.

Consumer complained about atransmission problem.vehicle hesitated when driving. The front differential pin failed and seized to the pinion shaft the upper and lower ball joints were replaced.

The lower and upper ball joints were replaced at a low mileage.*sc

Bad ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango. It has 35000 miles on it. *nlm

Consumer is having problems with upper and lower ball joints.the ball joints failed at 78,000 miles.

Ball joints replaced at 60k miles. *phat 45000 the consumer noticed that eh vehicle's ride was not smooth. The dealer replaced the lower ball joints. At about 60000 miles the consumer heard a screeching sound in the front end when driving slowly around curves.the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who indicated that the tie rods and upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

Repeated starter replacement. *ph the starter was defective and was replaced.the ball joints also had to be replaced. *sc

The consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and the mechanic placed the vehicle on a diagnostic machine for analysis.the mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed replacing.the consumer had taken the vehicle in for repairs in light of the national publicity concerning the defective ball joints.there was excessive play in the front shocks which leaked oil.the control arms and the ball joints were replaced. *sc

I took vehicle to my mechanic, complaint regarding left front brake.already had new brakes, rotors replaced one year ago.mechanic found that the ball joints need replaced.vehicle has 59,000 miles on it, and has already had ball joints replaced, during a tsb repair bulletin, several years ago, on my 1998 dodge durango, 4x4.mechanic says that spindles need replaced, along with ball joints.premature failure, vehicle should drive for 100,000 miles before a failure such as this on the ball joints.currently waiting on parts from dealer, to replace worn parts, had extended warranty, but already ran out in may 2005.am also having bushings replaced, due to extreme temps in phoenix area.will cost over $3000.00 to do the repairs, which should either be recalled by dc, or covered under warranty.will also call and complain to dealer.

Tie rods & ball joints already needed to be replaced on the vehicle.*la

I own a 1998 dodge durango.i have replaced the ball joints once. At a regular tire rotation, i was told they are wearing out again.based upon research - this is an existing problem with durango models from 1998 to the present. A recall of the durango is needed to address this.

When driving at about 50 to 55mph the vehicle starts to shake and vibrate, sometimes causing a loss of control. Dealer says the problem is normal.

Consumer has concerns for the numerous repairs and the safety of the vehicle.(nar)*phthe vehicle's left lower ball joint (three times), right inner tie rod (twice), left inner tie rod, left upper ball joint and right upper ball joints had to be replaced.the ball joint and tie rod problems caused steering and suspension problems.the consumer request reimbursement for all the tire rod and ball joint repairs.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, he noticed an abnormal noise from the front end. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the front upper and lower ball joints would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000 updated 02/11/2014

While replacing the front tires,the dealer noticed that the ball joints needed replacement.the dealer indicated to the consumer that he wasunable to do the front alignment due toball joint problem. *sc

Whenever driving on freeway or making turns vehicle would shake violently & make noises. Took to dealership & mechanic changed & balanced.steering was changed &wheels aligned. But,problem still exists.also, was informed by mechanic that rack & pinion steeringneeded replacing.

Ball joint equipment is too small for 1998 dodge durango. *mr they also had no grease fitting for lubrication for the weight of the vehicle.every year during the yearly inspection, the vehicle needed upper and lower ball joints. *scc

While driving at 55 mph, the consumer heard a roaring sound coming from the front.also, when turning corners, there was a clicking sound coming from the front wheel hub.the dealer examined the vehicle,but was unable to resolve the problem.*sc

Upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to premature wear. *ph the consumer complained to the dealer about an unusual intermittent noise which was coming from the joint area.(nar)

The consumer heard that there was a recall on dodge durangos.the consumer stated that when he was driving his vehicle and made a hard turn it sounded as if his tires were rubbing.while driving slowly, the front end of the vehicle felt funny. The consumer stated he was afraid to drive the vehicle any distance.the abs brake light also came on and stayed on.

1998 dodge durango slt ball joints have worn out twice.loose steering, drifting in lane, difficult not to over steer.diagnosed by dodge dealer 12/27/2001 at 71,000 miles and had been bad for a long time.replaced upper, lower, and tie rod ends on 4/23/02 not at dodge dealership.diagnosed again by dodge on 9/23/2004 at 103,000 miles and replaced lower ball joints again, at the dealership.

Bought my durango new in may 1998. The automatic transmission started shifting improperly in july 2000. Took it to a dodge dealer because it was still under warranty (31,418 miles). They dropped the transmission pan and pronounced it doa (pan was full of metal shavings). Should have seen the writing on the wall but i loved this vehicle. Took it to an inspection station for safety & emissions tests in may of 2006. It failed for bad ball joints. I asked the manager why his mechanics seemed to pay special attention to the front end during inspection and his reply was it was very common to find bad ball joints on approx. 50% of all 1998-2000 durangos. Had my mechanic replace upper & lower ball joints, both sides, at 74,064 miles, to the tune of $701 plus tax. I then started hearing about other durango owners with similar ball joint woes. I went online and started researching. Found a site where folks like myself with the same ball joint problems, some with accidents, were trying to get nhtsa to do something. I guess people actually have to die first before nhtsa will step in and tell an auto manufacturer they need to fix their faulty products. I also learned that the 1998-2000 durangos were built on the dodge dakota pickup chassis. A dakota weighs about 4,600 lbs. While a durango 4x4 weighs in at 6,400 lbs. It's no wonder the 1998-2000 durango front-ends were falling apart. Seriously, what kind of idiot engineers does dodge have working for them. Sometime later i heard that dodge rushed the durango into production in 1998 to compete for the suv market bucks and didn't have time to engineer a new chassis so they just modified the dakota chassis without beefing it up. When people started to complain about ball joints and such, they built a whole new chassis for durangos in 2001. I stumbled across this site today while researching another vehicle i'm thinking about buying.

Suspension vibration causing consumers ear drum to hurt while driving at higher speeds. Mjs

While driving approximately 5-10 mph the right front wheelshook. Would hear noises every time steering wheel was turned, stopping or even braking.took vehicle to mechanic, who determined that upper ball joints separated.also, the steering knuckleseparated, and the suspension moved. Mechanic indicated that this was causing the shaking problem.vehicle would need to be lubricated every 2-3 months.after having the vehicle serviced the consumer stated that the left side began having the same problem.*tc

I had to have the ball joints replaced 6 months after i bought the truck. The dealership said that my wheels were getting ready to fall off and the truck was to dangerous to drive. Then the transmission went out in august of 2003. I barely had 50,000 miles on it. The brakes on it are terrible. When it is raining i hydroplane just about ever time i put on the brakes. The anti lock brake system is not working properly. Thelight is now on. The speedometer is now broken. It stays at zero most of the time but will occasionally jump up and down while driving. The electric door lock makes a horrible sound when it locks. Last but not least whenever i drive on the interstate and go over 60 mph the engine makes a rattling noise.

Extensive suspension repairs that should not be required.i own a ford, f150 with 160000 miles with non of the following work done to it, so i didn't expect the suspension of the durango to need the following work.at 65000 miles (9/28/00) lower ball joints and control arms replacedat 130000 miles (7/10/03) both tirod ends and rear stabilizers replaced and upper left front ball joint replaced.

I can not keep tires on front end from wearing unevenly, they keep cupping on outer edges. Chryler corp has replaced my front tires 3 times, lower control arms twice, & rt. Upper balljoint once. Now all 4 tires are out of round and causes a bad vibration in the vehicle. This is all caused by the suspenion parts being defected and chrysler corp. Will not replace the tires or correct the situation with me.

1998 dodge durango front end problems. Premature front end wear.

Consumer heard a noise in the front endwhen making at turn.

1998 dodge durango.27500 miles.yes 27500 miles.upper ball joints both sides shot $321.00 to repair.right side was extremely bad.

Front suspension of my dodge durgango caused a cupping wear on my tires.the dealer said there was no problem with the front suspension, that i just did not rotate the tires, which i have done regularly. The tire dealer said he could not do an alignment because of bad ball joints.the car has 64k miles on it.

Noise began in front wheel area and grew very loud within a short period of time.also experienced steering issues (car shakes and pulls to right).took vehicle in to check it out - had to replacel front ball joints and tension rods ends.we had to pay over $2000.00 to repair this defect, and car still does not steer properly.dealer reported to us that this is a common problem for this vehicle.

Regarding pe 03032 front suspension on dodge durango. I have the same issue. The dealer told me after only 30000 miles on my 1998 dodge durango that my front suspension is worn and needs to be replaced. This has not been done yet. I'm desperately waiting on a recall and the outcome of your investigation. The car is making noise and is getting to the point that it needs to be repaired. How long does a investigation take?*la

1998 dodge durango - i purchased a 1998 dodge durango from branfoird dodge 2 years ago. The dosge had 50,000 miles and now has 71,500 miles. The upper and lower ball joints are bad and the control arms and joints need to be replaced. I have been in contact with dodge since the investigation was in place about this issue. Dodge is telling me that only the 2000-2003 models are covered under the recall and my truck is out of warranty! why wouldn't the 1998 & 1999 be covered as well seeing that there have been several issues and accidents with pictures due to ball joint failure on the 1999 & 1998 durangos. Who do i call and for assistance on this problem that has a bill of over $1,000 dollars. Please reply with attorneys involved with matters such as this one.charles t pilotti 15 taylor ave east haven, ct 06512 cell: 203-623-1905 dodge ref # 12994028.

At 60,000 miles vehicle began pulling to left. Took to have front end aligned was told it would cost at least $700, maybe more depending on how many parts have to be replaced. Why do ball joints, tie rod ends, etc need to be replaced to align front end. Why require replacement at such low miles? these parts should last in excess of 100,000 miles.

Suspension; left and right upper and lower ball joints required replacement. Worn so badly that garage unable to complete front end alignment. Vehicle mileage 132,848.

This problem caused premature wearing of tires (goodyear wrangler at/s 31.00 - 15 stock).

I bought a used 1998 dodge durango with 24,000 miles in feb 14th 2003. This was a dodge certified used car.i also purchased an extra warranty package for $900.00.after 60 days i had a clunking noise in the front end.i called the dodge garage from which i had purchased the vehicle and they had it towed.they called me back and said i had a big problem.this is what happened the right front axel, ball joint upper arm assembly had broke apart causing extensive damage with a total of $1700.00 my responsability. They said dodge would not cover it because it was a four wheel drive. They said my extended dodge warranty would not cover the front suspension on the four wheel drive.now i read that many vehicles have had the same problem. Remind you this vehicle only had 24,000 miles on it and they told me that they wore out!!!!!!!!!!at my expense.

I can not keep tires on front end from wearing unevenly, they keep cupping on outer edges. Chryler corp has replaced my front tires 3 times, lower control arms twice, & rt. Upper balljoint once. Now all 4 tires are out of round and causes a bad vibration in the vehicle. This is all caused by the suspenion parts being defected and chrysler corp. Will not replace the tires or correct the situation with me.

Vibration and noise in front end of 19'98 dodge durango. Had to replace all four ball joints and inner tie rod ends at 61000 miles.mechanic remarked that i was lucky to have it repaired as it was ready to fail.after the repair an alignment was needed to bring wheels back to specs.

Spoke to dealer about failure and he claimed this is normal. I do not believe the joints should fail at 37000 to 38000 miles.

Our 1998 dodge durango has been repaired for the problems that are currently under investigation regarding this vechile.after experiencing what we thought was a problem with the alignment it was discovered that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.in a addition, the inner tie rod also required replacement.i have the receipt describing the work that was done and the cost.

Consumer took vehicle into the shop, because the vehicle pulled to the left. Took it to dodge, and dodge aligned the vehicle.later, the problemresurfaced.the ball joints had to be replaced.the consumers mechanic(s) informed him this problem was not normal.the vehicle had constant problems with the front end.within the first 10 k miles the vehicle had a 3 wheel alignment.*scc

The vehicle is making a very noticeable "clunking noise" during turns and over bumps. The vehicle often falls out of alignment and driving feels unsteady as on of the front wheels is loose. Upon inspection it appears this is being caused by premature wear to the upper ball joints. This has also caused excess wear on the vehicle suspension. As of yet no accident or injury has taken place due to this problem; however, it is a very serious safety concern and needs to be addresses promptly.

I own a 1998 dodge durango front end was popping and the transmissionwas slipping at 51000 miles. It goes into the shop to be checked dec.23, with all the known problems with the front end this makes me very concerned. My wife and i are cheerleding sponsers and travel all over the state with the girls.

My 98 durango makes a squeaking noise (front end)every time i drive over a bump.in addition to the noise, the vehicle's steering is also very loose.vehicle tracks well, but there's a couple/few inches of play in the steering wheel.very noticeable when driving at higher speeds.suspect upper/lower ball joints.awaiting outcome of investigation for repairs.*la

Heard metal to metal rubbing on 2/2/09 now on 2/6/09 hub bearing broke right side.... Wheel is tiled in to wheel well.

While drivingabs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on.they could not find the problem to fix it correctly.the speedometer jumps to 100mph and falls to 0 mph intermittently.the transmission is slipping and the overdrive harness is stuck.the brake pedal goes to the floor, the dealer replaced the brake components.the interior lights were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the power door locks were inoperable, the dealer found a faulty module.the rear seat wouldn't fold up.the consumer heard a rattling noise coming from the left front wheel area.the right rear panel came loose.motor oil was found in the master cylinder.

I have been reading the complaints on the front suspension of the dodge durango after hearing that the vehicle was being investigated for problems with the front suspension and have spent a lot of money fixing the same problems that are being described.my abs light came on intermittently, would stay on for awhile, then go out.when the car was put on the computer, they couldn't find anything.then my speedometer started jumping from 0 to 60 mph intermittently.through trial and error, a sensor was replaced and seems to have fixed the problem.i have also spent almost $1000 replacing brakes, etc. Because my brakes went to the floor while driving, luckily only in a parking lot, and the calipers, brakes, rotors, etc. Had to be replaced.i just replaced my tires because of severe cupping.these tires were not that old and this condition would cause my vehicle to hydroplane in wet weather and shudder going 50 mph and over.i also experience that same shudder when the back windows are open and the front windows closed.the whole vehicle vibrates terribly, unless you crack the front windows also.

When co. Rep said the co. Would not compensate due to age and milage even though parts failed far short of normal service life. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.dt

No summary listed for above vehicle.

I bought this car used in the last week of november '08. I had my brakes done by an individual maybe two weeks later. A couple of day later driving home from work i started hearing a real loud iron grinding noise. The next day i had the car towed to aamco, who told me my caliper pins had came out, and i would need a new steering knuckle and a set of caliper pins.the truck was fixedcosting me $525 (noting: mechanic used a used steering knuckle.) now 2 months after those repairs i need a wheel spindle, and caliper bolts because the threading have stripped away and something totally unrelated a neutral safety switch. Costing me $580. I was told that by firestone who told me i needed new tie rods and then corrected themselves by telling me i needed a new steering knuckle - who wouldn't even work on my car because of liability told me that it was unsafe to drive because the right front tire could literally fall off due to lack of support and cause a major or serious accident, and that i needed to take it back to aamco. I didn't want to because i felt aamco should have fixed this the first time.but after fighting with them and reading the other complaints maybe they're not in the wrong.

Consumer inquiry as to why dodge durangos were only recalled to the 2000 model for the front end ball joints.****no answer required***. *mr

Dodge durango 1998 ball joint failure and full separation with no warning, which caused extensive damage in an on-road accident to several vehicles. Dodge corporation will not acknowledge the hundreds of ball joint failures and lost lives due to this poor design and defective ball joints. My vehicle has 84,000 miles on it and ball joints have been replaced 3 times! ball joints, according to top mechanics are supposed to last about 100,000 miles before replacement and rarely separate. These components used by dodge are deadly, deficient, and ought to have been recalled years ago. How many more lives have to be lost before the issue is properly dealt with??

We bought a 98' durango w/ 123k miles & after driving it less than 500 miles i began to notice a loud-repeating noise "thud...thud.." coming from the front passenger wheel wall.then i began to notice extreme steering problems so i stopped the vehicle and inspected it further.i jacked up the vehicle and observed a lot of "play" in the front tire.i was actually able to "wobble' back and forth and the lug nuts were still secured.i contacted a very reputable mechanic (3rd generation race car driver too!) and he advised that there have been massive problems with the ball joints failing on the durango's , but they only will fix back to 2000' model year.well, any reasonable auto company that knows it has a faulty part should take responsibility for the safety of its people....if not, then they are liable for continuing to allow a product that endangers the safety of the driver, its occupants & other motorist's/citizens-who expect their safety to be looked upon, not "investigated internally." i have been in law enforcement for +13 years, and as a result i have worked many vehicle accidents (some causing death) that just didn't make sense-until now!something needs to be done here...and not just "only 2000' year models and up" thing.do the right thing, because its the right thing to do!

My 1998 dodge durango's front suspension requires rebuilding at 72,000 miles.the ball joints are all worn, as is the upper control arm bushing.vehicle wanders, especially on uneven surfaces. Metallic noises emanate from the front suspension, especially at low speeds.local chrysler dealer says there will be a recall sometime in the future.meanwhile i do not consider the vehicle safe! *la

I purchased a new 1998 dodge durango. I have had the ball joints replaced.hree times since i purchased the vehicle. I am reporting this because of the recent news concerning the nhtsa investigating this particular problem. I still have all my receipts for work done.

Consumer called complaining about having problems with the upper bolt joints. He was aware of the new investigation. Manufacturer was contacted, and stated that they had no recalls.there was continued squeaking in the front end. Sway bar and tie rods were replaced. *ph

I own a 1998 dodge durango and back in march of this year i replaced the upper/lower ball joints due to failure.the vehicle had an awful squeakynoise and when taken to the mechanic i was told that i was lucky to still be alive as the balljoints were extremely worn out due to be an ungreaseable type.the repair cost me $650.it has only been 3months since the repair in which the balljoints were replaced with dealer parts and once again, the squeaky sound is back, i've gone back to the mechanic only to be told that once again, the balljoints have failed!!another $650 to fix, this is outrageous!!dodge must become responsible for the fact that these balljoints continuously fail and they must come up with a greaseable type.in this economy it is very difficult to spend $650 every 2-3 months on balljoints!!at this rate, there will come a point where the tires will fall off the vehicle and cause a death being as these joints don't last as long as they should.

If the vehicle hits a bump in the road while driving a noise can be heard coming from the front of the vehicle, and the steering wheel feels loose.

While driving approximately 60mph, the vehicle would start to vibrate. Rear windows down & front windows up.

Ball joints supposedly repaced by dealer rep at purchase of used vehicle - mileage 36,000.next year inspection denied due to failed ball joints again - upper on both sides.dealer will replace for high fee.

While pulling out of parking lot left front ball joint pipe broke off. This causedtire to collapse inward.vehicle could not move. Had vehicle towed out of parking lot.

When traveling on highway vehicle would pull toright without prior warning.dealership is aware ofproblem, all four ball joints needed to be replaced.

Almost the entire front suspension has already been replaced due to failures of the ball joints.currently, i am waiting on delivery of the right upper control arm assembly (which apparently dodge has updated twice now).it has been on back order for over a month and the truck is more and more difficult to drive.

Ball joint going too early on durango.contacted dealer and manufacturer wiht no success.

Ball joints casuing undue wear and tear on tirereplaced front tire 3 times in 2 years

1998 dodge durangoball joints & control arm upper and lower they were first replaced in 2000 then in 2004 and now need to be replaced in 2005 continuously fails safety inspectionvin no. [xxx] updated 07/19/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Ball joints had been replaced twice.consumer does not know when could be happening again, and dealer could not explain how this problem is happening or what is causing it.

The failure was detected during a vehicle inspection.no one was injured but i don't believe an investigation should wait until someone is hurt.this is a dangerous situation.the suspension does not perform properly and if you know what the roads are like in mo (not the original home of this vehicle, it was bought used) then the situation is even worse.the faulty ball joints/control arms not only effect the handling of the vehicle but also the wear of the tires and struts/shocks.the ball joints/control arms should not wear out this fast.

1998 dodge durango. Upper/lower ball joint suspension replacement.

Had to replace ft control arms and ball joints only 42.000 miles bought used from dealer with 29.000 miles should not happen also every one i talk to with this has experienced same problems ---------- called chry would not help or even pay a portion also called dealer they were same attitude --- i do not believe tgis truck was checked before i bought it fortunately no one hurt.

Front tires are wearing down excessively fast and unevenly due toball joints, on top and bottom, being shot.

This is the 4th set of ball joints that have gone bad. When do they admit a probelm exists?

Premature failure of upper and lower ball joints, requiring replacement with no monetary reimbursement from dealer or dailmer/chrysler!

Ball joints replaced 8/3/01 but have be faulty for longer.

Front end had to be replaced because of loose steering. Dealer notified.both control arms and bearings were replaced.*ph

Upon a state sfaety inspection i was notified thet both upper and lower ball joints (right side) and lower ball joint (left side) required replacement. Vehicle has 30, 455 miles at this time. The service person advised that dodge had numerous problems such as these on the 1998 and 199 durangos. Maybe this justifies a "recall" of some sort! t.

I know of others having promblems with early failiers on the ball joints i think dodge should recall the uppers & lower ball joints.

While driving the vehicle i heard a load pop, at whcih point steering became difficult and it felt like something was rubbing or hanging in the front suspension.i took the vehicle to a dodge dealership in columbus and was told that the right and left control arms need to be replaced, the left and right tie rods, and the right and left wheel bearings all must be replaced.total repair cost to be $1,900.i have owned the truck 3 yearsand have put approximately 35,000 miles on the vehicle during the time period.we have had regular maintanence during this time period.it appears that the damage to the front suspension system is highly unusual for such a short time to have owned the vehicle.

I purchase my 1998 dodge durango in february of 2004. After two months problems with brakes and upper and lower ball joints began (both front tires) with the driver side being the worst. I heard clicking when i would turn the steering wheel to the left and thought it could be the cv joint. I too k the vehicle to brauning automotive and they found the problem and gave an estimate of $1500.00 in repair costs. I purchased the parts myself and my father replaced both the upper and lower ball joints the following day. ( i am doubtful he still has the old parts - but i will ask) this was back in april 2004 and i am hearing the clicking yet again. When my father worked on my car he told me there was a bolt that was partial screwed in and the theads had actually been stripped off. He had to change the bolt as well. The clicking sound is almost sounds like two pieces of metal are slamming together. This does not happen when i am driving staight . I only hear it when i turn. I have 3 children and don't have the money to repair this problem. I heard on the radio a little bit about this. I don;t know if this is an actual recall or if it may become a recall. I don't want to have an accident like the others before something is done about this.

The consumer went to the dealer to have a front wheel alignment done.the technician told the consumer that the alignment could not be performed because the upper and lower control arms were worn.the technician also noticed slight play in the gear box and adjusted it.a faulty solenoid in the cab controller caused the brake and abs lights to illuminate intermittently. *nlm

Our 1998 dodge durango made a lot of creaking noises in the front when we drove it.we replaced the brakes (through goodyear not dodge)with no improvement.finally we paid to replace the front ball joints through dodge.a few weeks ago we saw a tv report about durango front ball joint failures, we feel very lucky that we did not have a failure, but feel that dodge was not honest to us that there was a known problem, especially one that could cause safety prolems.the goodyear store certainly did not know about the ball joint issue!we hope for a recall to prevent anyone from getting hurt.

Ball joints failed.

Bought this vehicle new only 20 months ago and the ball joints have failed. Dealer admits that that's unusual and that ball joints should last a very long time.

The upper and lower ball joints have failed, causing premature tire wear. This was not noticed till a tire blew because the inner edge of the tire had worn out. A new tire was purchased, but i could nto get an alignment. To replace ball joints, i also need to have the upper control arm replaced. This vehicle has only ever seen highway miles. Balljoint's have failed prematurely. As a member of the national durango owners club i know this is becoming a very common occurance, even on newer vehicles.

Consumerhas been having trouble withball joints that wear out fast, and had been recalled.whenmaking a turn feelsvibration in steering wheel, and is not tight any more.

Ball joints failed.

Suspension:front:control arm.

Relating to nhtsa action number : ea03023: i own a 1998 durango with the exact same conditions. I have spent $1000 to fix one side of the front end (hub assembly, ball joints, control arms, tie rod ends - it all had to be replaced) and need to come up with another $1000 to fix everything on the other side. Why is the recall only for 2000-2003 model years? the problem is reported for model years 98 and 99 - my search on the nhtsa website was for 1998 model year issues and this issue is listed as a problem for 1998, although most complaints seem to come from my 2000-2003 owners, that's not a reason to not fix the same exact problem that affects my model year.

Further investigation has shown that this is a systematic problem.safty concerns in steering system may produce future injuries. Ball joints on this vehicle are common to failed.

Upper and lower ball joints on both sides were so worn out that they would fail the state safety inspection in spite of regular greasing. They were replaced only after going to three dodge dealers.

When making a turn vehicle would feel like it was losing control . Owner tookvehicle to the dealer and was advised that the ball joints were bad, the box in the steering column was cracked.manufacturer has been notified.

Front rt & lt (upper & lower) ball joints & tie rod needed replacement causing improper alignment & excessive & uneven wear on the tires....we have purchased new tires 3 times due to this problem! in april of 2001, we find that we need replacement of the lt upper ball joint and chrysler will not do anything as they say we have too many miles!almost entire mileage is open road driving & vehicle is well maintained.a vehicle that is 3 years old should not need ball joints repaired/replaced let alone 2 times in lessthan 10 months!!!

Lower control arm boot on the front wheel leaks oil onto the brakes, damaging the rotors and the pads. Dealer has been notified.

Noise began in front wheel area and grew very loud within a short period of time.also experienced steering issues (car shakes and pulls to right).took vehicle in to check it out - had to replacel front ball joints and tension rods ends.we had to pay over $2000.00 to repair this defect, and car still does not steer properly.dealer reported to us that this is a common problem for this vehicle.

Accident--toyota corolla grazed front left corner of bumper and hit tire.tire blew, upper and lower control arms were pushed back.

Ball joint and steering box failures on a 1998 dodge durango with 70,000 miles.*la

Relating to nhtsa action number : ea03023: i own a 1998 durango with the exact same conditions. I have spent $1000 to fix one side of the front end (hub assembly, ball joints, control arms, tie rod ends - it all had to be replaced) and need to come up with another $1000 to fix everything on the other side. Why is the recall only for 2000-2003 model years? the problem is reported for model years 98 and 99 - my search on the nhtsa website was for 1998 model year issues and this issue is listed as a problem for 1998, although most complaints seem to come from my 2000-2003 owners, that's not a reason to not fix the same exact problem that affects my model year.

In march of 2000 i brought the car to the dealer complaining of a loose front end.they told me the upper and lower ball joints were bad and that i should have them replaced.i asked if that was dangerous and they said it was.i wanted a second opinion.i went to tuffy auto service in walled lake mi,they said the dealer was using a scare method to get the work done.they did inform me that the lower ball joints were bad and that it was too early for them to need replacing.they said that durangos have had allot of problems with ball joints and that dodge knows it.i proceded to have them replaced at tuffy for a much lower price than the dealer wanted and with a much better after makret part.the shocks on the car were also replaced at that time, also too early .

I have a 98 dodge durango at the time it had less than 50k miles when i was told that the upper and lower balljoints were bad by ntw. I was trying to get my front end aligned when they told me they could not. I took the car to the dealer mckenny dodge they said that the balljoints were worn but they aligned the front end. They said at the time there no know balljoint problems with the durango.

I have a 1998 dodge durango.i am aware that chrysler has recalled 2000-2004 durangos for ball joint/suspension defects.i have the same defect/problem with my 1998 durango.are there going to be additional recalls for this year from chrysler.i have a quote of $2500.00 to fix this problem.after searching many websites i see that many 1998 durango owners are experiencing the same problem.

Both upper and lower ball joints must be replaced at 66,000 miles which seems very early for a component of this type.the durange has been careflully maintained.

Owner 1998 dodge durango, have had to replace ball joints twice 1st at 50,000 miles and again at 90,000 miles, this last time had fire on r side of vehicle under car.i have a 1,600.00 bill at dealed for repairs most of it for ball joints. Inotified daimlerchysler after the 1st time it happened.this time i would like to file complaint with your agency.

Upper and lower ball joint on my 1998 dodge durango with 50,000 miles need to be replaced.*la

Consumer complained about upper ball joints problem. Consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop to have the wheels aligned,andfond out that the ball joints were very loose in the socket.

A loud knocking was heard coming from rear.consumer took vehicle to the dealer, andmechanic determined that both front d upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.

The consumer heardnews report about the suspension problem, and wanted to report that the front ball joints were replaced in 2002 by an independent mechanic.

1998 dodge durango with bad upper and lower ball joints due to the bad ball joints the tierod is now warped.

1998 dodge durango -after reading article of ball-joint failures we took our vechicle to the dodge dealer.all four ball joints needed to be replaced-the upper two ball joints were"dangerously worn" and two were"excessively worn". The car has 70,000 miles.

1998 dodge durangoupper & lower ball joint premature failure.replacement of all four at 57k miles in june 2003.*ph

Upper & lower ball joints.*la

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed that the steering was looser than normal.he took the vehicle to a local mechanic on february 21, 2008 and both upper and lower ball joints as well as the steering box were replaced.the repair cost $1,001.24.the failure mileage was 59,298 and current mileage was 59,598. Updated 05/05/08 the consumer stated on april 10, 2003 had to replace both rear window regulators. Updated 05/05/08

1998 durango with less then 60000 both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle has been well cared for never off road and not used to tow anything heavy.

Consumer stated that while driving and without warningball joints were wearing. Dealer notified.

When making a right hand turn.the driver can hear medal scrapping.the consumer believes its the ball joints. Please describe any further information.

While driving there is a lot of play in the steering. Took vehicle to dealerfor a regular check up, and was told the ball joints were defective. Problem had not been resolved.

Consumer took vehicle to dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic determined that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.

While driving consumer noticed that vehiclewas swaying from side to side with difficulty of maintaining the vehicle on the road.vehicle was serviced, and the technician determined thatlower ball joints were worn out.

The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealership for inspection and the mechanic determined that both upper ball joints were wearing prematurely.the consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints.(all of the ball joints needed to be replaced) *sc

When driving at any speed, the consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the front of the vehicle.the consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection and the mechanic determined that the left upper ball joints failed.the consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints.the upper and lower ball joints were undersized at the time of make.this caused the tie rods to fail due to the undue pressure. *sc

Ball joints wore out on front steering mechanism.top and bottom ball joints and tie rods had to be replaced in order to pass state inspection.over $1,000 for repairs.told this is probably a manufacturing defect.dealer informed me that they go out a lot and that a recall could be in the process and to check with dot because they decide on recalls.

Failed inspection due to lower ball joints needed to be replaced for the second time. 35,661 miles to date 17,819 miles on whenupper and lower ball joints were replaced the first time. Rothrock motors where i purchased it would not give me any satisfaction so i went to brown daub dodge. They replaced them the first time. (07/31/01). This time on 07/28/05 i called rothrock left a message and no one ever called me back so i called brown daub and they set up an appointment to look at them. They could not replace them this time and i was charged $546.41 and told to contact chrysler to recoup my money. I will have to replace the upper ball joints next year for inspection, they barely passed.

Tires showing excessive wear on front of vehicle.tires replaced and told to have alignment by tire dealer.i took vehicle to independent repair shop and was told all four ball joints were wore out.(uppers and lowers)it is being repaired at this time, and having shop save them for me.

Dt*: the contact stated while at the dealership for a tire replacement and alignment the dealership observed the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced prior to the tire replacement.there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint.the vin was not included in the recall.the dealership replaced the upper and lower ball joints on both sides.since purchase, the abs light and brake light intermittently illuminate.as a result, smoke comes from the wheel well area.the dealership was notified about the problem however, they are unable to duplicate it.

Consumer stated that since ownership, the vehicle'slower and upper ball joints have been replaced twice and another set needs to be replaced again.*ph

While performing an oil change, the dealership noticed that all four ball joints were failing.both rear ball joints were bad. The cause has yet to be determined.*ph

Dt: the contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. Vehicle has defective front ball joints. The vehicle was very unstable each time the brakes were applied.the mechanic encouraged him to letnhtsa know about this problem. The problem has gotten worse.

Upper and lower ball joints wear out prematurely.

1998 dodge durango, have had to have the ball joints replaced twice now.

Consumer's vehicle experienced same problem as mentioned in recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. Recall campaign*tc

The vehicle's upper and lower ball joints failed.the consumer wants to know why the manufacturer excluded 1998 durangos when it has the same problem as 2000-03 model years.*sc *tc

My 1998 dodge durango had to have both upper and lower ball joints replaced as well as inner rods as i was told that it was extremely dangerous to drive in the condition they were in. This was very expensive.this was back in 3/02.i just heard about other reports regarding ball joints and i wanted to report this.i also own a 2000 model durango.i'm wondering if it is safe or it i am going to have to spend a lot to replace the ball joints on it as well?thanks for you help.

While driving 55 mph a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the passenger side wheel. Consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined thatboth upper and lower ball joints needed replacing.ball joints failed on both front and rear suspension.*la *tc

Vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine check up and the mechanicdetermined that both frontal wheels came offandthat the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.*sc

Premature wear of both upper and lower ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango.the dealership where the vehicle was purchased new and serviced periodically wanted to replace them after 36000 (highway) miles at a cost of $1200.00.two other dodge dealerships have since reported the same problem.

After paying $1500 to replace the upper and lower ball joints on our recently purchased durango, i discovered there was a recall on the upper ball joint for durangos. When i inquired with dealerabout a possible reimbursement for the parts recalled i was notified that the recall did not apply to our vehicle year, it only applied to 2000-2003 model years. Although our 1998 model encountered the same problem as the recalled vehicles, daimler chrysler wasn't willing to reimburse or do anything for us. I found this very disappointing considering this is the fourth dodge we've owned and currently both our vehicles are dodge makes. With the enormous number of documented complaints it seems reasonable to expect the nhtsa to demand daimler chrysler recall the 1998 and 1999 durangos for ball joint problems as well.

The consumer had problem steering and controlling the vehicle which was caused by upper ball joint failure.lower ball joint also failed.*ph

Thee were problems with the lower ball joints.the dealer was contacted who stated they needed to be replaced.the manufacturer was not contacted at the time of this call. *ph*scc

Dodge durango slt 1998 4x4 driving stability degraded.electronic diagnostics at repair shop showed front steering out of spec: "value is not within specification.tier wear, handling and safety problems may result." replacement of front ball joints was required.vehicle only has 56,000 miles.

Vehicle was making noise from the front and performing inadequately was taken to the mechanic, who determined thatball joints were defective.

I have been told that my ball joints are not safe and need to be replaced.i have also been told that this is a very common propblem with this make of car and there is an ongoing investigation.

Consumer stated that while driving and without warningball joints are wearing. Dealer notified.

The upper control arms, ball joints, and idler on my 1998 dodge durango with 38,000 miles wereseverely worn as identified during a routine inspection. I was forced to repair these items so to prevent a failure of the front suspension. I contacted dodge regarding this defect yet they would not cover the repair. This is clearly a defect in the durango and should be covered by the manufacturer.

I purchased my durango in 1998, i have had it in to the dealer because of steering column noise, was told nothing was wrong with it.my front right brake squeals and i get grease on my wheels, had replaced, still makes the noise.my fuel strap was replaced in a previous recall.now i am going to have to have the ball joints redone, they are separating.was told vehicle is unsafe to drive, wheel will fall off.i would like to know why there has been no recalls on this problem.we also have a friend that has a 2000 that needs to replace his because of the same situation.will there be a recall?

My 1998 odge durango 4x4 sltt was very difficult to keep on the road. It seemed to be driving sideways.i was very alarmed and took it to the goodyear dealership in cedartown, georgia.the goodyear dealership said the balljoints were dangerously worn and must be replaced immmeadiatly.i took it to my personal mechanic and he also said the ball joints and tierod ends had to be replaced bearings were very dangerous and must be replaced because the car was unsafe to drive.he advised me to contact the dodge dealership due to a recall.the dodge dealership said the recall only included 2000-2003 4x4 durangos.i have no choice but to replace the ball joints andtierod ends because it is unsafe to drive.i feel that the dodge chrysler corporation should be responsible for the cost of the parts and service fees as well as labor to fix this dangerous condition on my dodge durango.i would appreciate any help in resolving this matter.this could have been a life threatening condition, and i feel the dodge corporation should be aware of the problem and help to resolve and recall cars of this make and model due to the fact that the 1998 modelhas similar defects as the 2000-2003 models have which have been already recalled.

Dt: the contact heard a rattling noise in the front end ofvehicle while driving. Upon inspection, the certified repairman determined the front upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced. The contact notified the manufacturer and lodged a complaint. The case number was 14394561. Repairs were made at the contact's expense.

Lower right ball joint failure @ 55k. Much too young to fail at such a low mileage. Heard reports this isn't the first time for durango/dakota trucks.

Faulty craftmanship.ball joints worn at 30296 miles, 1998 dodge durango..

Consumer states that lower ball joint is wearing out prematurely.

Pe 03-032, front suspension/upper ball joints: consumer took vehicle to dealer for a new light switch and found that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out. Also, the inner tie rods needed to be replacedthe dealer refused to replace the ball joints free of charge.

Lower ball joint failure, this early is unheard of

In june, 2003 i took my durango into the shop for some routine servicing.the mechanic inspected the front of the vehicle and noticed considerable wear to the upper and lower ball joints on the front end.he recommended immediate replacement of these parts.thankfully, i had these parts replaced in july before a serious accident occurred.however, these repairs were done outside of the warranty period and at considerable cost to myself.i don't use this vehicle very often, so at the time of the repair it only had 37,000 miles on it but i had owned it for 4 years.i believe diamler/chrysler is producing defective parts on these vehicles and it should be their responsibility to pay for the replacement of these parts.

Consumer took the vehicleto dealer forregular maintenance, andmechanic replaced lower ball joints at consumer's expense.

Suspension, drive train, and front ball joints bad - 1989, dodge, durango.

Consumer took vehicle to a gas station for maintenance, andmechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed replacing due to corrosion.

I am filing this complaint after hearing of all the ball joint failures on durangos and the recall on 2000-2003 model vehicles. My durango is a 1998 model and i am about to replace the ball joints for a second time at 80,000 miles as i am getting the dreaded clunking noise again. I use my durango for normal driving and have never seen this type of failure in a vehicle. I was raised in detroit and know something about cars. I also don't understand why the recent recall does not go back to the original model year as the same parts and failure modes appear to be prevalent in 1998 and 1999 models. I'm hoping something will be done as i cannot afford to be changing ball joints more often than my tires and brakes, not to mention the safety risk.

Upon replacement of the tiresdealership was unable to perform a front end alignment. Upper and lower ball joints and the inner tie rod were defective and needed to be replaced.

Vehicle was takenforroutine maintenance work,and mechanic determined thatuppers and lower ball joints wore out prematurely. *la

Consumer had not received a recall after 3 sets of ball joints malfunctioned. Consumer thought this wasabsurd.he mentioned this to the dealer,anddealer did notcare.

We had to have the ball joints replaced due to what dealer shaid was unusual wear.vehicle had 84,000 miles.

I was bringing my 4 year old daughter to preschool this morning when i hear a thumping noise so i pulled over and noticed my tires were fine. So after i dropped her off at school i decided to take it to the dealership where i bought the car after seeing the program about bad ball joints in durangos. Well after the mechanics inspected my car they told me that if i had hit another bump or pot hole in the road my tires would have snapped off. That is how bad they were. I had no warning except for this morning. So i called diamel chrysler to get them to cover the cost and they said " in good faith" they would fix the ball joints at no cost but would not cover any other damage done by the ball joints going. I could've gotten killed today with my daughter or i could've killed someone else. There should be an immediate recall on the ball joints before someone gets killed. By the ball joints being bad my tires which were new are shot, my hub on both sides needs to be replaced, both shocks and the bearings on both sides. I have to pay over $1,200.00 in damages because of a ball joint.*la

The front lower ball joints are prematurely worn on my vehicle last year. I had complained about the noise several times. Each time the dealership found no problem. Prior to my last complaint i had my brother who is a school bus mechanic check the front end and he showed me the excessive play in the lower ball joints. Still again the dealership said they checked it out and found nothing wrong, but "lubed up the front end real good" and sent me away. Here it is now about a year later and i am bringing it in again now with the noise and looseness worse than ever and i learn of a known problem with the upper ball joints. I would really like to see something done about this. (my extended factory warranty has expired last may, and i will seek for this to be covered under warranty anyway.)*la

Both front wheel bearings and front axle have been replaced.the upper and lower ball joints are shot and will be replaced.

While coasting consumer could hear a loud noise coming from the front ball joints.consumer would have to depress the brake pedal to stop the noise.

Front end repairs.

Dealer replaced right axle shaft which included lower and upper ball joints. Consumer stated vehicle was running without warranty, as result cost $650.00.*ph

Consumer states that while driving at 50 mph vehicle shimmied vigorously alerting consumer to a what he thought was a suspension problem. The real problem was worn out ball joints.

Both upper ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.upper and lower control arms as well as the inner tie rods were worn and were replaced.

Consumer complained about asteering problem.he took vehicle to dealer for service, andit was determined thatthe ball joints wore out andloosened.

Upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.the consumer believes this vehicle should be included in the recall and request reimbursement.three of the four power window motors have been replaced because they burned out.

Ball joints worn out prematurely.

The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an alignment, and mechanic determined that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to defective parts. Manufacturer notified.

The upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice. There was a recall on thedodge durango. Consumercontacted the dealer and manufacturer. Consumer stated they will not do anything to help.

1) abs and brake lights came on, whining noise from front end2) dealer determined ball joints in front and wheel bearings in serious shaped, laughed at how i was just driving on the highway since the likelihood of the wheels falling off was so high.3. Dealer installed 2 hub brakes, bearings in front ($1025.30 cost) and overhauled rear differential, bearings worn and excessive movement in pinion ($924.48).* now i hear nhtsa has discovered this on 00-03 durangos (mine is a 98) and wants chrysler to recall them. I paid all this money to correct a problem even the federal government says is chrysler's fault. They should give me at least a credit for future repairs.

Consumer stated that while driving at 50 mph a grinding sound was heard beneath vehicle.after taking vehicle to dealer it was learned that the upper front ball joints were completely worn out. About six months later vehicle neededfront lower ball joints replaced because they toowere worn out. *ph *nlm

Tie rod ends and both lower ball jointsfailed. Prior to the ball joint failure the vehicle could not be balanced or aligned properly.

Our 1998 dodge durango has been repaired for the problems that are currently under investigation regarding this vechile.after experiencing what we thought was a problem with the alignment it was discovered that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.in a addition, the inner tie rod also required replacement.i have the receipt describing the work that was done and the cost.

While driving a loud noise was heard coming from the rear. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection.mechanic determined that both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

During routine inspection dealership informed the consumer that front/rear ball joints were loose. The problem was not resolved.

We have a 98 durango.in 2000 during the yearly inspection, it was found that the ball joints needed to be replaced.even though we were in the 3yr warranty window, the mileage was too high for coverage by dodge.we were lucky this was found on routine inspection.

I own a 1998 dodge durango slt with 75000 miles.the vehicle was pulling strong to the right.i took it into a repair shop in our town of 28000 people.they indicated that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.the repair shop indicated that this was the 4th durango they have had with this problem in the past couple months.the repair was $975.in addition, my employer has 25 durangos in their fleet and have discovered the same defective ball joints. There needs to be a recall on these durangos and reimbursement for the cost of repairs.

Had to replace both upper and lower ball joints in my 1998 dodge durango at my expense, even though dodge knew there was a problem.

Consumer tookvehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic noticed thatboth upper and lower ball jointswere warped and needed to be replaced.

While driving the consumer heard a knocking noise on the passenger's side wheel.the consumer had to have upper and lower ball joints replaced. *nlm

Both ball joints left and right lower and upper are bad, have not replaced as of yet will soon. Truck has only 82k on it.

While driving vehicle was swaying from side to side. Consumer haddifficulty handling vehicle on the road. Vehicle was serviced, andtechnician determined that the lower and upper ball joints were worn out and needed to be replaced.

I have a 1998 dodge durango with 98,000 miles on it and will now have to have the ball joints replaced for the second time.the first time was when the truck had about 45,000 miles on it (august 2000).then i had to have the bushings on the steering bracket replaced in april 2002.then the squeaking and popping noises returned in january 2004 and have gotten worse.i finally took it to a dealer here in raleigh, nc and they said the ball joints are bad again.the dealer said that someone actually pierced the boots and tried to lube the ball joints.it is my understanding that these dodge ball joints are the non-greasable kind.what is being done to get dodge to acknowledge this obvious faulty part and begin a recall of it.i'm out over $1,500 because of these faulty ball joints.i would appreciate any information that you have on this issue.

1998 dodge durango with less than 100,000 miles requires replacement of front ball joints.same issue as identified previously resulting in recall of 2000-2003 dodge durangos.no failure of the ball joints.additional incident of ball joint issue on durangos.

The truck experienced uneven front tire tread wear.upon the dealership performing a front end alignment, they noticed that 3 out of the 4 ball joints were bad. *nlm

We owned a 1998 dodge durango (just traded it in a couple of weeks ago).about a month or so ago we paid $800 to have the front ball joints replaced.we saw where you are investigating this alleged defect.there were no accidents or incidents caused by this defect.

Events leading up to failure:1.) noise eminating from the front of the vehicle ? clunking, squeaking; 2.) loose steering associated with clunking; .) wandering at speed.failure and consequences:1.) prior to complete failure the vehicle was diagnosed by a local dealer as worn lower ball joints, right inner tie rod end, and sway bar bushings2.) possible consequences of not determining the problem prior to failure ? unsafe operation or life threatening accident due to steering failurecorrection:1.) replaced lower both lower ball joints, sway bar bushings, and the right inner tie rod end ($777.78 parts and labor) in light of recent recalls regarding ball joints of 2000-2003 dodge dakotas and durangos, we believe investigation into earlier models is warranted.extremely similar symptoms are evident on the earlier models prior to 2000 leading us to believe the problem existed prior to the 2000 model year.given this vehicle was rarely placed in extreme conditions (off-road maneuvers, etc.), never in an accident, and with the majority of the time spent on paved roads, failure of ball joints and other suspension components in the 50,000 to 60,000 mile range is premature.we request an investigation into including 1998-1999 dodge durangos into the formal ball joint recall as detailed for the 2000-2003 models.

Ball joint failure -- both upper and lower on both sides.brought vehicle to dealership for regular maintenance, and mentioned that i heard a small squeak in the chassis.after several hours, they found that my ball joints were so badly worn that the vehicle was unsafe to drive.when i asked how unsafe, they indicated that the wheels could fail in a day, a few days, a week....that i was very fortunate they hadn't already.the cost of repair was $1,400.if i elected not to get the problem fixed, the dealership representative told me that i would need to sign a waiver before they would allow me to get my vehicle back.i drive car pools, have the safety of my 3 children plus the responsibility for all other drivers on the road, and to have my durango "unsafe to drive" when i have taken good care of my vehicle is extremely upsetting.i have had my maintenance performed by the local dodge dealership (metrolina dodge) and welcome the opportunity to share those records with you in an investigation.had it not been for this 'after-thought' when i brought the car in, i have no idea what could have happened, but listening to the dealer representative, it could have been deadly.please investigate and urge a recall.*la

The upper and lower ball joints wear out prematurely.

Bad ball joints and tie rod ends. *nlm

1998 dodge durango slt v-8,front tire just about fell off while driving,ball joint problem of course. We have 5 children and i thank god they were not in the car.i have seen so many of these complaints, what is the problem , why is there no recall yet.does there have to be death involved before something is done.theseu.s .car dealers want our business but they wont stand behind their product, its no wonder everyone seems to be buying imports.there repair parts may cost alittle more, but these cars seem to be more reliable.i have owned an import and had great luck with it. In fact it still runs and its a 1992.obviously chrysler needs to start doing something about these complaints, please we trusted this company enough to buy this $$$$$$ truck , and would buy another, but not if you wont stand behind the product. Maybe we should try a ford, alot of people seem to like them.

1998-1999 dodge durango owners are you mad !! i am ! why were we left out of the daimler-chrystler ball joint recall ?according to my mechanic it is the same part as used in the 2000-2005.mine are rusted through and were almost broken. When i took my suv to the shop.now it is going to cost me $1000 to fix it.don'twe deserve the same rights of consumer protection as the 2000-2005 owners. I called the terry wiseman's deealship of robinson,illinois.at first the service dept. Put me on hold for 15 mins.i hung up and called again and gave the receptionist my phone number, info, and ask for them to call me with an estimate.i recieved no call.i called again the next day the receptionist put me through to barry in the service department.he took my info. About 9:00 am called back at 11:00 am to ask if it was a 4x4 that was three days ago still no estimate or phone call.so i got an estimate from my mechanic.please check out these sites and complain about the refusal to repair are 1998-1999 dodge durango ball joints:www.lawyerandsettlements.com/case/daimler2www.daimlerchrysler.comoremail:[email protected] them know we want to be reemburse for the cost of repairing daimler-chrysler's mistake !!

While driving at 35 mph a grinding/popping noise camefrom the front left end of the vehicle. Consumerpulled over to inspect the noise, and noticed the left front tire had came off. The tire was turned outward and hanging. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, who indicated that a bearing was needed. Also,both upper and lower ball joints were defective, and needed to be replaced.

The dealer replaced upper and lower ball joints on both sides if my 1998 dodge durango in jan 2003.vehicle had 69572 miles. Cost to repair was $2540.64. This complaint is in reference to nhtsa defect investigation of dodge durango front end problems and ball joint separation nhtsa action number: pe03032

1998 dodge durango ball joints, they have premature wear, and need replacement in order for my vehicle to pass inspection.*ph

Upper and lower ball joints worn out prematurely.my durango has 59,000 miles on it and the upper and lower ball joints have to be replaced.the cost is $1,300.00 .

The front end of my durango has had over 3 thousand dollars worth of work, and has never had an accident and only has 60,000 miles on it. Both drivers and passenger side ball joints have been replaced (twice).tie rod ends,control arm,and front shocks have had to all be replaced.the vehicle pulls to the right (dramtically) especially when braking, and has always done so, no matter what we do. This is an on going problem, the last replacement was done approximately 1 year ago.

When making a left or right turn there is a grinding noise in the driver's side front wheel. Tookvehicle to dealer, and dealer stated that upper & lower ball joints weredefective due to rust. Also, idler arm was replaced. However,none of the fixes corrected the problem.

Upper and lower ball joints have failed at 65000 miles on 98' dodge durango. Also had to replace pitman and idler arms.

State inspector noticed that upper and lower ball joints loose rusted, and needed to be replaced. This occurred during a state inspection. The vehvile went throught pennsylvania state inspection.all four ball joints failed inspection.

Drivers side wheel has a loud squeaking noise due to corrosion of the upper ball joint.through a inspection this problem was spotted.upper ball joint grease was non existent and the ball joint assembly appeared to be failing. Whenthe vehicle was taken to the dealer, it was determined all four upper/lower ball joints on the left and right side needed to be replaced for safety reasons. *ph

An independent mechanic replaced the upper and lower ball joints and the wheel bearings due to failure.mechanic said that the ball joints failed prematurely.the failure of the wheel bearings occurred three weeks after replacement of ball joints.tires were destroyed due to the failure of wheel bearings.*la

I own a 1998-dodge durango slt.last july 2002 i took my vehicle in to an area dealership for routine maintenance.i was told that the ball joints were cracked and needed immediate attention or there could be a nasty accident.i was told that this problem should not be happening.i made several inquires at other dealerships about this and was told basically the same thing.i contacted the chrysler corporation after i had heard a local news station give a consumer alert on the durango.chrysler said that there was no problem with the ball joint and that the durango was not being recalled for any factory related repairs.i have since had the joints fixed but i feel that it is the manufacturer's responsibility since so many other durango drivers have had the same experience.*la

With 40,000 miles had to install lower ball joints and right side inner tire rod i installed left inner tie rod and upper ball joints when vehicle was apart, also installed mono-max kyb shocks front and rear and install new bf goodrich tiresfront and rear had 2 different people check and set alignment and can not get vehicle to stop drifting right andhas chopped wear patten on right front wheelhas to install new thermostat gasket.

My 1998 dodge durango continues to show problems with steering and front. There are only 57000 miles on this vehicle and the miles have been easy miles, (all on road and easy driving).i've replaced the power steering box, and the lower ball joints plus the front wheel bearing and drum.all of this has cost $550 the first time and $880 the second time.this cost come in addition to replacement a head gasket and rear windows that don't work.

The truck failed state inspection because the upper and lower ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced. The truck vibrateed severely when slowing down.

While driving 55 mph vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably.consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined thatboth frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced, and replaced it. However, the problem recurred, and the upper and lower ball joints were replaced again.

Unstable steering of dodge durango 1998 due to defective front ball joints.mechanic who assessed failure warned me of potential of an accident at speeds higher than 55 mph.*la

The upper and lower ball joints are worn and loose on my 1998 dodge durango. When i discovered this defect i went to 15 used car lots that also had dodge durangos in their inventory and every one either had the same condition or the ball joints were already replaced.

The driver took the vehicle to a gas station for a wheel alignment. The mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced.

Upon inspection, lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango were found to be rusted, loose, and had to be replaced.inspection facility indicated they had 4 or 5 other durangos with similar problems, some which resulted in accidents.

Two lower ball joints and two tie rods had to be replaced in my 1998 dodge durango.*la

Wheel fell off durango, due to defective ball joints.

Whenvehicle was going through state inspection technician determined that upper and lower ball joints were loose. The ball joints needed replacement.

Vehicle was takenfor a routine inspection, and inspector noticed thatupper and lower ball joints needed to bereplaced.

Consumer states while drivingsteering wheel became very loose. Took vehicle to dealer, anddealer stated that ball joints were bad.

1998 dodge durango.ball joints defective.

Had to replace upper and lower ball joints after going for an alignment and being made aware of the problem .i felt this was premature for this vehicle.obviously this was a design flaw in the durango's.

I have been informed by my dodge dealer that my 1998 dodge durango needs to have the ball joints replaced for the second time. The vehicle currently has 120,000 miles on it. They were replacedthe first time at 70,000 miles at my expense. Dodge has refused to participate financially on either occasion. Since ball joints are an integral part of the steering system i consider this a safety issue. I also think the failure rate on these parts is unacceptable. I do know dodge has issued recalls on later model durango's for this same issue. The vehicle is not used off road and has been meticulously serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Please help.

While drivingconsumer heard a "squeaking" noise coming from the front of the vehicle.the mechanic at an independent repair shop determined that the upper and lower ball joints were loose andneed to bereplaced.

Dealerhad to replace five times the lower and upper ball joints. Every time it cost over $1000,and the crunchy noise was still occurring.

Request response from nhtsa re a recall for 1998-99 durangos have same problem as 2000-2003.upper ball jointsreply to brookfield dist. Office. The consumer stated he sufferedupper and lowerball joint failure on his vehicle, however his vehicle was not included in the recall.

Pe 03-032, front susensionupper ball joint failure: upper ball joints wore out prematurely.the problem was repaired by the owner. The upper and lower ball joints were replaced.

Consumer had several alignments done on the vehiclein the past year.an independent dealer informed the consumer that the lower ball joints wore out prematurely.*scc

Vehicle was taken to an after market repair shop and was told that the upper and lower ball joints were defective. Because of the defect a wheel alignment was improbable.

We recently had our durango in for preventive manintenance and discoverd front end ball joints had abnormal wear and posed a serious hazard while driving.further research on abnormal wear found that a number of durango's reported same type of abnormality.we paid over $800.00 for repair and feel this type of problem should be strongly considered for recall regulations.this could have caused a serious accident to my family and other durango owners as well.

I won a 1998 dodge durango 4x4.i recently had to replace the brakes on my durango.i had one of the pads on the passenger side break loose from the shoe.i had to replace the rotors as well.costing me $435.the mechanic doing the work wanted to know if i had replaced the rear brakes recently.i informed him that i had not.the front and rear were replace at the same time maybe a year earlier.he said there was next to no wear on my rear brakes.sincfe having my brakes replaced there is this awful grinding sound in the front of the vehicle. I took it back to the mechaninc and he said all 4 ball joints, upper and lower, needed to be replaced at a cost of $1400.parts and labor.i know dodge recalled the 2000-2003, but this is rediculous.i have not read alot of complaints about the 2000-2003, i've read more about the 98-99.also my brakes have failed to engage twice and they locked up on me once on dry pavement.

After seeing a report about failed ball joints in dodge durangos, we had ours inspected and they all had to be replaced. We had them replaced and 4 months later they had to be replaced again.

I own a 1998 dodge durango with approx. 91,000 miles.last year i had to replace the front lower ball joint on the driver's side.i began to notice that the vehicle would shake uncontrollably when it reached highway speeds (55 mph).this month i purchased and installed 4 new tires, but the service station could not do an alignment on my vehicle because the front upper ball joint on the driver's side had gone bad.

While driving 40 mph,the vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably.the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection.the mechanic informed the driver that both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.please provide further details.

Consumer took vehicle into the dealerand technician stated has to replacelower passenger ball joint, consumer stated there was a technical service bulletin # 020498 on this problem.

Pe 03-032 front susp. Upper ball joint failure:the consumer has had the lower ball joints replaced twice and the upper replaced once.the dealer is aware of the problem, but the manufacturer is not.*nlm

Daimler chrysler issued a recall (04v596000) for ball joint and extended warranty to 10 yr / 100000 miles for 2000 - 2003 durangos. My question is why the '98 durangos were not included since my 98 durango had the same failure and the current mileage is only 69,000

1998 dodge durango. Upper and lower ball joints. I had thought i needed shocks and an alignment and brought the vehicle to my mechanic who told me that the vehicle needed upper and lower ball joints, tie rod end and idler arm. The vehicle has become unsafe to drive. The vehicle was never abused, and 90% of the miles are highway miles. I have read many accounts of the exact same problem and believe further investigation and recall is necessary.

Premature wear on passenger side front upper and lower ball joints.

I have a 1998 dodge durango and was told that i needed new ball joints on the front of the truck.i had heard there is an investigation going on due to so many complaints on the ball joints in the 1998 to 2003 durangos.if i had not taken it in for a routine oil change this would not have been caught and there would have been an accident.the reason it was caught was the service consultant at dodge asked if i had checked the front end alignment lately.i said no and told him to check it.he called back with the ball joint problem that will now cost me $1800.00.it is very strange that they asked to check my front end alignment with an investigation going on.*la

While at repair shop for front alignment mechanic determined that front upper and lower ball joints were worn out, and had to be replaced.

While turning left or right vehicle made a loud noise.an independent shop technician stated, upper and lower ball joints needs to be replaced. A loud clunking noise was heard when going over any bumps in the road. The worse noise was heard when turning left or right. Consumer took the vehicle to the mechanic when he learned the ball joints were no good.*ph

Lower and upper ball joints failed. Consumer was concerned that the front end will collapse while driving.

Consumer noticed that the vehicle was swaying back and forth. Consumer drove it to dealer for inspection, andmechanic determined thatthe upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.the ball joints caused the tire to wear rapidly.

The front tires woreout prematurely, and had to be replaced twice in 1 year.also, when stopping or accelerating, the consumerheard a "clunking" noise from the front end.dealer diagnosed the ball joints were worn and predicted failure. *ph

I bought a 1998 dodge durango in november of 2002. The vehicle had 59939 miles on it. I have maintained the car as one should. On 9/2/03 i took the auto into aamco transmissions as the car was not shifting down into 1st gear. It cost me $500.00 to fix this transmission problem. At the same time they told me my transfer case was going out and needs to be rebuilt. The estimate-$1350. In nov of 2003, i took the car in to get a lube job. The mechanic told me that my lower ball joints were not accepting grease & the upper boots were rotted. That eventually i would need new ball joints but i still had time. In dec 2003, i started having problems with the electrical system. The front passenger window would not roll down. Then if my steering wheel was turned as i put the car in park, it would not start, or it would die as i was backing out. In january i heard metal in my front tires as i was braking. A new brake job cost me $350.00. The end of january, while driving this vehicle with 72,000 miles, my front right tire fell off. Reason: upper ball joint broke off. Every mechanic has stated that this is a defect, as they have never seen ball joints do this at this low mileage. I then saw nhtsa interviewed on the news for the very same reason. Dodge durangos and their ball joints with tires falling off. My car landed in a ditch. I was lucky i was only travelling at 35 mph. It could have been fatal, and who ever manufactures these ball joints better stand up to the plate and take responsibility. This auto has been nothing but a mechanical problem since i bought it. And costly at that!

The ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango were bad and i have since had to replace them.

Consumer notice d and while travelingmaking right or left turns front endwas making noise. Vehicle was serviced, ball joints were replaced.

While driving at low speedsnoise could be heard from the front end. Steering column shifted when accelerating and braking.all four ball joints were replaced along with the inner tie rods. But the noise could still be heard.the cause of the problem had not been determined.

My 1998 dodge durango vin [xxx], now needs a third ball joint replacement. Why was not the 1998 model year recalled for this problem like the 2000-2003 model years? certainly three failures of this component in 72,000 miles is a safety defect and should be included in a recall. Please review 1998 model years for inclusion in the recall. Updated 07/24/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Consumer complained aboutball joints andtie rod problems.while pulling out of the driveway front right wheel came off the vehicle.

Premature wear and replacement of the lower and upper ball joints

While driving at 45 mph consumer heard a clankingnoise coming from the front end. Vehicle was towed to the dealer. Anddealer replaced the ball joint assembly on both sides, and the front hub assembly.dealer replaced ball joints and front hub.*la

While driving, the consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end.an independent mechanic determined that the front lower ball joints wore out. But the problem was not yet resolved.*sc

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

Front end ball joints worn out. Would not pass inspection.98 durango with only 33,250 miles..

While driving the consumer heard a soft sporadic squeaking noise coming from the chassis.the dealers technician had trouble locating the noise but eventually determined that the vehicle needed new ball joints and was unsafe to drive.the consumer left the dealer without having the work done.the consumer feels other consumer's should be aware of this defect.*ph

My durango has just over 60,000 miles on it.it has been very well cared for.during the first 3 years (while under warranty), the vehicle was taken to the dealer to check for squeaks in the front end.they said they lubricated the ball joints and the noise would go away for a day or two... Then return.recently on inspection, i was notified that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.because of recent announcements of failure of that front assembly due to ball joints, i wanted to add my bit of history as well.this car also has leaking seals on transfer case.i understand many people have had that problem along with transmission failure in the 60-70,000 mile range... So i probably have that to look forward to.if i can provide further information, please let me know.thanks.

Vehicle failed state inspection.needed to replace the upper and lower ball joints.both upper and lower ball joints were replaced and vehicle passed inspection.the front brakes and rotors were also replaced.*ph*nlm

Upper and lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango need to be replaced.evaluated at local chrysler dealer and was told that ball joints would need to be replaced.experiencing tire wear and humming vibration when driven in addition to loose steering.problem found at 38,000 miles.

Defective upper & lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango.i would like to join the rest of the durango owners and file a complaint pertaining to the poor quality of the 1998 dodge durango upper & lower ball joints.i was notified by the dodge service technicians that the ball joints needed to be replaced right away and if not dealt with soon they could cause an accident.i have children and i carpool children, so i took them seriously.i could not afford the dodge price quote of $1200 so i went with a local mechanic shop price quote of $900.this is a lot of money to come up with in a short amount of time.in my opinion the ball joints should have lasted longer than 62000 miles.the majority of the work on the durango is taxing kids around town.

I own a 1998 dodge durango that had to have the ball joints and front suspension replaced at 50,000 miles.this not only was a costly expenditure but according to the mechanics that did the job an unheard of replacement job at such low miles.they informed me that they could not believe i was having to do this, since i was not a large woman.i am interested to hear how many other people have been in my predictament.

1998 dodge durango.replaces lower ball joints two years ago ($500+).now after 75000 total miles i have to replace the upper ball joint and tie rods.dodge did not extend their recall back far enough.the only go back to year 2000 models.

Upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to premature wear, per dealership.

Consumer states that lower ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified.

The consumer loss of control of the vehicle.the failure was caused by defective upper and lower ball joints.

1998 dodge durango upper and lower ball joints failed, requiring replacement.vehicle was out of warranty by approximately 10,000 miles.repairs performed at local non-dealer shop.

Consumer complained about aball joint problemwhich was affecting the wear of the tires. Consumer seeks reimbursement for repairs on ball joints and replacement of tires.*la

I've been hearing about all of the problems with the ball joints on the> chrysler/dodge products.we had to replace our lower ball joints at> 77,175 -lower ball joints - 98' dodge durango> miles.what is being investigated on this topic?

Today i replace the 6th...yes 6th ball joint in my dodge durango.one fell under warenty when i broung it back for other warrent work and it was fixed. That was around 20k miles. At around 40k miles i had to pay out of pocket for all 4 when i asked for a alinement.and today an aline ment was needed from hitting a pot hole and you guessed it another ball joint has gone bad in 12 months and 13kmiles.so my truck now with 53k miles have gone threw 6 ball joints 4 out of pocket cost and one just the cost of labor.

Vehicle was taken to the dealer for maintenance. Dealer found that front ball joints were worn out.

While driving 55 mph, a knockingnoise was heard coming from driver side wheel.driver was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, andmechanic replaced both upper and lower ball joints due to worn out parts.

The consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the upper and lowerball joints had worn out. The mechanic stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive.*ph

Ball joint failure on 1998 durango slt w/ 5.9l engine and 81,500 miles.heard clunking sound in front end driving down freeway in dallas, tx.pulled in midas shop and leered that driver's side front ball joint was ready to come completely apart.the midas shop manager advised me to not drive the vehicle like this.both front ball joints and wheel bearings needed to be replaced.cost:$1,400. I do have the old parts.

The consumer saw a news report about the ball joints on dodge durangos and took his vehicle to the dealer for inspection.the mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints were in "bad shape" and needed to be replaced. *nlm *sc

Yesterday, 8/25/04, while exiting a highway the ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango slt 4x4 failed on me.as i was breaking the front suspension felt like it dropped down and i heard a clunk and temporarely lost control of the vehicle however i was able to gain control quickly and pull into a gas staion.i could not notice anything(but im not mechanically knowledgable) at first when i pulled into the gas station and got out to look around my wheels but as i went to drive away there was a knocking noise and a virbration coming from the front of the vehicle.luckly i was close enough to midas so i went right to them and they put it up on a lift and showed me the ball joints.the bottoms had completely come apart(dropped out i think was the term) and the top ones were extremely loose and had a lot of play on them.i was told that i was lucky that it happened when it did and not on the highway where i was doing 65mph because there was a chance that the wheels could have actually fallin off my vehicle causing who knows what to happen (major accident, death, ect..) and that dodge durangos and dakotas are the most common vehicle with this problem.i had them repaired at a total cost of 942.30.they replaced the upper and lower ball joints on both sides of the front end and gave me the old ball joints to do with as i please.the only thing left to determine is why the knocking noise that arrose only after the ball joints failed on me is still there after having them replaced and i am going back to midas tomorrow to try to get a diagnosis of this problem.

Consumer had vehicle inspected by a dealership because of the new board cast. Dealership indicated thatball jointswore out prematurely,and the wheel could fall off at anytime if they won't replace the ball joints.consumer was unsure if it was the upper or lower ball joints.

The consumer experienced a ball joint problem.the consumercontacted the manufacturer, and was told that only the 2000 through 2003 vehicles were being recalled.the right passenger right side lower and upper ball joints were extremely loose, more than the left side. *sc

7/12/01 i was advised that the lower ball joints were loose and needed to be replaced. I had brought the vehicle in because it sounded like something underneath was loose.it made noise going over any rough surface. After checking with several other dodge service people and being advised that this was very definitely premature,i contactedthe customer service office and a person named [xxx] arranged to have the ball joints replaced with me paying a good will deductible of $150.00.the car# 9012127 was on my invoice and was approved by [xxx]. At the time of diagnosismy mileage was 39,436andthe purchase date was 3/18/98, just out of warranty.the vin is [xxx].i currently have 68,717 miles on the vehicle and it is starting to make the same noises again.i just replacedthe front andrear shocks but the noise continues.after hearing about the current investigation regarding the upper ball joints, i am concerned about the safety of this vehicle.*lainformation redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

I had heard about a program aired on t.v. Regarding the upper ball joints going bad prematurely on the dodge durango.i took my vehicle to my regular mechanic to have it checked.i was told that both the upper and lower ball joints were bad.i made an appointment and had them replaced at a dodge dealer.i was told that since there was not an official recall, i would have to pay for it.my life and that of my family were at jeopardy and i believe i should be fully reimbursed for the costs associated with repairing the vehicle.

While driving at any speed vehicleshook violently. Eventually,the consumer pulled the front tire off, and noticed that upper ball jointsfailed and needed replacement.

Replaced power steering pump at 38,627 miles.eplaced lower left ball joint at 38,657 miles.eplaced upper control arm and upper ball joint at 41,634 miles.replaced right front axle and lower right ball joint at 45,946 miles.

The consumer stated the vehiclemade a loud clanking noise while backing out of the driveway. The consumer took thevehicle to the dealer/mechanic and was told theball jointsfailed and the vehicle had a cracked front disc rotor.both lower and right upper ball joints were replaced. *sc

In april of 2000 i had to replace my lower ball joints on my 98 dodge durango with 40,000 miles on it.now in oct. 2003 with 95,000 i'm told my upper ball joints are severely worn and my lower are going out again.

I own a 1998 dodge durango, i am on my second set of upper and lower ball joints and now have to replace the front wheel bearing hubs also.my dealer says this is normal, i have never had to replace these items on any other car that i've owned!

Ball joints on my 1998 durango made me lose control of my steering.

Consumer tookvehicle to dealer for an alignment,and was told that an alignment could not be done becausevehicle needed upper and lower ball joints.consumerstated that tie rod in upper left arm wasreplaced.consumerhad not yet had a problem with vehicle, but was told that the 1999 model was being recalled forball joints.

Consumer was in an accident. Found that the ball joints were bad.recall 04v596000was issued concerning ball joint wear.

I have been advised by my goodyear mechanic that my 1998 dodge durango is not safe to drive because allupper and lower ball joints are wore out and need to be replaced. The vehicle has 82000 miles on it. The repair is going to cost over $400.00.i have receipts that show regular maintenance is preformed on the vehicle. I think someone is not doing there job, because it seems that there are a lot of complaints about this problem. As well as major media coverage. On your complaint form you ask how many deaths. Well i'm glad i didn't have any to list .how many people have to die before you people decide to react to this complaint. I have also had to replace the front a/c evaporator core at a cost of $750.00. No deaths to report in this case either (sorry).this is the first dodge i have ever owned. It may be my last. I am replacing to 4 ball joints as we speak...because i am concerned with my family's safety. Even if you are not. Thanks for letting me vent...tom bottoms *la

2 independent diagnosis of ball joint problems. I had noticed bad tread wear on front tires.two facilities both diagnosed the same problem.ball joint failure on upper and lower front ball joints.both recommended replacement with linkage. Car is a '98 model with 58,000 miles.thank goodness the wheels had not come off. *la

Dodge durango 1998upper and lowerball joints failure. Consumer wants to know why wouldn't a recall be issued on the 98 vehicles but only for the 2000-03 models.the consumer had to have the upper and lower ball joints replaced on her vehicle at a cost of 1500.00.

I have a 1998 dodge durango (vin #[xxx]) and have had a continuous problem with the front suspension and ball joints.i have had the problem looked at twice (once at the local dealer and once at an independent site.) i am on my third set of front tires and only have 64,000 miles on it.the ride is very bumpy.i am concerned that there is a epidemic problem that is not being corrected or taken seriously by my dodge dealer.i consider this a safety issue.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Consumer stated thatvehicle was driving as if itneeded an alignment.but when she took vehicle to dealer, andmechanic determined that suspension systemmalfunctioned.also,ball joints cracked in half. Consumer was told that if she hit a hard bump front tires would have fallen off.consumer never receivedrecall or any warning.

I have a 98 dodge durango and saw recently about ball joint failures, i have had ball joints replaced once (40000) and now need them replaced again (74000 miles).i was fortunate enough to have heard of other people with ball joint problems on their durango's that i have them checked on a regular basis. I was told at more then one automotive shop about a problem with the ball joints on durango's, including a dodge dealership.i believe more people have a problem than is realized, only they dont know they have a problem.why let them find the hard way?i have seen reports of wheels falling off.is there a certain number of people that have to be injured before dodge is forced into a recall.one can only hope that is not so.

Dt: contact stated both lower ball jointswere replaced twice on vehicle.also, both front tireshad to be replaced twice.the service dealer stated the tires needed replacement due to the failure of the ball joints.the first replacement occurred when the vehicle'smileage was at 27,280.the second replacement occurredat 43,908 miles. Consumer statedfront end was making a squeaking noise and was driving differently.consumer contacted manufacturer, and was sending the service receipts.there was a recall on different modelyearfor this specific component, but consumer's vehiclewas not included in the recall campaign due to vin.consumer didnot have the complete address for the dealership where the vehicle was purchased.repair receipts attached for ball joints.windshield sprayer sprays one side.connector repalced.front brake pads and rotors machined.

All four ball joints have failed. Lowers replaced at 80000 miles and uppers at 100000.seems excessive.front axle inner bearings complerte failure which damaged front axle itself and needed replaced.from looking at the many other front suspension complaints lodeged, there appears to be a real problem that should be investigated.front suspension is a real safety concern.

Consumer stated that while driving and without warningball jointswere wearing out.dealer notified.

I purchased a 1998 dodge durango from a small car dealership in 2004. It only had 50k miles on it. It now has 75k miles on it. I was told before a trip that my truck had some "play". Not knowing what that was, i continued to drive it. I am now told that it is going to cost me $1000 to fix it and then i would need to replace the tires only have 5k miles on them. I am looking at a 2k dollar fix! one mechanic told me they were extremely unsafe! i have 3 small children and this is our main vehicle. How many lives are they going to put in danger for the durango owners (1998-1999)? we have the same ball joint problems as the 2000-2003 owners. I have researched the internet and forums and have seen thousands of complaints so why has nothing been done? i do not have $2000 dollars to put into a truck that shouldn't have anything but minor things with the mileage and just normal driving. This is unsafe and is putting many lives in danger. Are they going to wait to get medical bills and funeral expenses when an entire family loses their lives from the truck rolling? what happens to the ones who keep driving it, unaware what the "play" is? they will be the ones possible losing their lives or taking someone else's! i see another class action law suite coming on!!!

1998 dodge durango hassame problem as 2000-2003 dakotas/durangos, upper and lower ball joints replaced.

Knocking in the front of the vehicle causing the truck to become out of alignment.i brought it in to have it checked and they said that i need to have the ball joints to be replaced and that there was a recall on this vehicle for this exact situation.i brought it to alexander dodge in franklin, tn and they said that the defect does not apply to my vehicle because of the year, which i find it hard to believe that the recall only applies to 1999 and after when my vehicle is a 98 and i find it hatrd to believe that the same problem did not occur to a vehicle made the previous year unless they had changed manufacturers in between.

Premature wear of lower ball joints in 1998 dodge durango.new ones installed by independent repair shop.

Complaint received via e-mail. I have a 1998 ball joints,and that the car is unsafe. I figured they were just trying to make money for another job. I went directly to my neighborhood shop to see what they said and they agreed. Dodge knew that this is a problem.also, a cash cow to them at $1500.00. I have driven this vehicle gently and only had high 50000 miles at the time of repair. 1998 durango should be included in this recall.the consumer stated that the oil pump failed and the tranny failed.the intake gasket manifold failed and consumed 1 qt of oil in two days.the vehicle uses excessive anti freez.the crank shaft was replaced as well as connecting rod and bearings.the consumer stated that the vehicle had to many problems and dealer knew of the problems beforehand. Four ball joints have been replaced.*tc

My 1998 dodge durango' upper and lower ball joints failed with only 59000 miles. Replacement costs were over $900.

While driving over uneven pavement there was a loud clanking sound coming from the front wheels.the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who informed the consumer that the upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced.the manufacturer and the dealer are not aware of the problem.

Defective ball joints, i'm getting ready to go on my 3rd set of ball joints. There is definitely something wrong with the durango ball joint (front end design). My first set of ball joints went bad after 50,000 miles (3 out of 4 joints defective), when i took my car in for tire replacements (as a result) they told me that they had 2 other durango's in the shop for the same reason (bad ball joints). Now, after 80,000 (30,000 from my last replacement) my tires are showing the same wear pattern. I'm very interested into any probe resulting from the ball joint issue and would be happy to assist in any way.*la

While driving at any speed vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. Driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

Vehicle upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.*mr

I started noticing a popping sound on left turns and when it was inspected at a local mechanic, i was informed of a lower ball joint problem coupled with deterioration of the spindle or a arm. I really like the durango and was even contemplating a pacifica. If daimler chrysler doesn't do any better service to its customers by repairing their faulty equipment, perhaps the big bucks they want for their product could be placed into another auto manufacturer.

The dealership noticed that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out, and needed to be replaced while performing a 3000 miles warranty service.the factory back ordered the parts. *sc

While driving vehiclepulled to the right.dealership indicated thatlower ball joints were loose.

Consumer has stated that since she has owned the vehicle all lower ball joints have been replaced once.at this time, all upper ball jointsand cv bootsneed to be replaced as well.

Bad front end parts on 1998 dodge durango.

I own a dodge durango 1998 and i saw that you are doing an investigation of the durango's. I recently took my durango to a tire specialist to get an alignment done the vehicle has been pulling for some time now. They informed me that the ball joints and the 2 outer and 1 inner tie rods are bad and need to be replaced. If i take the vehicle to the dealership its going to be about a 900 procedure where if i take it to someone else it will be a 700 procedure but in order to be re-imbursed if a recall does come out i was told that i have to take it to the dealer. I am a pregnant woman and i have a 1 year old child. I am really worried that something that other mothers have experienced will also happen to me and my family. I am the one that drives this vehicle day in and day out. Since we bought the durango in 2002 we have had to replace tires, brakes, water pump, radiatior, now the ac is not blowing cold or even cool air and we need the ball joints and tie rods replaced. You have my word that i will never buy another dodge. I know this is being investigated and i wanted to let you know that this is a severe problem and i hope they do something soon before people die.

During a routine inspection dealerships informed the consumer thatupper ball joints wore out.consumer was not experiencing any problems at this time. The dealership did not resolve the problem.*mr

Ball joints had to be replaced in jan 2003 on my 1998 dodge durrango.

My 1998 dodge durango has approximately 85k miles on it. It is in the shop today getting new top and bottom ball joints on both sides. Heard about possible investigation. Read others complaints and feel lucky mine made it this may miles. Also have to replace front rotors because they are out of round. *ph

Front end steering noises, no failure, dealer diagnosed upper ball joints extremely worn, lower joints loose.needs full replacement of all ball joints.

I have a 1998 dodge durango that needs both upper and lower ball jointsto b ereplaced, and the vehicle only has a little over 60,000 miles.

Dt:the consumer owns a 1998 dodge durango. He states that his upper ball joints are about to break because his wheels are leaning.

(1)both front ball joints were making popping noises everytime we drove over a bump or jolt in the road.(2)the both were bad and needed replacing, thankfully before they created an accident.(3)both ball joints were replaced and the vehicle realigned.

Regarding nhtsa action number pe03032 dodge suspension front ball joint the dealership told me about 1 year ago that this needed to be fixed before they could align the front end of the car. I complaint that this should not prematurly wear out after 40000 miles. I just would like to state that i also have problems with this vehicle in conjunction with this action number.thank you

Upper and lower ball joints worn and needed to be replaced.luckily this was found by a mechanic and they were replaced before they failed.however, this was done after the warranty period at considerable cost to myself.

Consumer state while traveling over bumps heard a noise. Vehicle was serviced, technician noticed ball joints needed to be replaced vehicle is now on second set.

All of the vehicle's ball joints had to be replaced.the consumer stated that there was a problem in the front end of the vehicle.the recall did not include the consumers vehicle.the consumer would like to be reimbursed for the amount she paid for service. The abs and brake light came on . Theright inner tie rod assembly was replaced. *tc

I own a 98 durangos has same problem as 2000-2003,ball joints problems.consumer wants to know why did the recall exclude the 1998-99?the consumer stated that this will be the second time replacing the ball joints in this vehicle in 80000 miles.*tc

Premature wear on upper and lower ball joints on both sides of vehicle. The separation of these components cause the driver to lose control of the steering and could cause the vehicle to roll over causing serious injury or death. In addition to the ball joints, the wheel bearing assemblies fail prematurely which in combination with the ball joint problem greatly increases loss of control of the vehicle.this vehicle also has a problem with the transmission slipping with less than 70,000 miles on it. This causes slow acceleration which could cause an accident resulting in serious injury or death.

All 4 ball joints on the vehicle were close to failing at 72,310 miles.plus, an inner tie rod was bad and the right wheel bearing.this caused the steering to be very loose and it became hard to control.

Noise began in front wheel area and grew very loud within a short period of time.also experienced steering issues (car shakes and pulls to right).took vehicle in to check it out - had to replacel front ball joints and tension rods ends.we had to pay over $2000.00 to repair this defect, and car still does not steer properly.dealer reported to us that this is a common problem for this vehicle.

Extreme squeaky noises coming from the front end of the truck. Mechanic said that upper and lower ball joints wore out and this was a very common problem with these suvs. He said that it was likely that there will be a recall on this soon as well.

1998 dodge durangoball joints & control arm upper and lower they were first replaced in 2000 then in 2004 and now need to be replaced in 2005 continuously fails safety inspectionvin no. [xxx] updated 07/19/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

I noticed a heavy "thump"from the front end when the vehicle was on washboard pavement or when going over curbs entering driveways.the lower ball joints (and intermediate steering shaft) on my 1998 dodge durango required replacement at 48,000 miles.the truck has received regular service at 3,000 mile intervals and is driven only in a suburban (smooth, paved road) or interstate setting.the estimate for the repairs is ~$900.the dealer, koller dodge in naperville, il, did not detect this problem when replacing the front brake rotors 5 weeks ago.

1998 dodge durango with complete upper and lower ball joint failure and control arm failure.repaired at owner expense at local independent repair shop.ball joints worn to point of unsafe to drive the vehicle despite only 82,000 miles.

Premature wear oflower ball joints. Dealer notified.

While driving, the consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Themechanic informed the consumer thatball joints wore out.

Ball joints have worn out prematurely. *nlm

I purchase my 1998 dodge durango in february of 2004. After two months problems with brakes and upper and lower ball joints began (both front tires) with the driver side being the worst. I heard clicking when i would turn the steering wheel to the left and thought it could be the cv joint. I too k the vehicle to brauning automotive and they found the problem and gave an estimate of $1500.00 in repair costs. I purchased the parts myself and my father replaced both the upper and lower ball joints the following day. ( i am doubtful he still has the old parts - but i will ask) this was back in april 2004 and i am hearing the clicking yet again. When my father worked on my car he told me there was a bolt that was partial screwed in and the theads had actually been stripped off. He had to change the bolt as well. The clicking sound is almost sounds like two pieces of metal are slamming together. This does not happen when i am driving staight . I only hear it when i turn. I have 3 children and don't have the money to repair this problem. I heard on the radio a little bit about this. I don;t know if this is an actual recall or if it may become a recall. I don't want to have an accident like the others before something is done about this.

My dodge durango started making a clunking noise in the front suspension upon turning or going over rough pavement. I took the car into the shop and there was a failure of both the upper ball joints as well as the tie-rod ends, nearly separated.per the garage, unusual for a 7 year old car with 66,000 miles.they need to be replaced before the catastrophic failure occurs.replacement will include both upper and lower ball joints on left and right side and 4 tie rods.old parts are available.total cost of repair $1,100.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.the contact stated that the vehicle failed inspection because the passenger side front upper ball joint and the driver side front lower ball joint were loose.there had been no failure to date and there are no recalls at this time.the purchase date was unknown.the current mileage was 58,945.

Consumer stated when making a left or right turn, thefront endmade a noise. The vehicle was serviced and technician stated theball joints needed to be replaced.

Nar 9-8-03. Excessive movement in steering. Excessive amount of noise in suspension front ball joints. Dealer wasnotified

Vehicle wandered across the road while driving at any speed. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, andmechanicdetermined that both front lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The dealer was not notified.

After service of vehicle, i left the dealer.when i left the parking lot i heard a bang from under the vehicle.i took the vehicle back to the dealer and went for a road test with one of the service employees.he concured that there was a noise but could not tell me exactly what was wrong with the truck. Service was booked the following day so i arranged to drop the truck off two days later. I was then told that the lower ball joints were bad on both sides. I was quoted a price approx $200.00 over the area's service centers. The service center told me that the vehicle should not be driven because it "was not safe". After researching the suspension i found that there are many others who have had similar problems. I feel that since the dealership has a re-occuring problem with this particular equipment, that a safety recall should be implimented. Especially since the dealer indicated that the truck is not safe to drive.

The vehicle was taken to dealer for routine general maintenance,and the mechanicdetermined that all four ball joints wore out prematurely.there was banging when the consumer would go over bumps.this was due to loose ball joints. *sc

I own a 1998 dodge durango with 22,000 miles.all four front end ball joints are in need of replacement.this is an extremely common problem with the dodge durango and dakota models.while the worn ball joints have not caused an accident in my case yet, they will need to be replaced prematurely at a considerable expense to me for what appears to be a design/manufacturing flaw.i reiterate that my worn ball joints have not yet caused me to have an accident, but only because i am observant enough to notice the clicking sound they make and to have them replaced before they do cause a potentially serious accident.i have seen pictures recently of other owners of this make/model vehicle who have had serious accidents due to this mechanical failure. *nlm

Dt contact statesfrontsuspensionleft lower ball joint broke. Had a local mechanic look at the vehicle.the mechanic stated it was defective and repaired this problem on a regular basis. He spoke with the dealer.they would not help with repair cost of the vehicle. The vehicle is not repaired at this point.

Consumer statedvehicle was taken in for a routine inspection, and the dealer noticed that upper contro arm and lower ball joints needed replacing.

On april 8, 2004, we took our vehicle to the service station for a routine oil change and annual safety inspection.at this time our vechicle had approximately 63,000 miles on it.during the safety inspection, it was noted that all 4 front ball joints were bad.our mechanic believed this to be premature wear for these parts.as we were leaving on vacation the next day, we took it to the chrysler dealer and paid close to $1,000 to have this defect repaired to protect the safety of our family.upon further research, we see that there have been other complaints and an investigation into this defect.

While driving over bumpy road consumer heard a noise. After vehicle was serviced consumer was informed that the ball joints needed replacement.

Thank god, we have no "incident" to report.however,if we did not decide to bring our dodge durango in to get the ball joints checked out we may have had a "horrible incident"!!!the repairman said the ball joints were so loose that they could move them around when pulling on the tires. We have three children that ride in this vehicle daily,the tires could have fallen off at any time!!!!!!!this is unacceptable and dodge must be held accountable for their faulty defects.

Dt: owner complained aboutseveral vehicle problems. . on all four windows the regulator has had to be replaced more than once. Driver's side having to be replaced the most. Also,lower ball joints / left upper ball joint, and steering column has been replaced twice in less than one year time.currently the upper right ball joint had tobe replaced. These has been ongoing issues with this vehicle since consumerowned it.consumerdealt withdealership and manufacturer,but chrysler refused to help since there was no recall. Chrysler was very rude and hung up on the consumer.

Consumer states that the vehicle lower ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified. *ph

Consumer stated that while driving and without warning front lower ball joints are wearing out. Dealer notified.this would be the third time for both abs sensors to be replaced as well as the rear differential. *scc

While driving 5 mph in reverse a loud noise was heard coming from the driver side wheel.consumer took the vehicle to a garage, and mechanic replaced upper and lower ball joints.

Pe 03 032/front suspension/upper ball joint failure: while the vehicle's front wheels was being aligned mechanic informed the consumer that both the upper and lower ball joints on both side needed to be replaced due to excessive lack of lubricationand no grease fixing. Dealer and the manufacturer werenotified.

Had to replace ft control arms and ball joints only 42.000 miles bought used from dealer with 29.000 miles should not happen also every one i talk to with this has experienced same problems ---------- called chry would not help or even pay a portion also called dealer they were same attitude --- i do not believe tgis truck was checked before i bought it fortunately no one hurt.

Ball joints.

I own a 1998 dodge durango. I have had to replace the ball joints 3 times in 70,000 miles. Once at 38,000, then at 53,000, then at 66,000 miles. I saw the news article on tv about this so i decided to report it. I know of several other owners of durangos with the same problem.

Ball joint failure.

While driving the consumer heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the front end. The dealerships mechanic inform the consumer that the noise was due worn front upper/lower ball joints.

My 1998 dodge durango' upper and lower ball joints failed with only 59000 miles.replacement costs were over $900.

1998 dodge durango ball joints.

1998 dodge durango 4w drive suspension premature failure.both my upper and lower ball joints on both side began failing at 78000 miles.i understand the nhtsa is investigating similar complaints.i had to replace all my ball joints.if there is a recall on the ball joints, will dodge reimburse me for the expense?

While driving between 55 to 60 mph the consumer hears a loud noise then temporarily lost control of the vehicle.the consumer was able to pull out of the road and the vehicle was towed to the dealer.the technician determined the lower ball joint separated.

The upper and lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced at 62,000 miles. This seems to be low mileage for such repairs. Also, the dealer indicated the tie rod ends were wearing as well and recommended replacing them but they posed no immediate danger but they suggested the tie rod ends may fail soon. Repairs were guoted in excess of $1200.00! this seems to be low mileage for these repairs as well. With the number of complaints on file it would seem to be prudent to issue a recall on the front suspension, all components, on the durangos. And to issue reimbursements for those repairs already completed.

Premature failure of upper and lower ball joints.

Consumer noticedtire uneven wear while traveling 60-65 mph. Vehicle started vibrating. Vehicle was serviced, andtechnician replaced ball joints.

At very low speeds, such as pulling in or out of driveway, can feel and hear popping noises through the floor boards.also, the steering wheel would be very loose; it takes about two inches before steering wheel is actuallyable to be turned.have taken vehicle to mechanic and was informed that upper and lower ball joints, on all wheels, are worn out and need to be replaced.

1998 dodge durango 45,311 miles needed upper and lower ball joints and inner tie rods replaced.*la

The consumer stated that she had taken the automobile to the dealership for an oil change/check and was told by the mechanic that the lower ball joints were bad and needed repair.the consumerhad them repaired at the tune of $529.00.the consumer requested reimbursement. *scc

Upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice.alsocontrol arms, upper arms on booth sides were replaced twice since ownership of the vehicle. Replacement of tie rods were also made on vehicle.*la

Lowerball joints failed at 40,000 miles of wear; vehicle at an independent repair shop.

1998 dodge durango:i've had to replace the front control arms and ball joints at only 53,000 miles (fall 02 and summer 03).i found out about the problem because of undue tire wear...the tire dealer indicated the tie rods and ball joints were loose and had to be fixed before they could align my tires.upon contacting the dodge dealer, the mechanic indicated this was a common problem and they fixed it (over $1,200).the mechanic indicated this should not happen with such low mileage on the vehicle.

Pe 03-032,front suspensionupper ball joint failure: the vehicle trembled terribly when driving at a high speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the consumer was informed that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out. Manufacturer had been informed of the problem. *la

Consumer stateslower ball joints are wearing prematurely.

Both ball joints of the durago have been deemed unsafe after 60,000 miles.

Took 1998 durango for wheel rotation and alignment.vehicle only has 72k000miles.technician had to replace lower ball joints, which had caused excessive tire wear.

I have a 1998 dodge durango with over 100 k miles, but my ball joint and both upper and lower control arms have been replaced due to early failure.this has also caused uneven tread wear on my tires and my alignment is always bad.this has cost me over 700 bucks.

Upper and lower ball joint wore out to soon.

Left front tire fell off ofvehicledue tolower ball joint breaking.contacted dealer.

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

My 1998 dodge durango 4x4 is in need of replacement of the following front end parts:driver's side upper and lower ball joints, and outer tie rod, passenger side upper and lower balljoints, and inner tie rod.the suv is very difficult to handle because of this and i feel extremely dangerous putting my life in jeopardy on several occasions on highways.

I have a 98 dodge durango with 72000 miles on it. The lower ball joint failed on the suv having to replace upper and lower ball joints.*la

Dt: contact owned a 1998, dodge, durango. There wasrecall o4v596000concerningthe upper ball joint. This recall was only for2000-2003 models.contact also had a problem withlower ball joints.

Replaced power steering pump at 38,627 miles.eplaced lower left ball joint at 38,657 miles.eplaced upper control arm and upper ball joint at 41,634 miles.replaced right front axle and lower right ball joint at 45,946 miles.

Consumer statedvehicle was taken in for a routine inspection, and the dealer noticed that upper contro arm and lower ball joints needed replacing.

1998 dodge durango:i've had to replace the front control arms and ball joints at only 53,000 miles (fall 02 and summer 03).i found out about the problem because of undue tire wear...the tire dealer indicated the tie rods and ball joints were loose and had to be fixed before they could align my tires.upon contacting the dodge dealer, the mechanic indicated this was a common problem and they fixed it (over $1,200).the mechanic indicated this should not happen with such low mileage on the vehicle.

Upper ball joints and upper control arm failed.nlm

Upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice.alsocontrol arms, upper arms on booth sides were replaced twice since ownership of the vehicle. Replacement of tie rods were also made on vehicle.*la

Noise began in front wheel area and grew very loud within a short period of time.also experienced steering issues (car shakes and pulls to right).took vehicle in to check it out - had to replacel front ball joints and tension rods ends.we had to pay over $2000.00 to repair this defect, and car still does not steer properly.dealer reported to us that this is a common problem for this vehicle.

The upper control arms, ball joints, and idler on my 1998 dodge durango with 38,000 miles wereseverely worn as identified during a routine inspection. I was forced to repair these items so to prevent a failure of the front suspension. I contacted dodge regarding this defect yet they would not cover the repair. This is clearly a defect in the durango and should be covered by the manufacturer.

Accident--toyota corolla grazed front left corner of bumper and hit tire.tire blew, upper and lower control arms were pushed back.

I have a 1998 dodge durango with over 100 k miles, but my ball joint and both upper and lower control arms have been replaced due to early failure.this has also caused uneven tread wear on my tires and my alignment is always bad.this has cost me over 700 bucks.

Upper ball joints and upper control arm failed.nlm

Upper ball joints and upper control arm failed.nlm

The vehicle was taken to dealer for routine general maintenance,and the mechanicdetermined that all four ball joints wore out prematurely.there was banging when the consumer would go over bumps.this was due to loose ball joints. *sc

All four of the vehicle's ball joints had to be replaced.the consumer was told his vehicle was not a part of the recall.the consumer stated that his 1998 durango is no different from his wifes 2000 durango.the consumer stated that the 1998-1999 vehicle should be listed in the recall because they have the same problem. *tc

Pe 03-032,front suspensionupper ball joint failure: the vehicle trembled terribly when driving at a high speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the consumer was informed that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out. Manufacturer had been informed of the problem. *la

Upper and lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango need to be replaced.evaluated at local chrysler dealer and was told that ball joints would need to be replaced.experiencing tire wear and humming vibration when driven in addition to loose steering.problem found at 38,000 miles.

The front tires woreout prematurely, and had to be replaced twice in 1 year.also, when stopping or accelerating, the consumerheard a "clunking" noise from the front end.dealer diagnosed the ball joints were worn and predicted failure. *ph

Vehicle failed state inspection because upper ball joint had deteriorated due to a mechanical failure.the part had been replaced.

I purchase my 1998 dodge durango in february of 2004. After two months problems with brakes and upper and lower ball joints began (both front tires) with the driver side being the worst. I heard clicking when i would turn the steering wheel to the left and thought it could be the cv joint. I too k the vehicle to brauning automotive and they found the problem and gave an estimate of $1500.00 in repair costs. I purchased the parts myself and my father replaced both the upper and lower ball joints the following day. ( i am doubtful he still has the old parts - but i will ask) this was back in april 2004 and i am hearing the clicking yet again. When my father worked on my car he told me there was a bolt that was partial screwed in and the theads had actually been stripped off. He had to change the bolt as well. The clicking sound is almost sounds like two pieces of metal are slamming together. This does not happen when i am driving staight . I only hear it when i turn. I have 3 children and don't have the money to repair this problem. I heard on the radio a little bit about this. I don;t know if this is an actual recall or if it may become a recall. I don't want to have an accident like the others before something is done about this.

Knocking in the front of the vehicle causing the truck to become out of alignment.i brought it in to have it checked and they said that i need to have the ball joints to be replaced and that there was a recall on this vehicle for this exact situation.i brought it to alexander dodge in franklin, tn and they said that the defect does not apply to my vehicle because of the year, which i find it hard to believe that the recall only applies to 1999 and after when my vehicle is a 98 and i find it hatrd to believe that the same problem did not occur to a vehicle made the previous year unless they had changed manufacturers in between.

Ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango were worn to the point that they could come apart with only 50,000 miles on it. I was lucky my mechanic caught the situation during a inspection and possibly saved my life and who knows how many more. The repair cost me $125i have since traded the durango on a new truck but i don't want this to happen to someone else.

Pe 03-032/ front suspension: upper ball joint failure. Consumer stated the upper ball joints had completely worn out, which caused uneven wear of on the front tires. Whenthe tires were being replaced, the consumer was told an alignment could not be performed because the ball joints had excessive wear. *ph

My upper ball joints have worn out way to prematurely on my 1998 dodge durango. My vehicle had just over 60,000 miles on it when i first noticed it and now has just over 67,000 and they feel pretty much shot.

While driving at any speed vehicleshook violently. Eventually,the consumer pulled the front tire off, and noticed that upper ball jointsfailed and needed replacement.

While driving 55 mph a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the passenger side wheel. Consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined thatboth upper and lower ball joints needed replacing.ball joints failed on both front and rear suspension.*la *tc

Consumer states upper ball joints wore prematurely. Dealer notified.the front end failed twice.*ph

Premature wear of upper front ball joints on 1998 dodge durango.

1998 dodge durango.replaces lower ball joints two years ago ($500+).now after 75000 total miles i have to replace the upper ball joint and tie rods.dodge did not extend their recall back far enough.the only go back to year 2000 models.

We have a 1998 dodge durango, and seen the investigation report on the evening news regarding the front suspension upper ball joint failure. We to have the same problem and have not gotten it fixed, because we no longer have a warranty.

Request response from nhtsa re a recall for 1998-99 durangos have same problem as 2000-2003.upper ball jointsreply to brookfield dist. Office. The consumer stated he sufferedupper and lowerball joint failure on his vehicle, however his vehicle was not included in the recall.

Pe 03 032/front suspension/upper ball joint failure: while the vehicle's front wheels was being aligned mechanic informed the consumer that both the upper and lower ball joints on both side needed to be replaced due to excessive lack of lubricationand no grease fixing. Dealer and the manufacturer werenotified.

I have a 1998 dodge durango and was told that i needed new ball joints on the front of the truck.i had heard there is an investigation going on due to so many complaints on the ball joints in the 1998 to 2003 durangos.if i had not taken it in for a routine oil change this would not have been caught and there would have been an accident.the reason it was caught was the service consultant at dodge asked if i had checked the front end alignment lately.i said no and told him to check it.he called back with the ball joint problem that will now cost me $1800.00.it is very strange that they asked to check my front end alignment with an investigation going on.*la

Premature wear of both upper and lower ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango.the dealership where the vehicle was purchased new and serviced periodically wanted to replace them after 36000 (highway) miles at a cost of $1200.00.two other dodge dealerships have since reported the same problem.

While driving the consumer heard a knocking noise on the passenger's side wheel.the consumer had to have upper and lower ball joints replaced. *nlm

The front end of my durango has had over 3 thousand dollars worth of work, and has never had an accident and only has 60,000 miles on it. Both drivers and passenger side ball joints have been replaced (twice).tie rod ends,control arm,and front shocks have had to all be replaced.the vehicle pulls to the right (dramtically) especially when braking, and has always done so, no matter what we do. This is an on going problem, the last replacement was done approximately 1 year ago.

Replaced power steering pump at 38,627 miles.eplaced lower left ball joint at 38,657 miles.eplaced upper control arm and upper ball joint at 41,634 miles.replaced right front axle and lower right ball joint at 45,946 miles.

While drivingconsumer heard a "squeaking" noise coming from the front of the vehicle.the mechanic at an independent repair shop determined that the upper and lower ball joints were loose andneed to bereplaced.

Upper and lower ball joints worn out prematurely.my durango has 59,000 miles on it and the upper and lower ball joints have to be replaced.the cost is $1,300.00 .

Ball joint failure.

I was bringing my 4 year old daughter to preschool this morning when i hear a thumping noise so i pulled over and noticed my tires were fine. So after i dropped her off at school i decided to take it to the dealership where i bought the car after seeing the program about bad ball joints in durangos. Well after the mechanics inspected my car they told me that if i had hit another bump or pot hole in the road my tires would have snapped off. That is how bad they were. I had no warning except for this morning. So i called diamel chrysler to get them to cover the cost and they said " in good faith" they would fix the ball joints at no cost but would not cover any other damage done by the ball joints going. I could've gotten killed today with my daughter or i could've killed someone else. There should be an immediate recall on the ball joints before someone gets killed. By the ball joints being bad my tires which were new are shot, my hub on both sides needs to be replaced, both shocks and the bearings on both sides. I have to pay over $1,200.00 in damages because of a ball joint.*la

Defective ball joints, i'm getting ready to go on my 3rd set of ball joints. There is definitely something wrong with the durango ball joint (front end design). My first set of ball joints went bad after 50,000 miles (3 out of 4 joints defective), when i took my car in for tire replacements (as a result) they told me that they had 2 other durango's in the shop for the same reason (bad ball joints). Now, after 80,000 (30,000 from my last replacement) my tires are showing the same wear pattern. I'm very interested into any probe resulting from the ball joint issue and would be happy to assist in any way.*la

Front end steering noises, no failure, dealer diagnosed upper ball joints extremely worn, lower joints loose.needs full replacement of all ball joints.

My 1998 dodge durango' upper and lower ball joints failed with only 59000 miles.replacement costs were over $900.

Upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice.alsocontrol arms, upper arms on booth sides were replaced twice since ownership of the vehicle. Replacement of tie rods were also made on vehicle.*la

Had to replace upper and lower ball joints after going for an alignment and being made aware of the problem .i felt this was premature for this vehicle.obviously this was a design flaw in the durango's.

Consumer states that upper ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified.lower ball joints were wearing prematurely. Consumer had to replace two electric window motors and another one went out. Shocks andbrakes had to be replaced. Mechanic stated a recall should've occurred a long time ago for the problems. *ph

Dodge dealer reported that ball joints on 1998 dodge durango have excessive wear and require replacement.the quote to replace exceeded $2000 and i was told at the time that the recall was pending.i am the original owner, vehicle mileage is 76,898.vin is [xxx].i see that the recall is for 2000 through 2003 and that warranty on 2000 thru 2003 models was extended to 100,000 miles for ball joints.is there any recourse? isn't this the same suspension design as the 2000 model? i also replaced the rear axle in 2003 following a total failure resulting in rear locking up and shearing the u-joint and dropping the drive shaft while driving.replacement cost exceeded $3000 and i was told at the time that this is a known problem with durango's as well.updated 07/24/2012*jsinformation redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

While driving there is a lot of play in the steering. Took vehicle to dealerfor a regular check up, and was told the ball joints were defective. Problem had not been resolved.

Vehicle was takenforroutine maintenance work,and mechanic determined thatuppers and lower ball joints wore out prematurely. *la

Consumer states while drivingsteering wheel became very loose. Took vehicle to dealer, anddealer stated that ball joints were bad.

Bad front end parts on 1998 dodge durango.

Upon replacement of the tiresdealership was unable to perform a front end alignment. Upper and lower ball joints and the inner tie rod were defective and needed to be replaced.

Both sides upper ball joints separated while driving anda noise was heard coming from the front.bothfront tires could fall off, and vehicle was inoperable.

While driving over bumpy road consumer heard a noise. After vehicle was serviced consumer was informed that the ball joints needed replacement.

During routine inspection dealershipinformed the consumer that front ball joints were loose. The problem was not resolved.

I am the original owner of a 1998 dodge durango with 69000 miles. My passenger side front wheel is making a clicking sound anytime that i turn the vehicle. Ihave discussed this witha local mechanic. He in formed that he has had this complaint before and has determined it to be the upper ball joints. I have called plaza dodge in holiday florida in which they informed me that there is no recall on this issue. I will be getting this looked into further to have it repaired by my mechanic. I have read many reports since being informed of this problem and i am concerned for all owners of this vehicle and the dakota. This problem could become life threatening if not corrected.

The consumer stated the vehiclemade a loud clanking noise while backing out of the driveway. The consumer took thevehicle to the dealer/mechanic and was told theball jointsfailed and the vehicle had a cracked front disc rotor.both lower and right upper ball joints were replaced. *sc

While driving at low speedsnoise could be heard from the front end. Steering column shifted when accelerating and braking.all four ball joints were replaced along with the inner tie rods. But the noise could still be heard.the cause of the problem had not been determined.

When making a left or right turn there is a grinding noise in the driver's side front wheel. Tookvehicle to dealer, and dealer stated that upper & lower ball joints weredefective due to rust. Also, idler arm was replaced. However,none of the fixes corrected the problem.

Both upper ball joints need to be replaced. *ph

Dealer replaced right axle shaft which included lower and upper ball joints. Consumer stated vehicle was running without warranty, as result cost $650.00.*ph

The upper and lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced at 62,000 miles. This seems to be low mileage for such repairs. Also, the dealer indicated the tie rod ends were wearing as well and recommended replacing them but they posed no immediate danger but they suggested the tie rod ends may fail soon. Repairs were guoted in excess of $1200.00! this seems to be low mileage for these repairs as well. With the number of complaints on file it would seem to be prudent to issue a recall on the front suspension, all components, on the durangos. And to issue reimbursements for those repairs already completed.

While driving a loud noise was heard coming from the rear. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection.mechanic determined that both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

The wheel separated on my 1998 dogde durango due to a ball joint.i had to have 3 ball joints replace because of them being extremely unstable. The accident cause other damage to my vehicle immediately following incident. I wan not hurt and i did not hit anyone but it coasted me thousands to fix all of the damage.

I purchased a 1998 dodge durango from a small car dealership in 2004. It only had 50k miles on it. It now has 75k miles on it. I was told before a trip that my truck had some "play". Not knowing what that was, i continued to drive it. I am now told that it is going to cost me $1000 to fix it and then i would need to replace the tires only have 5k miles on them. I am looking at a 2k dollar fix! one mechanic told me they were extremely unsafe! i have 3 small children and this is our main vehicle. How many lives are they going to put in danger for the durango owners (1998-1999)? we have the same ball joint problems as the 2000-2003 owners. I have researched the internet and forums and have seen thousands of complaints so why has nothing been done? i do not have $2000 dollars to put into a truck that shouldn't have anything but minor things with the mileage and just normal driving. This is unsafe and is putting many lives in danger. Are they going to wait to get medical bills and funeral expenses when an entire family loses their lives from the truck rolling? what happens to the ones who keep driving it, unaware what the "play" is? they will be the ones possible losing their lives or taking someone else's! i see another class action law suite coming on!!!

1998 dodge durangoupper & lower ball joint premature failure.replacement of all four at 57k miles in june 2003.*ph

While driving at any speed a squeaking sound was coming from the front end. Dealer checked the vehicle, and found that the upper ball joints were severely worn out.the cruise control never worked.(intermittent problem) *sc

Defective upper & lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango.i would like to join the rest of the durango owners and file a complaint pertaining to the poor quality of the 1998 dodge durango upper & lower ball joints.i was notified by the dodge service technicians that the ball joints needed to be replaced right away and if not dealt with soon they could cause an accident.i have children and i carpool children, so i took them seriously.i could not afford the dodge price quote of $1200 so i went with a local mechanic shop price quote of $900.this is a lot of money to come up with in a short amount of time.in my opinion the ball joints should have lasted longer than 62000 miles.the majority of the work on the durango is taxing kids around town.

I have a 1998 dodge durango that needs both upper and lower ball jointsto b ereplaced, and the vehicle only has a little over 60,000 miles.

Consumer states that upper ball joint is wearing prematurely.

The truck experienced uneven front tire tread wear.upon the dealership performing a front end alignment, they noticed that 3 out of the 4 ball joints were bad. *nlm

My 1998 dodge durango vin [xxx], now needs a third ball joint replacement. Why was not the 1998 model year recalled for this problem like the 2000-2003 model years? certainly three failures of this component in 72,000 miles is a safety defect and should be included in a recall. Please review 1998 model years for inclusion in the recall. Updated 07/24/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

1998 dodge durango ball joints, they have premature wear, and need replacement in order for my vehicle to pass inspection.*ph

While driving at high speeds vehicle shook,causing the driver to slow down. Consumer contacted dealership, and mechanic determined that the upper ball joints wore out prematurely.

Tires showing excessive wear on front of vehicle.tires replaced and told to have alignment by tire dealer.i took vehicle to independent repair shop and was told all four ball joints were wore out.(uppers and lowers)it is being repaired at this time, and having shop save them for me.

20,000 milesfront tires worn extremely bad and uneven, had tires replace, was informed that alignment could not be done due to left and right upper balljoints being bad.truck jumps around on even the smallest bumps, front end vibrations.

I own a 98 dodge durango slt 4x4.within 1000 miles after i purchased the vehicle at 57,648 miles, a minor popping noise developed in the front of the vehicle, approximately in the area of the front left wheel.the noise recently got so bad that we took it to the dodge dealership to have it diagnosed and fixed (at 80,000 miles).upper and lower balls joints were blamed.chrysler volunteered to cover the cost of fixing the lower ball joints, but would not cover the upper ball joints.due to financial constraints and the refusal of our private warranty company to cover the cost of fixing the upper ball joints, we did not have the upper ball joints replaced.the popping noise is much louder now and my wife and i are very concerned about carrying our family in this vehicle.i have never had a vehicle have ball joints ware out so quickly, even after 100,000 miles.

Consumer complained about asteering problem.he took vehicle to dealer for service, andit was determined thatthe ball joints wore out andloosened.

Failed inspection due to lower ball joints needed to be replaced for the second time. 35,661 miles to date 17,819 miles on whenupper and lower ball joints were replaced the first time. Rothrock motors where i purchased it would not give me any satisfaction so i went to brown daub dodge. They replaced them the first time. (07/31/01). This time on 07/28/05 i called rothrock left a message and no one ever called me back so i called brown daub and they set up an appointment to look at them. They could not replace them this time and i was charged $546.41 and told to contact chrysler to recoup my money. I will have to replace the upper ball joints next year for inspection, they barely passed.

Upper ball joints on 1998 dodge durango worn out and had to be replaced.

I had been hearing a loud noise when driving my 1998 dodge durango.when i took it in for service to change the oil & rotate the tires, which i do every 3000 miles, i asked the technicians at quinn motors, rt. 17, gloucester, va to check out the noise.they called & said that the front ball joints, tie rods etc would have to be replaced.the service manager, ken, told me that this was a saftey issure and severe injury could result if i kept driving the car & the problem was not fixed.i am now paying $1630.00 for repairs of defective ball joints (& related components) on a 1998 vehicle with 122,000 miles on it. I understand that there have been other complaints from other durango owners who have had wheels come off and related ball joint problems.there was also a service bulletin #020498 issued by daimlerchrysler corp. On may 29, 1998 refering to suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint, with a nhtsa item #601680.if there is a recall on this defective ball joint issue since the dealer told me injury could occur & that this was a safety issue, then i would like to be notified.

I own a 1998 dodge durango. I have had to replace the ball joints 3 times in 70,000 miles. Once at 38,000, then at 53,000, then at 66,000 miles. I saw the news article on tv about this so i decided to report it. I know of several other owners of durangos with the same problem.

The upper ball joint on the right sideof the tire warbledfrom left to right.

Pe 03-032, front susensionupper ball joint failure: upper ball joints wore out prematurely.the problem was repaired by the owner. The upper and lower ball joints were replaced.

Consumer notice d and while travelingmaking right or left turns front endwas making noise. Vehicle was serviced, ball joints were replaced.

Dt: contacthad to get the upper ball joints replaced with only67,000 miles. On it.dealer said they were not responsible, and not enough complaints were received on that particular year to warrant a recall.

Consumer states that the upper balljoints are wearing out prematurely.dealer notified.

Drivers side wheel has a loud squeaking noise due to corrosion of the upper ball joint.through a inspection this problem was spotted.upper ball joint grease was non existent and the ball joint assembly appeared to be failing. Whenthe vehicle was taken to the dealer, it was determined all four upper/lower ball joints on the left and right side needed to be replaced for safety reasons. *ph

Lower and upper ball joints failed. Consumer was concerned that the front end will collapse while driving.

Consumer left front tire locked while driving the vehicle. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer , and it was discovered that upper ball joints were defective, and were being repaired.

Consumer would like reimbursement for ball joint repairs on a 1998 dodge durango. The consumer was aware of dodge durango ball joint recall and believes that the manufacturer was going expand the scope of the recall to include his vehicle.that did not occur and the consumer was force to pay for upper ball joint replacement.

Upper ball joint failure / axle seal leaks

I own a 1998 dodge durango, i am on my second set of upper and lower ball joints and now have to replace the front wheel bearing hubs also.my dealer says this is normal, i have never had to replace these items on any other car that i've owned!

1998 dodge durango upper and lower ball joints failed, requiring replacement.vehicle was out of warranty by approximately 10,000 miles.repairs performed at local non-dealer shop.

Ball joint failure -- both upper and lower on both sides.brought vehicle to dealership for regular maintenance, and mentioned that i heard a small squeak in the chassis.after several hours, they found that my ball joints were so badly worn that the vehicle was unsafe to drive.when i asked how unsafe, they indicated that the wheels could fail in a day, a few days, a week....that i was very fortunate they hadn't already.the cost of repair was $1,400.if i elected not to get the problem fixed, the dealership representative told me that i would need to sign a waiver before they would allow me to get my vehicle back.i drive car pools, have the safety of my 3 children plus the responsibility for all other drivers on the road, and to have my durango "unsafe to drive" when i have taken good care of my vehicle is extremely upsetting.i have had my maintenance performed by the local dodge dealership (metrolina dodge) and welcome the opportunity to share those records with you in an investigation.had it not been for this 'after-thought' when i brought the car in, i have no idea what could have happened, but listening to the dealer representative, it could have been deadly.please investigate and urge a recall.*la

Upper ball joints wear out prematurely. Consumer is concerned that the front end will collapse while driving.

Consumer stated when making a left or right turn, thefront endmade a noise. The vehicle was serviced and technician stated theball joints needed to be replaced.

While driving 50 mph a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the front left tire.then,vehicle stalled.vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, andmechanic determined that left front upper ball joint. Failed.

Upper and lower ball joint wore out to soon.

No injuries yet, but the ball joints went bad 3 years after purchase in 1998. Have complained many times and recall has been issued starting for 2000 models, however, mine is 1998.

I own an1998 durango that required all the ball joints to be replaced at relatively low mileage. The mechanic felt they were ready to collapse. According to chrysler the ball joints are the same design as those currently being recalled on later models. Why aren't 98 and 99 model year durangos being recalled?

I had my 1998 dodge durango checked by my mechanic after a friend had told me of the new story regarding ball joint failure.indeed the mechanic said both ball joints were in terrible condition and required replacement.the mechanic stated that it was very unusual to have to replace this part at such a low mileage, 72,000 miles, but that it is very dangerous to be driving the vehicle in the condition the parts are in.i feel this should be a recall item as there appears to be numerous incidences of this part failing prematurely.

Consumer complained about upper ball joints problem. Consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop to have the wheels aligned,andfond out that the ball joints were very loose in the socket.

Upper and lower ball joints have failed at 65000 miles on 98' dodge durango. Also had to replace pitman and idler arms.

I had heard about a program aired on t.v. Regarding the upper ball joints going bad prematurely on the dodge durango.i took my vehicle to my regular mechanic to have it checked.i was told that both the upper and lower ball joints were bad.i made an appointment and had them replaced at a dodge dealer.i was told that since there was not an official recall, i would have to pay for it.my life and that of my family were at jeopardy and i believe i should be fully reimbursed for the costs associated with repairing the vehicle.

The driver took the vehicle to a gas station for a wheel alignment. The mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced.

Whenvehicle was going through state inspection technician determined that upper and lower ball joints were loose. The ball joints needed replacement.

Dt: contact owned a 1998, dodge, durango. There wasrecall o4v596000concerningthe upper ball joint. This recall was only for2000-2003 models.contact also had a problem withlower ball joints.

Upper & lower ball joints.*la

My 1998 dodge durango has approximately 85k miles on it. It is in the shop today getting new top and bottom ball joints on both sides. Heard about possible investigation. Read others complaints and feel lucky mine made it this may miles. Also have to replace front rotors because they are out of round. *ph

Upper ball joints seem to fail every three years or 36,000 mile which ever comes first.ball joints decribe as so bad that ready to separate.it cost nearly $1,200 each time to do the reapirs.i had many vehicles and never had to replace ball joints that can be greased.these ball joint can not be greased so the comsumer has to pay again every few years large amount to have vehicle stay safe.

Thank god, we have no "incident" to report.however,if we did not decide to bring our dodge durango in to get the ball joints checked out we may have had a "horrible incident"!!!the repairman said the ball joints were so loose that they could move them around when pulling on the tires. We have three children that ride in this vehicle daily,the tires could have fallen off at any time!!!!!!!this is unacceptable and dodge must be held accountable for their faulty defects.

I have been advised by my goodyear mechanic that my 1998 dodge durango is not safe to drive because allupper and lower ball joints are wore out and need to be replaced. The vehicle has 82000 miles on it. The repair is going to cost over $400.00.i have receipts that show regular maintenance is preformed on the vehicle. I think someone is not doing there job, because it seems that there are a lot of complaints about this problem. As well as major media coverage. On your complaint form you ask how many deaths. Well i'm glad i didn't have any to list .how many people have to die before you people decide to react to this complaint. I have also had to replace the front a/c evaporator core at a cost of $750.00. No deaths to report in this case either (sorry).this is the first dodge i have ever owned. It may be my last. I am replacing to 4 ball joints as we speak...because i am concerned with my family's safety. Even if you are not. Thanks for letting me vent...tom bottoms *la

Upon inspection by the servce dept of hansen(chrysler dealer in nashville, tn.), the upper ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango were deemed to be defective and dangerous.chrysler corp would not pay for the replacement/repair.i personally paid the bill(($1004.54).

Our 1998 dodge durango has been repaired for the problems that are currently under investigation regarding this vechile.after experiencing what we thought was a problem with the alignment it was discovered that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.in a addition, the inner tie rod also required replacement.i have the receipt describing the work that was done and the cost.

Tires never lasted more than 20k miles since purchasing the car new. Front end shimmy and wander on the highway even after twice yearly alignments.to be repaired soon.i can save old parts.

Extreme squeaky noises coming from the front end of the truck. Mechanic said that upper and lower ball joints wore out and this was a very common problem with these suvs. He said that it was likely that there will be a recall on this soon as well.

Consumer states thatfront upper ball joints have worn out.

For about 1 1/2 years i have noticed a popping sound coming form my front end when i am going slow or turning.i have had it checked out and have been told that it is my upper ball joints.i looked and i could see that the rubber bushing has worn out around the ball joint.the condition seems to be getting worse, with my front end vibrating and the popping and cracking sound increasing.i know about the recall for years 2000+ dodge durango's, and now i think that mine should be included also.

The upper ball joints wore out prematurely.

I have a concern about the ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango. I had my vehicle's brakes serviced on or about january 2004 at sears automotive in eastpoint mall. I was made aware that my ball joints were bad on my front end, therefore i was not able to get a front end alignment. Later that day, my wife informed me about a cbs news report speaking about the defectsa in the ball joints of dodge durangos and the dodge pickups and how chrysler was not "up to the challenge" to either extend a recall or either offer for owners of these vehicles to voluntarily bring the vehicles to the dealership for a free inspection of the possible defect. I want to make sure that i do not have to pay up to $1500.00 for a defect that chrysler should be responsible for correcting before anyone gets seriously injured or worse!

Upper and lower ball joints worn and needed to be replaced.luckily this was found by a mechanic and they were replaced before they failed.however, this was done after the warranty period at considerable cost to myself.

1998 dodge durango with left turn steering problems. Shop greased the cv joints but now is telling me because of bad design that is the same as what is happening with 2000-2003 i have to spend $1,150 on new upper and lower ball joints.

1998-1999 dodge durango owners are you mad !! i am ! why were we left out of the daimler-chrystler ball joint recall ?according to my mechanic it is the same part as used in the 2000-2005.mine are rusted through and were almost broken. When i took my suv to the shop.now it is going to cost me $1000 to fix it.don'twe deserve the same rights of consumer protection as the 2000-2005 owners. I called the terry wiseman's deealship of robinson,illinois.at first the service dept. Put me on hold for 15 mins.i hung up and called again and gave the receptionist my phone number, info, and ask for them to call me with an estimate.i recieved no call.i called again the next day the receptionist put me through to barry in the service department.he took my info. About 9:00 am called back at 11:00 am to ask if it was a 4x4 that was three days ago still no estimate or phone call.so i got an estimate from my mechanic.please check out these sites and complain about the refusal to repair are 1998-1999 dodge durango ball joints:www.lawyerandsettlements.com/case/daimler2www.daimlerchrysler.comoremail:[email protected] them know we want to be reemburse for the cost of repairing daimler-chrysler's mistake !!

Premature wear on upper and lower ball joints on both sides of vehicle. The separation of these components cause the driver to lose control of the steering and could cause the vehicle to roll over causing serious injury or death. In addition to the ball joints, the wheel bearing assemblies fail prematurely which in combination with the ball joint problem greatly increases loss of control of the vehicle.this vehicle also has a problem with the transmission slipping with less than 70,000 miles on it. This causes slow acceleration which could cause an accident resulting in serious injury or death.

Suspension, drive train, and front ball joints bad - 1989, dodge, durango.

While driving the consumer heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the front end. The dealerships mechanic inform the consumer that the noise was due worn front upper/lower ball joints.

Consumer stated the vehicle made noises.it was taken to the mechanic to diagnose the problem. They had to replace the upper ball joints, the right inner tire rod and the idle arm. *phthefuel pump assembly malfunctioned which caused the vehicle not to start. *ph

Faulty craftmanship.ball joints worn at 30296 miles, 1998 dodge durango..

We recently had our durango in for preventive manintenance and discoverd front end ball joints had abnormal wear and posed a serious hazard while driving.further research on abnormal wear found that a number of durango's reported same type of abnormality.we paid over $800.00 for repair and feel this type of problem should be strongly considered for recall regulations.this could have caused a serious accident to my family and other durango owners as well.

Consumer states that the vehicle upper ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified.*ph

I own a 1998 dodge durango with 22,000 miles.all four front end ball joints are in need of replacement.this is an extremely common problem with the dodge durango and dakota models.while the worn ball joints have not caused an accident in my case yet, they will need to be replaced prematurely at a considerable expense to me for what appears to be a design/manufacturing flaw.i reiterate that my worn ball joints have not yet caused me to have an accident, but only because i am observant enough to notice the clicking sound they make and to have them replaced before they do cause a potentially serious accident.i have seen pictures recently of other owners of this make/model vehicle who have had serious accidents due to this mechanical failure. *nlm

Consumer has stated that since she has owned the vehicle all lower ball joints have been replaced once.at this time, all upper ball jointsand cv bootsneed to be replaced as well.

Ball joints had to be replaced in jan 2003 on my 1998 dodge durrango.

I have a 98 dodge durango at the time it had less than 50k miles when i was told that the upper and lower balljoints were bad by ntw. I was trying to get my front end aligned when they told me they could not. I took the car to the dealer mckenny dodge they said that the balljoints were worn but they aligned the front end. They said at the time there no know balljoint problems with the durango.

Vehicle failed state inspection.needed to replace the upper and lower ball joints.both upper and lower ball joints were replaced and vehicle passed inspection.the front brakes and rotors were also replaced.*ph*nlm

After paying $1500 to replace the upper and lower ball joints on our recently purchased durango, i discovered there was a recall on the upper ball joint for durangos. When i inquired with dealerabout a possible reimbursement for the parts recalled i was notified that the recall did not apply to our vehicle year, it only applied to 2000-2003 model years. Although our 1998 model encountered the same problem as the recalled vehicles, daimler chrysler wasn't willing to reimburse or do anything for us. I found this very disappointing considering this is the fourth dodge we've owned and currently both our vehicles are dodge makes. With the enormous number of documented complaints it seems reasonable to expect the nhtsa to demand daimler chrysler recall the 1998 and 1999 durangos for ball joint problems as well.

I purchased my durango in 1998, i have had it in to the dealer because of steering column noise, was told nothing was wrong with it.my front right brake squeals and i get grease on my wheels, had replaced, still makes the noise.my fuel strap was replaced in a previous recall.now i am going to have to have the ball joints redone, they are separating.was told vehicle is unsafe to drive, wheel will fall off.i would like to know why there has been no recalls on this problem.we also have a friend that has a 2000 that needs to replace his because of the same situation.will there be a recall?

Consumer called complaining about having problems with the upper bolt joints. He was aware of the new investigation. Manufacturer was contacted, and stated that they had no recalls.there was continued squeaking in the front end. Sway bar and tie rods were replaced. *ph

Dt*: the contact stated the steering wheel had a lot of play at various speeds.the dealership determined the upper ball joint needed to be replaced.

Consumer states upper ball joints wear prematurely. Dealer notified.

I had to replace left and right ball joints on a 1998 dodge durango at approximately 45,000 miles.it cost $1400.i just learned about this site from the durango owners club on yahoo groups.the ball joints seem to be a problem for many people.*la

Vehicle experienced problems with the upper ball joints. The wheels appeared to be coming off. Owner had the vehicle looked at by an independent mechanic shop, and it was diagnosed asdefectiveball joints.

We had to have the ball joints replaced due to what dealer shaid was unusual wear.vehicle had 84,000 miles.

Consumer stated at 47000 miles,the upper ball joints failed, which caused the steering wheel to become loose. Dealer notified. Please provide additional information. *ph

While driving35 mphfront driver's side wheel fell off. Dealer stated the upper ball jointsfailed.driver was able to regain control, and pulled off the road.

The upper control arms, ball joints, and idler on my 1998 dodge durango with 38,000 miles wereseverely worn as identified during a routine inspection. I was forced to repair these items so to prevent a failure of the front suspension. I contacted dodge regarding this defect yet they would not cover the repair. This is clearly a defect in the durango and should be covered by the manufacturer.

Both ball joints of the durago have been deemed unsafe after 60,000 miles.

Driving car approximatley 15 mph down residential roadcar pulled hard to the rightran off road and hit a street sign then a telephone polecar was totaled and the adjuster stated that the upper ball joint in the steering mechanism failed.

I am filing this complaint after hearing of all the ball joint failures on durangos and the recall on 2000-2003 model vehicles. My durango is a 1998 model and i am about to replace the ball joints for a second time at 80,000 miles as i am getting the dreaded clunking noise again. I use my durango for normal driving and have never seen this type of failure in a vehicle. I was raised in detroit and know something about cars. I also don't understand why the recent recall does not go back to the original model year as the same parts and failure modes appear to be prevalent in 1998 and 1999 models. I'm hoping something will be done as i cannot afford to be changing ball joints more often than my tires and brakes, not to mention the safety risk.

While driving the consumer heard a soft sporadic squeaking noise coming from the chassis.the dealers technician had trouble locating the noise but eventually determined that the vehicle needed new ball joints and was unsafe to drive.the consumer left the dealer without having the work done.the consumer feels other consumer's should be aware of this defect.*ph

Had to replace both upper and lower ball joints in my 1998 dodge durango at my expense, even though dodge knew there was a problem.

The nhtsa recently advised daimlerchrysler to issue a recall on 2000-2003 dodge durangos and dakotas concerning the ball joint(s) separating, resulting in the wheel falling off.please consider expanding this suggested recall to include earlier models.i own a 1998 durango that had the exact same problem, although i caught it before something horrible happened.to say that the ball joints were bad would be the understatement of the year - i have worked on vehicles for years, pickup trucks in particular.i have never seen anything like this - the ball joint fell out of the housing.

Consumer states thatupper ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified.

Vehicle was taken to the dealer for maintenance. Dealer found that front ball joints were worn out.

1998 dodge durango 45,311 miles needed upper and lower ball joints and inner tie rods replaced.*la

Vehicle was takenfor a routine inspection, and inspector noticed thatupper and lower ball joints needed to bereplaced.

Today i replace the 6th...yes 6th ball joint in my dodge durango.one fell under warenty when i broung it back for other warrent work and it was fixed. That was around 20k miles. At around 40k miles i had to pay out of pocket for all 4 when i asked for a alinement.and today an aline ment was needed from hitting a pot hole and you guessed it another ball joint has gone bad in 12 months and 13kmiles.so my truck now with 53k miles have gone threw 6 ball joints 4 out of pocket cost and one just the cost of labor.

I own a 98 durangos has same problem as 2000-2003,ball joints problems.consumer wants to know why did the recall exclude the 1998-99?the consumer stated that this will be the second time replacing the ball joints in this vehicle in 80000 miles.*tc

1998 dodge durango upper ball joints needed to be replaced.*mr

Consumer states that the vehicle upper ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified.

Noise began in front wheel area and grew very loud within a short period of time.also experienced steering issues (car shakes and pulls to right).took vehicle in to check it out - had to replacel front ball joints and tension rods ends.we had to pay over $2000.00 to repair this defect, and car still does not steer properly.dealer reported to us that this is a common problem for this vehicle.

1998 durango.at about 53k miles the upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced and at about 95k the uppers need to be replaced again.the first repalacement parts were from dodge and the second set of lowers were replaced by sears with a lifetime warranty.i talked to the service mgr at the local dodge dealer and he had a tech. Look at the ball joints and they agreed they were bad.the dealership refused to take any action because the car was out of warranty.i contacted dodge via email and they refused to take any action. I feel that ball joints should last longer than 55k miles.it is interesting that sears gave a lifetime warranty and dodege only is concerned with the first 36k.tks ron

Dt*: the contact stated while at the dealership for a tire replacement and alignment the dealership observed the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced prior to the tire replacement.there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint.the vin was not included in the recall.the dealership replaced the upper and lower ball joints on both sides.since purchase, the abs light and brake light intermittently illuminate.as a result, smoke comes from the wheel well area.the dealership was notified about the problem however, they are unable to duplicate it.

The consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the upper and lowerball joints had worn out. The mechanic stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive.*ph

While driving at any speed, the vehicle vibrates uncontrollably.the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection.the mechanic informed the driver that the upper ball joint needed to be replaced.*lathe upper ball joint repair has not rid the vehicle of the front end shake. Neither the dealer nor an independent shop have been able to identify the cause of the shaking.

Consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the front.consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, andmechanic determined thatboth driver's side and passenger's side upper ball joints needed to be replaced. Consumer informed the dealer that this problemoccurred more than once, and had not been resolved.

With regard to the potential recall of durangos and dakotas in model years 2000-2003, i would urge you to consider starting the recall in the 1998 model year.i have had to replace my ball joints, and i've read about numerous others that have had to dothe same on the doc (durango owners club) forum (www.durangoclub.com).fyi - the date of incident is the estimated date of replacement of the ball joints.

I own a 1998 dodge durango that had to have the ball joints and front suspension replaced at 50,000 miles.this not only was a costly expenditure but according to the mechanics that did the job an unheard of replacement job at such low miles.they informed me that they could not believe i was having to do this, since i was not a large woman.i am interested to hear how many other people have been in my predictament.

Whiledriving vehicle pulls to the right, and there's a grinding noise in the front end when turning.dealership inspected thevehicle and noticed that the upper right ball joint was loose.

Consumer tookvehicle to dealer for an alignment,and was told that an alignment could not be done becausevehicle needed upper and lower ball joints.consumerstated that tie rod in upper left arm wasreplaced.consumerhad not yet had a problem with vehicle, but was told that the 1999 model was being recalled forball joints.

While driving approximately 5-10 mph the right front wheelshook. Would hear noises every time steering wheel was turned, stopping or even braking.took vehicle to mechanic, who determined that upper ball joints separated.also, the steering knuckleseparated, and the suspension moved. Mechanic indicated that this was causing the shaking problem.vehicle would need to be lubricated every 2-3 months.after having the vehicle serviced the consumer stated that the left side began having the same problem.*tc

Consumer took vehicle to a gas station for maintenance, andmechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed replacing due to corrosion.

Front end repairs.

The truck failed state inspection because the upper and lower ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced. The truck vibrateed severely when slowing down.

Theupper ball joints, wheel bearing and tie rod needed to be replaced because they were loose, per dealership. *ph

My 1998 dodge durango had to have both upper and lower ball joints replaced as well as inner rods as i was told that it was extremely dangerous to drive in the condition they were in. This was very expensive.this was back in 3/02.i just heard about other reports regarding ball joints and i wanted to report this.i also own a 2000 model durango.i'm wondering if it is safe or it i am going to have to spend a lot to replace the ball joints on it as well?thanks for you help.

The dealer replaced upper and lower ball joints on both sides if my 1998 dodge durango in jan 2003.vehicle had 69572 miles. Cost to repair was $2540.64. This complaint is in reference to nhtsa defect investigation of dodge durango front end problems and ball joint separation nhtsa action number: pe03032

Upper ball joints were making grinding noise when the vehicle turnedat low speeds causing the tires to shake. Dealer repaired vehicle twice, butconsumer will wait for repairs for the third time.

Consumer states that while driving at 50 mph vehicle shimmied vigorously alerting consumer to a what he thought was a suspension problem. The real problem was worn out ball joints.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.the contact stated that the vehicle failed inspection because the passenger side front upper ball joint and the driver side front lower ball joint were loose.there had been no failure to date and there are no recalls at this time.the purchase date was unknown.the current mileage was 58,945.

Consumer statesthat the vehicle upper ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified. *ph

Dodge durango slt 1998 4x4 driving stability degraded.electronic diagnostics at repair shop showed front steering out of spec: "value is not within specification.tier wear, handling and safety problems may result." replacement of front ball joints was required.vehicle only has 56,000 miles.

Ball joint and steering box failures on a 1998 dodge durango with 70,000 miles.*la

Pe 03-032, front suspension/upper ball joints: consumer took vehicle to dealer for a new light switch and found that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out. Also, the inner tie rods needed to be replacedthe dealer refused to replace the ball joints free of charge.

Dt: contact stated both lower ball jointswere replaced twice on vehicle.also, both front tireshad to be replaced twice.the service dealer stated the tires needed replacement due to the failure of the ball joints.the first replacement occurred when the vehicle'smileage was at 27,280.the second replacement occurredat 43,908 miles. Consumer statedfront end was making a squeaking noise and was driving differently.consumer contacted manufacturer, and was sending the service receipts.there was a recall on different modelyearfor this specific component, but consumer's vehiclewas not included in the recall campaign due to vin.consumer didnot have the complete address for the dealership where the vehicle was purchased.repair receipts attached for ball joints.windshield sprayer sprays one side.connector repalced.front brake pads and rotors machined.

Dealerhad to replace five times the lower and upper ball joints. Every time it cost over $1000,and the crunchy noise was still occurring.

Ball joints wore out on front steering mechanism.top and bottom ball joints and tie rods had to be replaced in order to pass state inspection.over $1,000 for repairs.told this is probably a manufacturing defect.dealer informed me that they go out a lot and that a recall could be in the process and to check with dot because they decide on recalls.

While turning left or right vehicle made a loud noise.an independent shop technician stated, upper and lower ball joints needs to be replaced. A loud clunking noise was heard when going over any bumps in the road. The worse noise was heard when turning left or right. Consumer took the vehicle to the mechanic when he learned the ball joints were no good.*ph

My 1998 dodge durango 4x4 is in need of replacement of the following front end parts:driver's side upper and lower ball joints, and outer tie rod, passenger side upper and lower balljoints, and inner tie rod.the suv is very difficult to handle because of this and i feel extremely dangerous putting my life in jeopardy on several occasions on highways.

1998 dodge durango at approximately 44,000 miles was diagnosed by an independent mechanic to have worn out upper ball joints that they insisted needed to be replaced (at significant cost) as a safety issue. I took the vehicle to the selling dodge dealer for a second opinion and was told that they were "within specifications" and not in need of replacement. Now at 47,000 miles with the news of the possible defect and failure i am concerned about the safety of the vehicle but not sure if i should spend the significant dollars to repair something that the dealer says is "within specifications" and does not need replacement.

2 independent diagnosis of ball joint problems. I had noticed bad tread wear on front tires.two facilities both diagnosed the same problem.ball joint failure on upper and lower front ball joints.both recommended replacement with linkage. Car is a '98 model with 58,000 miles.thank goodness the wheels had not come off. *la

Owner 1998 dodge durango, have had to replace ball joints twice 1st at 50,000 miles and again at 90,000 miles, this last time had fire on r side of vehicle under car.i have a 1,600.00 bill at dealed for repairs most of it for ball joints. Inotified daimlerchysler after the 1st time it happened.this time i would like to file complaint with your agency.

Consumer states upper ball joint is wearing out. Dealer notified.

1998 dodge durango -after reading article of ball-joint failures we took our vechicle to the dodge dealer.all four ball joints needed to be replaced-the upper two ball joints were"dangerously worn" and two were"excessively worn". The car has 70,000 miles.

I have a 1998 dodge durango with 98,000 miles on it and will now have to have the ball joints replaced for the second time.the first time was when the truck had about 45,000 miles on it (august 2000).then i had to have the bushings on the steering bracket replaced in april 2002.then the squeaking and popping noises returned in january 2004 and have gotten worse.i finally took it to a dealer here in raleigh, nc and they said the ball joints are bad again.the dealer said that someone actually pierced the boots and tried to lube the ball joints.it is my understanding that these dodge ball joints are the non-greasable kind.what is being done to get dodge to acknowledge this obvious faulty part and begin a recall of it.i'm out over $1,500 because of these faulty ball joints.i would appreciate any information that you have on this issue.

The upper and lower ball joints wear out prematurely.

Vehicle was takenfor a routine general maintenance, and the mechanicnoticed that left upperball joints wore out prematurely.

Consumer complained aboutball joints andtie rod problems.while pulling out of the driveway front right wheel came off the vehicle.

1998 dodge durangoball joints & control arm upper and lower they were first replaced in 2000 then in 2004 and now need to be replaced in 2005 continuously fails safety inspectionvin no. [xxx] updated 07/19/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

I own a 1998 dodge durango slt with 75000 miles.the vehicle was pulling strong to the right.i took it into a repair shop in our town of 28000 people.they indicated that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.the repair shop indicated that this was the 4th durango they have had with this problem in the past couple months.the repair was $975.in addition, my employer has 25 durangos in their fleet and have discovered the same defective ball joints. There needs to be a recall on these durangos and reimbursement for the cost of repairs.

While driving over uneven pavement there was a loud clanking sound coming from the front wheels.the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who informed the consumer that the upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced.the manufacturer and the dealer are not aware of the problem.

We owned a 1998 dodge durango (just traded it in a couple of weeks ago).about a month or so ago we paid $800 to have the front ball joints replaced.we saw where you are investigating this alleged defect.there were no accidents or incidents caused by this defect.

Consumer stated that since ownership, the vehicle'slower and upper ball joints have been replaced twice and another set needs to be replaced again.*ph

Dt:the consumer owns a 1998 dodge durango. He states that his upper ball joints are about to break because his wheels are leaning.

Noticed suspension noise in front.dealer identified damagedupper ball joints and replaced them both.

I heard about the problems with the dodge durangos upper ball joints, so i had the dealer inspect them on my 1998 that has 60,000 miles on it. They reported excessive wear to the ball joints. Therefore, i had no choice but to replace them for about $500.00 out of my pocket. Im glad that i was not one of the many that i heard about who have lost a whole wheel assembly while driving.

The consumer saw a news report about the ball joints on dodge durangos and took his vehicle to the dealer for inspection.the mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints were in "bad shape" and needed to be replaced. *nlm *sc

The vehicle's upper and lower ball joints failed.the consumer wants to know why the manufacturer excluded 1998 durangos when it has the same problem as 2000-03 model years.*sc *tc

The upper ball joint experienced premature failure.

Consumer took the vehicle to dealer for tire replacement, andmechanic determined that upper ball joints needed replacement. Previous owner has already replaced the upper and lower ball joints once.

Consumer tookvehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic noticed thatboth upper and lower ball jointswere warped and needed to be replaced.

Front end ball joints worn out. Would not pass inspection.98 durango with only 33,250 miles..

Vehicle upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.*mr

Ball joint failure on 1998 durango slt w/ 5.9l engine and 81,500 miles.heard clunking sound in front end driving down freeway in dallas, tx.pulled in midas shop and leered that driver's side front ball joint was ready to come completely apart.the midas shop manager advised me to not drive the vehicle like this.both front ball joints and wheel bearings needed to be replaced.cost:$1,400. I do have the old parts.

Pe 03-032, front suspension upper ball joint failure. The upper ball joints, and the tie rods have been replaced.vehicle barely has 74000 miles.

1998 durango premature ball joint failure. My durango required ball joint replacement 13 months after the original purchase of this new vehicle, and for over the last year i have noticed that the problem has returned. I'd like to get the problem fixed, but i'd like to see if you are going to recall them. They really need to be recalled.

When i had my 1998 dodge durango inspected this past summer they informed me that my wheels were about to come off in the front of my truck.they told me that to pass the inspection and for also due to the fact that the wheels would probably fall off within a month, that i have my front upper ball joints replaced.i waited until now to file this complaint because the dodge dealership that a recall was in the process for the ball joints.i was pleased to hear about the recall from dodge, however enraged when i heard that they are only for 2000-04 models, how it makes any sence besides trying to be cost effective is beyond me.the ball joints as i was told by the dodge dealership and by my local mechanic are the exact same in my 98 dodge durango as they are in the 2000 models.

State inspector noticed that upper and lower ball joints loose rusted, and needed to be replaced. This occurred during a state inspection. The vehvile went throught pennsylvania state inspection.all four ball joints failed inspection.

On april 8, 2004, we took our vehicle to the service station for a routine oil change and annual safety inspection.at this time our vechicle had approximately 63,000 miles on it.during the safety inspection, it was noted that all 4 front ball joints were bad.our mechanic believed this to be premature wear for these parts.as we were leaving on vacation the next day, we took it to the chrysler dealer and paid close to $1,000 to have this defect repaired to protect the safety of our family.upon further research, we see that there have been other complaints and an investigation into this defect.

The consumer stated that the upper ball joint were wearing prematurely. The consumer made contact with the dealership.*nlmthe dealer refused to align the vehicles wheels because the ball joints were worn.the ball joints were replaced by an independent mechanic. *nlm

Consumer noticed that the vehicle was swaying back and forth. Consumer drove it to dealer for inspection, andmechanic determined thatthe upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.the ball joints caused the tire to wear rapidly.

The upper and lower ball joints are worn and loose on my 1998 dodge durango. When i discovered this defect i went to 15 used car lots that also had dodge durangos in their inventory and every one either had the same condition or the ball joints were already replaced.

Premature upper ball joint wear noted during wheel alignment.

Unstable steering of dodge durango 1998 due to defective front ball joints.mechanic who assessed failure warned me of potential of an accident at speeds higher than 55 mph.*la

All 4 ball joints on the vehicle were close to failing at 72,310 miles.plus, an inner tie rod was bad and the right wheel bearing.this caused the steering to be very loose and it became hard to control.

During a vehicle inspection dealer determined that the upper ball joints wore out and must be replaced.there was no indication of a problem before the inspection.the dealer also stated the tie rods needed to be replaced.

Premature wear on passenger side front upper and lower ball joints.

Suspension: front control arm: upper ball joint

I won a 1998 dodge durango 4x4.i recently had to replace the brakes on my durango.i had one of the pads on the passenger side break loose from the shoe.i had to replace the rotors as well.costing me $435.the mechanic doing the work wanted to know if i had replaced the rear brakes recently.i informed him that i had not.the front and rear were replace at the same time maybe a year earlier.he said there was next to no wear on my rear brakes.sincfe having my brakes replaced there is this awful grinding sound in the front of the vehicle. I took it back to the mechaninc and he said all 4 ball joints, upper and lower, needed to be replaced at a cost of $1400.parts and labor.i know dodge recalled the 2000-2003, but this is rediculous.i have not read alot of complaints about the 2000-2003, i've read more about the 98-99.also my brakes have failed to engage twice and they locked up on me once on dry pavement.

Premature wear and replacement of the lower and upper ball joints

A recall (04v596000) for the upper ball joints has been issued for dodge durango models 2000 -2003, however the consumer has the 1998 model and is experiencing the same defect. Please provide additional information.

Complaint received via e-mail. I have a 1998 ball joints,and that the car is unsafe. I figured they were just trying to make money for another job. I went directly to my neighborhood shop to see what they said and they agreed. Dodge knew that this is a problem.also, a cash cow to them at $1500.00. I have driven this vehicle gently and only had high 50000 miles at the time of repair. 1998 durango should be included in this recall.the consumer stated that the oil pump failed and the tranny failed.the intake gasket manifold failed and consumed 1 qt of oil in two days.the vehicle uses excessive anti freez.the crank shaft was replaced as well as connecting rod and bearings.the consumer stated that the vehicle had to many problems and dealer knew of the problems beforehand. Four ball joints have been replaced.*tc

Vehicle was taken for a routine check,andmechanic noticed that upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

While driving 5 mph in reverse a loud noise was heard coming from the driver side wheel.consumer took the vehicle to a garage, and mechanic replaced upper and lower ball joints.

Ball joint failure on 1998 dodge durango. These trucks have recalls for 1999 and 2000. My vehicle only had 62,000 when 3 of the 4 ball joints had to be replaced because of water that had leaked into the joints. My reference number for the complaint that i filed with dodge is # 13277677.

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

We experienced handling problems with our 1998 dodge durango while on the highway last week. I took it to our local dodge dealership to determine the problem. They indicated both the upper and lower ball joints were worn out and needed to be replaced immediatelly for safety reasons. When i asked them if they felt they wore out prematurely considering the mileage of the vehicle, the guy told me he couldn't comment but to hold on to my repair receipt in case there was a recall. This is a one owner vehicle with 41,000 miles driven by a soccer mom.

Wheel fell off durango, due to defective ball joints.

Upper ball joint on our 1998 durango are bad.this is a very well know issue for the durangos.has already been a recalled, which included 2000 and above durangos.the recall should be extended to cover 1998 and 1999 durangos.this issue can cause wrecks and even deaths.please help keep people safe.

1998 dodge durango.ball joints defective.

Front end squeaks when it goes over the slightest bump.dealership indicated that the upper ball joints needed to be lubricated. The ball joints were lubricated,but the noise stillpersisted.

I have a 98 dodge durango and saw recently about ball joint failures, i have had ball joints replaced once (40000) and now need them replaced again (74000 miles).i was fortunate enough to have heard of other people with ball joint problems on their durango's that i have them checked on a regular basis. I was told at more then one automotive shop about a problem with the ball joints on durango's, including a dodge dealership.i believe more people have a problem than is realized, only they dont know they have a problem.why let them find the hard way?i have seen reports of wheels falling off.is there a certain number of people that have to be injured before dodge is forced into a recall.one can only hope that is not so.

Front ball joint was checked and is going out, we discovered it after having to replace tires because the ball joint is causing the tire o wear uneven.

Premature failure of upper and lower ball joints.

Consumer complained about a steering problem. She went to get the car inspected, and asteering problem was determineddue to the ball joints.

I bought a new set of tires at a local tire store, and was informed by the front end alighnment mechanic that i had (3) ball joints that were bad.the upper right side was at the point of seperation at any time.he suggested i take it to the dodge dealership, which i did and they said that all (4) balljoints were bad.i asked if it was a recall, they said it was under investigation the cost to repair was to be $ 825.00, and to hold the bill for possible reimburment.i could not afford for them to do the repairs, i went back to the tire store and had the repairs made by them. See now that the 1998 up durangos are in question, mine is a 1998 year model.i expect to be repaid the $$$ spent for these repairs.thank you,larry isley

Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, andmechanicdetermined that both upper ball jointsfailed. Consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints.

The consumer heardnews report about the suspension problem, and wanted to report that the front ball joints were replaced in 2002 by an independent mechanic.

Pe 03-032 front susp. Upper ball joint failure:the consumer has had the lower ball joints replaced twice and the upper replaced once.the dealer is aware of the problem, but the manufacturer is not.*nlm

While the vehicle was being serviced, the dealership indicated theupper ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced.the consumer felt that chrysler should cover the expense to repair this vehicle before any major accidents occurred. *scc

Ball joints on my 1998 durango made me lose control of my steering.

Upper ball joints were loose and needed to be replaced per the dealership.*ph

Upper ball joints and upper control arm failed.nlm

(1)both front ball joints were making popping noises everytime we drove over a bump or jolt in the road.(2)the both were bad and needed replacing, thankfully before they created an accident.(3)both ball joints were replaced and the vehicle realigned.

Consumer states that upper ball joint is wearing prematurely. Dealer notified.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed that the steering was looser than normal.he took the vehicle to a local mechanic on february 21, 2008 and both upper and lower ball joints as well as the steering box were replaced.the repair cost $1,001.24.the failure mileage was 59,298 and current mileage was 59,598. Updated 05/05/08 the consumer stated on april 10, 2003 had to replace both rear window regulators. Updated 05/05/08

Upper and lower ball joint on my 1998 dodge durango with 50,000 miles need to be replaced.*la

There is a popping noise and shaking from the front of the vehicle when making turns. Took vehicleto dealer for check up, and results showed that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced otherwise, the wheels could fall off. Dealer will repair at consumer's expense.

A loud knocking was heard coming from rear.consumer took vehicle to the dealer, andmechanic determined that both front d upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.

While driving at 35 mph a grinding/popping noise camefrom the front left end of the vehicle. Consumerpulled over to inspect the noise, and noticed the left front tire had came off. The tire was turned outward and hanging. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, who indicated that a bearing was needed. Also,both upper and lower ball joints were defective, and needed to be replaced.

At very low speeds, such as pulling in or out of driveway, can feel and hear popping noises through the floor boards.also, the steering wheel would be very loose; it takes about two inches before steering wheel is actuallyable to be turned.have taken vehicle to mechanic and was informed that upper and lower ball joints, on all wheels, are worn out and need to be replaced.

Pe 03-032, front suspension/ upper ball joint:the upper ball jointswore out prematurely.

I have been told that my ball joints are not safe and need to be replaced.i have also been told that this is a very common propblem with this make of car and there is an ongoing investigation.

I own a 1998-dodge durango slt.last july 2002 i took my vehicle in to an area dealership for routine maintenance.i was told that the ball joints were cracked and needed immediate attention or there could be a nasty accident.i was told that this problem should not be happening.i made several inquires at other dealerships about this and was told basically the same thing.i contacted the chrysler corporation after i had heard a local news station give a consumer alert on the durango.chrysler said that there was no problem with the ball joint and that the durango was not being recalled for any factory related repairs.i have since had the joints fixed but i feel that it is the manufacturer's responsibility since so many other durango drivers have had the same experience.*la

Front end had to be replaced because of loose steering. Dealer notified.both control arms and bearings were replaced.*ph

I saw on an nbc special that consumers who purchase the dodge durango or dakota had the ball joints of their vehicles just fail on them.i took my vehicle to have my ball joints checked ( i have the work order) and sure enough all the ball joints were bad. I had them replaced( that was about 18months ago) and again the joints have deteriorated. My car has less that 80k miles on it. It is has never been driven under extreme conditions. There could possibly be a defect in the design- the ball joints i had installed came with a life-time warranty.they have to be replaced again. My concern that if we did not inspect the suspension, we would never have known this problem even existed.consumers should at least be informed of the risks of their vehicle possibly failing because of the problem with the joints.

Both front wheel bearings and front axle have been replaced.the upper and lower ball joints are shot and will be replaced.

The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealership for inspection and the mechanic determined that both upper ball joints were wearing prematurely.the consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints.(all of the ball joints needed to be replaced) *sc

During routine inspection dealership informed the consumer that front/rear ball joints were loose. The problem was not resolved.

Took vehicle in for inspection. Entire front end failed!tires were getting ready to fall off!tires less than 1 year old worn completely bold because of the front end.was told that the 2000 was recalled for the exact same problem!but my 1998 is not in on recall...and it is the exact same problem!!@!!!!!!!

Dodge durango 1998upper and lowerball joints failure. Consumer wants to know why wouldn't a recall be issued on the 98 vehicles but only for the 2000-03 models.the consumer had to have the upper and lower ball joints replaced on her vehicle at a cost of 1500.00.

My durango has just over 60,000 miles on it.it has been very well cared for.during the first 3 years (while under warranty), the vehicle was taken to the dealer to check for squeaks in the front end.they said they lubricated the ball joints and the noise would go away for a day or two... Then return.recently on inspection, i was notified that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.because of recent announcements of failure of that front assembly due to ball joints, i wanted to add my bit of history as well.this car also has leaking seals on transfer case.i understand many people have had that problem along with transmission failure in the 60-70,000 mile range... So i probably have that to look forward to.if i can provide further information, please let me know.thanks.

Consumer had not received a recall after 3 sets of ball joints malfunctioned. Consumer thought this wasabsurd.he mentioned this to the dealer,anddealer did notcare.

All of the vehicle's ball joints had to be replaced.the consumer stated that there was a problem in the front end of the vehicle.the recall did not include the consumers vehicle.the consumer would like to be reimbursed for the amount she paid for service. The abs and brake light came on . Theright inner tie rod assembly was replaced. *tc

Events leading up to failure:1.) noise eminating from the front of the vehicle ? clunking, squeaking; 2.) loose steering associated with clunking; .) wandering at speed.failure and consequences:1.) prior to complete failure the vehicle was diagnosed by a local dealer as worn lower ball joints, right inner tie rod end, and sway bar bushings2.) possible consequences of not determining the problem prior to failure ? unsafe operation or life threatening accident due to steering failurecorrection:1.) replaced lower both lower ball joints, sway bar bushings, and the right inner tie rod end ($777.78 parts and labor) in light of recent recalls regarding ball joints of 2000-2003 dodge dakotas and durangos, we believe investigation into earlier models is warranted.extremely similar symptoms are evident on the earlier models prior to 2000 leading us to believe the problem existed prior to the 2000 model year.given this vehicle was rarely placed in extreme conditions (off-road maneuvers, etc.), never in an accident, and with the majority of the time spent on paved roads, failure of ball joints and other suspension components in the 50,000 to 60,000 mile range is premature.we request an investigation into including 1998-1999 dodge durangos into the formal ball joint recall as detailed for the 2000-2003 models.

When the vehicle was serviced the technician noticed that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

Ball joints have worn out prematurely. *nlm

Consumer stated thatvehicle was driving as if itneeded an alignment.but when she took vehicle to dealer, andmechanic determined that suspension systemmalfunctioned.also,ball joints cracked in half. Consumer was told that if she hit a hard bump front tires would have fallen off.consumer never receivedrecall or any warning.

My 1998 dodge durango has been diagnosed with major front end problems.it needs upper & lower ball joint replacement as well as tie rod ends.

1998 dodge durango hassame problem as 2000-2003 dakotas/durangos, upper and lower ball joints replaced.

The consumer heard a clicking noise coming from the front of the vehicle while making a turn.the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and results showed that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

Rotors and padswere replaced every 13.000 miles. The last time vehicle was repaired the rotors/pads were replaced.consumer stated brakes were replaced four times.also, upper ball joints were replaced at 50.000 miles.

Intermittently vehicle made a clanking noise while driving under normalconditions . Vehicle was taken to a dealership for inspection, who indicatedthat the upper ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced, and they were replaced. Three months later, the outer and inner tie rod ends needed to be replaced.

While driving 55 mph vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably.consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined thatboth frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced, and replaced it. However, the problem recurred, and the upper and lower ball joints were replaced again.

Upper and lower ball joints wear out prematurely.

Vehicle was making noise from the front and performing inadequately was taken to the mechanic, who determined thatball joints were defective.

I own a dodge durango 1998 and i saw that you are doing an investigation of the durango's. I recently took my durango to a tire specialist to get an alignment done the vehicle has been pulling for some time now. They informed me that the ball joints and the 2 outer and 1 inner tie rods are bad and need to be replaced. If i take the vehicle to the dealership its going to be about a 900 procedure where if i take it to someone else it will be a 700 procedure but in order to be re-imbursed if a recall does come out i was told that i have to take it to the dealer. I am a pregnant woman and i have a 1 year old child. I am really worried that something that other mothers have experienced will also happen to me and my family. I am the one that drives this vehicle day in and day out. Since we bought the durango in 2002 we have had to replace tires, brakes, water pump, radiatior, now the ac is not blowing cold or even cool air and we need the ball joints and tie rods replaced. You have my word that i will never buy another dodge. I know this is being investigated and i wanted to let you know that this is a severe problem and i hope they do something soon before people die.

Consumer noticedtire uneven wear while traveling 60-65 mph. Vehicle started vibrating. Vehicle was serviced, andtechnician replaced ball joints.

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

My 1998 dodge durango' upper and lower ball joints failed with only 59000 miles. Replacement costs were over $900.

The consumeris experiencing problems with the ball joints. The consumer is having to replace then every 10,000 mi. Also, the tie rod ends also vibrate and the owner had to replace them, as well. Provide further details. *tc

I had to replace the upper left ball joint on my 1998 dodge durango on 7/21/03. The vehicle has 58,000 miles on it.

Upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.the consumer believes this vehicle should be included in the recall and request reimbursement.three of the four power window motors have been replaced because they burned out.

Consumer state while traveling over bumps heard a noise. Vehicle was serviced, technician noticed ball joints needed to be replaced vehicle is now on second set.

Upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to premature wear, per dealership.

While at repair shop for front alignment mechanic determined that front upper and lower ball joints were worn out, and had to be replaced.

Upper ball joint failure onboth driver and passenger side of the vehicle.

Consumer had vehicle inspected by a dealership because of the new board cast. Dealership indicated thatball jointswore out prematurely,and the wheel could fall off at anytime if they won't replace the ball joints.consumer was unsure if it was the upper or lower ball joints.

Both upper and lower ball joints must be replaced at 66,000 miles which seems very early for a component of this type.the durange has been careflully maintained.

While performing an oil change, the dealership noticed that all four ball joints were failing.both rear ball joints were bad. The cause has yet to be determined.*ph

The consumer had problem steering and controlling the vehicle which was caused by upper ball joint failure.lower ball joint also failed.*ph

Regarding nhtsa action number pe03032 dodge suspension front ball joint the dealership told me about 1 year ago that this needed to be fixed before they could align the front end of the car. I complaint that this should not prematurly wear out after 40000 miles. I just would like to state that i also have problems with this vehicle in conjunction with this action number.thank you

In april of 2000 i had to replace my lower ball joints on my 98 dodge durango with 40,000 miles on it.now in oct. 2003 with 95,000 i'm told my upper ball joints are severely worn and my lower are going out again.

1998 dodge durango. Upper and lower ball joints. I had thought i needed shocks and an alignment and brought the vehicle to my mechanic who told me that the vehicle needed upper and lower ball joints, tie rod end and idler arm. The vehicle has become unsafe to drive. The vehicle was never abused, and 90% of the miles are highway miles. I have read many accounts of the exact same problem and believe further investigation and recall is necessary.

Upon rotating my tires found the upper ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango were frightened worn and close to failure. These joints were(no grease fittings) and only had 65,000 miles on them. I changed them out myself with moog parts (greaseable) and discarded the worn out parts. My concern is that a catastrophic failure could have occurred with no warning. These parts should have a much longer life and seems to be a week link in the durango front ends. I think that dodge should reexamine the use of this style part, since my usage of this auto was only on road.*la

Dt: the contact heard a rattling noise in the front end ofvehicle while driving. Upon inspection, the certified repairman determined the front upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced. The contact notified the manufacturer and lodged a complaint. The case number was 14394561. Repairs were made at the contact's expense.

The upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice. There was a recall on thedodge durango. Consumercontacted the dealer and manufacturer. Consumer stated they will not do anything to help.

I have a 1998 dodge durango.i saw reports of the nhtsa investigation of defective upper ball joints for durangos (1998-2003).i had the vehicle inspected and not only were the upper ball joints in need of replacement, but the lower as well.i was put in the position to either spend $760.00 or risk the safety of my family.i paid for the work, have a receipt and the ball joints that they replaced.my question is, if there is a recall, will i be reimbursed by daimler chrysler for the work that was done

Since i purchased my durango in 1998 from the dealer i have had it in for numerous repairs and complained at least three times about a noise i heard near the rf wheel. They have told me it was a steering adjustment etc. I have paid for numerous repairs and still the noise is there. It is the ball joint,i have 80,000 miles on my vehicle and the noise was present since 256 mi. I have all my dealer service records and i will be happy to provide them which document my noise complaints and mileage. I was just advised by a mechanic it was the ball joint and about your investigation. No vehicle should have a problem like this at 256 miles unless it is a defective part. The same noise is present, i have no less than five witnesses also who have heard the noise and asked me about it yet the mechanics denied being able to replicate it.

Daimler chrysler issued a recall (04v596000) for ball joint and extended warranty to 10 yr / 100000 miles for 2000 - 2003 durangos. My question is why the '98 durangos were not included since my 98 durango had the same failure and the current mileage is only 69,000

The ball joints on my 1998 durango have needed repair for quite a while. I have 97000 miles on it, but the problem occurred around 60000 miles.

An independent mechanic replaced the upper and lower ball joints and the wheel bearings due to failure.mechanic said that the ball joints failed prematurely.the failure of the wheel bearings occurred three weeks after replacement of ball joints.tires were destroyed due to the failure of wheel bearings.*la

Premature wearing of ball joints on my 98 durango.

The ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango were bad and i have since had to replace them.

A premature wearout and near seperation of the front ball joints. Upper and lower joints had to be replaced at 35,000 miles. These are the same ball joints involved in 2000-2002 vehicles. I have no clue why model year 1998 was not included.

The consumer had to replace both left and right ball joints and tie rods due to premature wear.*pha faulty intake gasket caused an oil leak.the consumer notified the manufacturer and requested reimbursement. The consumer was denied reimbursement.*sc

Dt: owner complained aboutseveral vehicle problems. . on all four windows the regulator has had to be replaced more than once. Driver's side having to be replaced the most. Also,lower ball joints / left upper ball joint, and steering column has been replaced twice in less than one year time.currently the upper right ball joint had tobe replaced. These has been ongoing issues with this vehicle since consumerowned it.consumerdealt withdealership and manufacturer,but chrysler refused to help since there was no recall. Chrysler was very rude and hung up on the consumer.

Consumer statedvehicle experienced thesame problem asmentionedin therecall regarding the ball joints. Consumer contacted dodge three to five months ago. However she was told the recall was for the 2000-2003 1/2 models.

The consumer loss of control of the vehicle.the failure was caused by defective upper and lower ball joints.

While traveling on highway andwithout prior warningvehicle was vibrating from underneath the vehicle. Front ball joint were warped and rusted.

Upper ball jointswore out prematurely. The problem recurred but have not failed yet. *sc

Based on a tv story i had the ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango checked and they are bad.at this time i have not had them fixed because of cost.the durango has 62000 miles on it.

I bought a 1998 dodge durango in november of 2002. The vehicle had 59939 miles on it. I have maintained the car as one should. On 9/2/03 i took the auto into aamco transmissions as the car was not shifting down into 1st gear. It cost me $500.00 to fix this transmission problem. At the same time they told me my transfer case was going out and needs to be rebuilt. The estimate-$1350. In nov of 2003, i took the car in to get a lube job. The mechanic told me that my lower ball joints were not accepting grease & the upper boots were rotted. That eventually i would need new ball joints but i still had time. In dec 2003, i started having problems with the electrical system. The front passenger window would not roll down. Then if my steering wheel was turned as i put the car in park, it would not start, or it would die as i was backing out. In january i heard metal in my front tires as i was braking. A new brake job cost me $350.00. The end of january, while driving this vehicle with 72,000 miles, my front right tire fell off. Reason: upper ball joint broke off. Every mechanic has stated that this is a defect, as they have never seen ball joints do this at this low mileage. I then saw nhtsa interviewed on the news for the very same reason. Dodge durangos and their ball joints with tires falling off. My car landed in a ditch. I was lucky i was only travelling at 35 mph. It could have been fatal, and who ever manufactures these ball joints better stand up to the plate and take responsibility. This auto has been nothing but a mechanical problem since i bought it. And costly at that!

Vehicle was taken to an after market repair shop and was told that the upper and lower ball joints were defective. Because of the defect a wheel alignment was improbable.

In june, 2003 i took my durango into the shop for some routine servicing.the mechanic inspected the front of the vehicle and noticed considerable wear to the upper and lower ball joints on the front end.he recommended immediate replacement of these parts.thankfully, i had these parts replaced in july before a serious accident occurred.however, these repairs were done outside of the warranty period and at considerable cost to myself.i don't use this vehicle very often, so at the time of the repair it only had 37,000 miles on it but i had owned it for 4 years.i believe diamler/chrysler is producing defective parts on these vehicles and it should be their responsibility to pay for the replacement of these parts.

1998 dodge durango, have had to have the ball joints replaced twice now.

The dealership noticed that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out, and needed to be replaced while performing a 3000 miles warranty service.the factory back ordered the parts. *sc

I have been informed by my dodge dealer that my 1998 dodge durango needs to have the ball joints replaced for the second time. The vehicle currently has 120,000 miles on it. They were replacedthe first time at 70,000 miles at my expense. Dodge has refused to participate financially on either occasion. Since ball joints are an integral part of the steering system i consider this a safety issue. I also think the failure rate on these parts is unacceptable. I do know dodge has issued recalls on later model durango's for this same issue. The vehicle is not used off road and has been meticulously serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Please help.

Consumer noticed that the front tires are wearing from the inside out. Took vehicle to mechanic, and he stated thatupper ball joints need replacing.

After seeing a report about failed ball joints in dodge durangos, we had ours inspected and they all had to be replaced. We had them replaced and 4 months later they had to be replaced again.

Tie rod ends and driver side balljointremature wearing of front tires due to failure of tierod ends both sides and the upper ball joint is going out last tire almost blew out due to the type of wear. The tire only had 15,000 miles on it the inner portion was down to the steelbelt the only way i saw it was because i was under the truck replaceing the tierods turns out the upper ball joint is bad also.i think five sets of tires due to poor manufactureing of a suspention is quite over kill. Speaking of the last one may have killed me if i didnt happen to be under the truck. Replaced the tie rod ends because i was told that was the reason for the tire wear. It turns out thats not the only reason.yes the old parts are available for your inspection.

Both upper ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.upper and lower control arms as well as the inner tie rods were worn and were replaced.

While driving 40 mph,the vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably.the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection.the mechanic informed the driver that both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.please provide further details.

The consumer experienced a ball joint problem.the consumercontacted the manufacturer, and was told that only the 2000 through 2003 vehicles were being recalled.the right passenger right side lower and upper ball joints were extremely loose, more than the left side. *sc

1998 dodge durango with bad upper and lower ball joints due to the bad ball joints the tierod is now warped.

While driving at 45 mph consumer heard a clankingnoise coming from the front end. Vehicle was towed to the dealer. Anddealer replaced the ball joint assembly on both sides, and the front hub assembly.dealer replaced ball joints and front hub.*la

1998 dodge durango 4w drive suspension premature failure.both my upper and lower ball joints on both side began failing at 78000 miles.i understand the nhtsa is investigating similar complaints.i had to replace all my ball joints.if there is a recall on the ball joints, will dodge reimburse me for the expense?

Consumer took vehicle to an independent shop for aregularfront alignment, andtechnician determined that upper ball joints needed to be replaced at consumer'sexpense.

We noticed problems with uneven front tire wear on our 1998 dodge durango. Local repair shop determined that upper ball joints are shot and need replaced.received quote of $800 to replace upper and lower ball joints. Ball joint problem caused tires to wear out prematurely and uneven, steel belts almost showing on inside of one tire.

Consumer stated that while driving and without warningball joints were wearing. Dealer notified.

While coasting consumer could hear a loud noise coming from the front ball joints.consumer would have to depress the brake pedal to stop the noise.

Upper ball joint failure. Ball joints replaced.

Pe 03-032, front suspension/upper ball joint failure:consumer took vehicle to dealer because ofexcessive tire wear.mechanic determinedupper ball joints needed to be replaced.alsogear shift indicator was off center. Whenvehicle was in drive indicator was between drive and neutral.consumerhad one transmission replaced, and another oneneeded to bereplaced.

Consumer stated that while driving at 50 mph a grinding sound was heard beneath vehicle.after taking vehicle to dealer it was learned that the upper front ball joints were completely worn out. About six months later vehicle neededfront lower ball joints replaced because they toowere worn out. *ph *nlm

While having the vehicle inspected, the consumer was informed theupper ball joints were bad and needed replacement.the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it passed inspection. Afterwards, the vehicle was found to still have bad ball joints. They were replaced 08-12-03. *ph

Consumer tookvehicle to the dealership for inspection.mechanic informed consumer that the upper ball jointsfailed.

Consumer's vehicle experienced same problem as mentioned in recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. Recall campaign*tc

I wanted to report that i too had to replace the upper ball joints for my 1998 durango.the dodge dealership identified this problem after i brought my vehicle in for 60,000 mile service.i noticed a soft suspension and unusual tire wear resulting from premature wear of the ball joints.

Consumer stated that while driving and without warningball joints are wearing. Dealer notified.

While driving 55 mph, a knockingnoise was heard coming from driver side wheel.driver was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, andmechanic replaced both upper and lower ball joints due to worn out parts.

Ball joints worn out prematurely.

Consumer took vehicle to dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic determined that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.

Upper and lower ball joints on 1998 dodge durango had to be replaced at approx 47,000 miles allong with the outer tie rod ends.these were diagnosed by 2 different tire shops in boise. I have never had a vehicle that needed ball joints at less than 100,000 miles. Since the vehicle only had 27,000 miles on it last year when i bought it, i did not purchase the extended warranty. Now i am making payments on the $1200 repair. Where is the dodge toughness and durablity in this. I believe these ball joints to be a factory defect that should be fixed by dodge.

Worn upper ball joints on my 1998 dodge durango.were replaced by myself because of no recall and now they have a recall for 2000 through 2003.the durango should have been included on this since it wore out at around 60,000 miles.dodge can only say they are sorry but it is not on the recall.

Both ball joints left and right lower and upper are bad, have not replaced as of yet will soon. Truck has only 82k on it.

1) abs and brake lights came on, whining noise from front end2) dealer determined ball joints in front and wheel bearings in serious shaped, laughed at how i was just driving on the highway since the likelihood of the wheels falling off was so high.3. Dealer installed 2 hub brakes, bearings in front ($1025.30 cost) and overhauled rear differential, bearings worn and excessive movement in pinion ($924.48).* now i hear nhtsa has discovered this on 00-03 durangos (mine is a 98) and wants chrysler to recall them. I paid all this money to correct a problem even the federal government says is chrysler's fault. They should give me at least a credit for future repairs.

1998 durango with less then 60000 both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle has been well cared for never off road and not used to tow anything heavy.

Consumer complained about aball joint problemwhich was affecting the wear of the tires. Consumer seeks reimbursement for repairs on ball joints and replacement of tires.*la

While driving at any speed vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. Driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

Perhaps this is not the properly mechanism for my inquiry; if so, i apologize.i am the owner of a 1998 dodge durango, on which i have had to replace the (expensive!) upper ball joints twice!my question to the nhtsa is simply, "why were the 1998 and 1999 model years excluded from the ball joint safety notice you issued previously (#04v596000)?my experience tells me that the ball joint design on my 1998 model year durango is also defective -- why is it not covered under the recall?

When driving at any speed, the consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the front of the vehicle.the consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection and the mechanic determined that the left upper ball joints failed.the consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints.the upper and lower ball joints were undersized at the time of make.this caused the tie rods to fail due to the undue pressure. *sc

Relating to nhtsa action number : ea03023: i own a 1998 durango with the exact same conditions. I have spent $1000 to fix one side of the front end (hub assembly, ball joints, control arms, tie rod ends - it all had to be replaced) and need to come up with another $1000 to fix everything on the other side. Why is the recall only for 2000-2003 model years? the problem is reported for model years 98 and 99 - my search on the nhtsa website was for 1998 model year issues and this issue is listed as a problem for 1998, although most complaints seem to come from my 2000-2003 owners, that's not a reason to not fix the same exact problem that affects my model year.

Consumer has been hearing "knocking" noises from front end when driving and making turns.took vehicle to tire dealer for replacement.dealer diagnosed excessive play with upper ball joints.

Pe 03-032, front suspension: upper ball joint:there is a loud clanking sound, and consumer feels that the upper ball joints are prematurely worn.

My dodge durango started making a clunking noise in the front suspension upon turning or going over rough pavement. I took the car into the shop and there was a failure of both the upper ball joints as well as the tie-rod ends, nearly separated.per the garage, unusual for a 7 year old car with 66,000 miles.they need to be replaced before the catastrophic failure occurs.replacement will include both upper and lower ball joints on left and right side and 4 tie rods.old parts are available.total cost of repair $1,100.

Vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine check up and the mechanicdetermined that both frontal wheels came offandthat the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.*sc

Dt: the contact owns a 1998 dodge durango. Vehicle has defective front ball joints. The vehicle was very unstable each time the brakes were applied.the mechanic encouraged him to letnhtsa know about this problem. The problem has gotten worse.

I bought my 1998 dodge durango from a small used car lot.when i got it home and had it checked out by my mechanic they told me i had to replace the ball joints and that it was unsafe to drive. That was $1000+.after finding out that this was also a problem in the later models but that they were being recalled, i thought it should be brought to someone's attention.

While driving vehicle was swaying from side to side. Consumer haddifficulty handling vehicle on the road. Vehicle was serviced, andtechnician determined that the lower and upper ball joints were worn out and needed to be replaced.

While driving 30 mphdriver's side wheel collapsed without warning. The dealer stated that the upper ball jointsfailed.

My 1998 odge durango 4x4 sltt was very difficult to keep on the road. It seemed to be driving sideways.i was very alarmed and took it to the goodyear dealership in cedartown, georgia.the goodyear dealership said the balljoints were dangerously worn and must be replaced immmeadiatly.i took it to my personal mechanic and he also said the ball joints and tierod ends had to be replaced bearings were very dangerous and must be replaced because the car was unsafe to drive.he advised me to contact the dodge dealership due to a recall.the dodge dealership said the recall only included 2000-2003 4x4 durangos.i have no choice but to replace the ball joints andtierod ends because it is unsafe to drive.i feel that the dodge chrysler corporation should be responsible for the cost of the parts and service fees as well as labor to fix this dangerous condition on my dodge durango.i would appreciate any help in resolving this matter.this could have been a life threatening condition, and i feel the dodge corporation should be aware of the problem and help to resolve and recall cars of this make and model due to the fact that the 1998 modelhas similar defects as the 2000-2003 models have which have been already recalled.

Relating to nhtsa action number : ea03023: i own a 1998 durango with the exact same conditions. I have spent $1000 to fix one side of the front end (hub assembly, ball joints, control arms, tie rod ends - it all had to be replaced) and need to come up with another $1000 to fix everything on the other side. Why is the recall only for 2000-2003 model years? the problem is reported for model years 98 and 99 - my search on the nhtsa website was for 1998 model year issues and this issue is listed as a problem for 1998, although most complaints seem to come from my 2000-2003 owners, that's not a reason to not fix the same exact problem that affects my model year.

While driving at 45 mph consumer heard a clankingnoise coming from the front end. Vehicle was towed to the dealer. Anddealer replaced the ball joint assembly on both sides, and the front hub assembly.dealer replaced ball joints and front hub.*la

- the contact stated that during a routine check up of the 1998 dodge grand caravan in 2006 the mechanic discovered the vehicle had a corroded strut mount suspension tower.the vehicle was taken to the another mechanic on 4/5/2007, who stated that the corrosion had gotten worse. The vehicle was not experiencing any failures due to this corrosion at this time.

Front and rear struts failed causing leakage. Mjs

Just had ball joints done*840$ next dayshock is blown out @45,454 miles now another 80$ and a stain in my new drivewy.

The front end of my durango has had over 3 thousand dollars worth of work, and has never had an accident and only has 60,000 miles on it. Both drivers and passenger side ball joints have been replaced (twice).tie rod ends,control arm,and front shocks have had to all be replaced.the vehicle pulls to the right (dramtically) especially when braking, and has always done so, no matter what we do. This is an on going problem, the last replacement was done approximately 1 year ago.

With 40,000 miles had to install lower ball joints and right side inner tire rod i installed left inner tie rod and upper ball joints when vehicle was apart, also installed mono-max kyb shocks front and rear and install new bf goodrich tiresfront and rear had 2 different people check and set alignment and can not get vehicle to stop drifting right andhas chopped wear patten on right front wheelhas to install new thermostat gasket.

All shocks failed.nlm

All shocks failed.nlm

Events leading up to failure:1.) noise eminating from the front of the vehicle ? clunking, squeaking; 2.) loose steering associated with clunking; .) wandering at speed.failure and consequences:1.) prior to complete failure the vehicle was diagnosed by a local dealer as worn lower ball joints, right inner tie rod end, and sway bar bushings2.) possible consequences of not determining the problem prior to failure ? unsafe operation or life threatening accident due to steering failurecorrection:1.) replaced lower both lower ball joints, sway bar bushings, and the right inner tie rod end ($777.78 parts and labor) in light of recent recalls regarding ball joints of 2000-2003 dodge dakotas and durangos, we believe investigation into earlier models is warranted.extremely similar symptoms are evident on the earlier models prior to 2000 leading us to believe the problem existed prior to the 2000 model year.given this vehicle was rarely placed in extreme conditions (off-road maneuvers, etc.), never in an accident, and with the majority of the time spent on paved roads, failure of ball joints and other suspension components in the 50,000 to 60,000 mile range is premature.we request an investigation into including 1998-1999 dodge durangos into the formal ball joint recall as detailed for the 2000-2003 models.

1998 dodge durango.replaces lower ball joints two years ago ($500+).now after 75000 total miles i have to replace the upper ball joint and tie rods.dodge did not extend their recall back far enough.the only go back to year 2000 models.

I own a 1998 dodge durango, i am on my second set of upper and lower ball joints and now have to replace the front wheel bearing hubs also.my dealer says this is normal, i have never had to replace these items on any other car that i've owned!

While driving at 35 mph a grinding/popping noise camefrom the front left end of the vehicle. Consumerpulled over to inspect the noise, and noticed the left front tire had came off. The tire was turned outward and hanging. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, who indicated that a bearing was needed. Also,both upper and lower ball joints were defective, and needed to be replaced.

We recently had our durango in for preventive manintenance and discoverd front end ball joints had abnormal wear and posed a serious hazard while driving.further research on abnormal wear found that a number of durango's reported same type of abnormality.we paid over $800.00 for repair and feel this type of problem should be strongly considered for recall regulations.this could have caused a serious accident to my family and other durango owners as well.

Theupper ball joints, wheel bearing and tie rod needed to be replaced because they were loose, per dealership. *ph

"98 dodge durango-wheel axle failure.wheel bearing and sensor replaced on front driver side.wheel about to fall off!

Front wheel bearing failure on a 1998 dodge durango. The failure caused the front wheel to collapse into the spindle which caused excessive heat and sparks to rupture front brake line and cause a fire.

Consumer heard while traveling at any speed a loud grinding noise coming from front end of vehicle. Dealer serviced indicated that front wheel bearing needed to be replaced.

All 4 ball joints on the vehicle were close to failing at 72,310 miles.plus, an inner tie rod was bad and the right wheel bearing.this caused the steering to be very loose and it became hard to control.

In july i started noticing a loose clunky feeling from the front end.i brought it too tuffy auto service in saginaw, mi.they said the front(left and right) bearings were bad.and also a left idler arm.this is not a problem that should happen to a vehiclewith only 65,000 miles.what can or should i do.

1) abs and brake lights came on, whining noise from front end2) dealer determined ball joints in front and wheel bearings in serious shaped, laughed at how i was just driving on the highway since the likelihood of the wheels falling off was so high.3. Dealer installed 2 hub brakes, bearings in front ($1025.30 cost) and overhauled rear differential, bearings worn and excessive movement in pinion ($924.48).* now i hear nhtsa has discovered this on 00-03 durangos (mine is a 98) and wants chrysler to recall them. I paid all this money to correct a problem even the federal government says is chrysler's fault. They should give me at least a credit for future repairs.

Wheel bearing disintegrated making vehicle immobile, grinding noise just prior with to failure.*la

Front end had to be replaced because of loose steering. Dealer notified.both control arms and bearings were replaced.*ph

The vehicle makes a loud humming noise. Took to the dealer, and the dealer says the front wheel bearing joint needs replacing.consumer say," the wheel could come off according to the news. Please provide any further information.

While driving the vehicle i heard a load pop, at whcih point steering became difficult and it felt like something was rubbing or hanging in the front suspension.i took the vehicle to a dodge dealership in columbus and was told that the right and left control arms need to be replaced, the left and right tie rods, and the right and left wheel bearings all must be replaced.total repair cost to be $1,900.i have owned the truck 3 yearsand have put approximately 35,000 miles on the vehicle during the time period.we have had regular maintanence during this time period.it appears that the damage to the front suspension system is highly unusual for such a short time to have owned the vehicle.

While driving 40 mph the front wheel bearings failed. As a result the vehicle became uncontrollable and the driver had to pull to the side of the road.please provide any additional information.

My 1998 odge durango 4x4 sltt was very difficult to keep on the road. It seemed to be driving sideways.i was very alarmed and took it to the goodyear dealership in cedartown, georgia.the goodyear dealership said the balljoints were dangerously worn and must be replaced immmeadiatly.i took it to my personal mechanic and he also said the ball joints and tierod ends had to be replaced bearings were very dangerous and must be replaced because the car was unsafe to drive.he advised me to contact the dodge dealership due to a recall.the dodge dealership said the recall only included 2000-2003 4x4 durangos.i have no choice but to replace the ball joints andtierod ends because it is unsafe to drive.i feel that the dodge chrysler corporation should be responsible for the cost of the parts and service fees as well as labor to fix this dangerous condition on my dodge durango.i would appreciate any help in resolving this matter.this could have been a life threatening condition, and i feel the dodge corporation should be aware of the problem and help to resolve and recall cars of this make and model due to the fact that the 1998 modelhas similar defects as the 2000-2003 models have which have been already recalled.

Premature wear on upper and lower ball joints on both sides of vehicle. The separation of these components cause the driver to lose control of the steering and could cause the vehicle to roll over causing serious injury or death. In addition to the ball joints, the wheel bearing assemblies fail prematurely which in combination with the ball joint problem greatly increases loss of control of the vehicle.this vehicle also has a problem with the transmission slipping with less than 70,000 miles on it. This causes slow acceleration which could cause an accident resulting in serious injury or death.

An independent mechanic replaced the upper and lower ball joints and the wheel bearings due to failure.mechanic said that the ball joints failed prematurely.the failure of the wheel bearings occurred three weeks after replacement of ball joints.tires were destroyed due to the failure of wheel bearings.*la

Vehicle acquired in july of 2004.all component system failures listed have occurred since that timeframe.engine overheated due to two (2) freeze plugs that failed between the rear of the engine and the transmission housing.reverse lights no longer function and cause is still under investigation.front transaxle assemblies were replaced as were the lower ball joints.vehicle is currently at a repair facility requiring upper ball joint and tie-rod end replacement.

Hearing noise in the rear end of the vehicle, consumer took car in for inspection.the vehicle needed bearings replaced.the bearings have been replaced three (3) times.dodge informed consumer that the whole rear of vehicle is faulty.*jg

The consumer stated theseal on the transfer case leaked fluid. In addition the rear end disintegrated. Dealer notified. Consumer stated a trucks rear end shouldn't disintegrate with 81000 miles. *ph

While drivingrear end locked up and vehicle stalled in middle of highway.vehicle had to be loaded on truck to be moved. Dealer contacted.

A knocking noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. Consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection,and mechanic informed consumer that the problem couldnot be duplicated.

I was driving in a rainstorm and hit a pocket of water on the highway.i hydro-planed into a concrete barricade, hitting the wall at about a 40-45 degree angle.the rear end started to spin counter-clockwise, so i steered into the skid.this stopped the counter-clockwise skid, but threw me back into the barricade - hitting the entire driver side and more especially the rear wheel.when i hit the wall, the rear driver side leaf spring "whiplashed" in-board and cracked the gas tank.the crack is approximately 2-3 inches long.i did not notice the crack right away, and was able to continue home.the "low fuel warning light" came on and i stopped for gas.it was at this time that i noticed that the fuel was running out on the ground.i took the vehicle to the local dodge dealer for repair, and perhaps investigation into the faulty placement of the springs.they have ignored the situation and gave me the 800 number for chrysler customer relations.when i called them, i explained the situation and received basically a "so what ??" attitude.i am a property and casualty insurance agent and would not want any of my insurance carriers to needlessly pay claims for faulty design.i feel that this needs to be investigated as soon as possible to prevent the unnecessary loss of life and needless property damage.i was lucky that it was raining the night that this happened which lessened the "sparks" potential.had there been sparks of metal on concrete, i would probably have been burned in the wreckage.i am reminded of the faulty placement of the saddle tanks on the gmc pickup trucks which caused millions of dollars in claims and settlements.i brought this up to chrysler and their question was "what do you want chrysler to do?".your response will be greatly appreciated.

Rear end of vehicle has been disassembled twice and put back togetherto correct a gear problem "that has bored out of tolerance."please provide any additional information/attachments.

Front and rear struts failed causing leakage. Mjs

Returning from new york.tire exploded.contacted goodyear.referred to local dealer who said not tread separation.called home office back and given another dealer about 1 hour away.will go at earliest convenience.details of tread separation: traveling about 60 on interstate when incident occurred.outer side of tire looks like it exploded.inner side of tire no damage.wheel no damage.tread separated from inner wall of tire approximately half of diameter from about center of tread area to edge of tread area on out side of tire. (dot number: mk60k60v08tiresize: 31x10.50r1)

Consumer noticed that the front tires are wearing from the inside out. Took vehicle to mechanic, and he stated thatupper ball joints need replacing.

Tire failed, goodyear wouldn't replace the tire.had to purchase a new tire beacuse they claimed it was road hazard the entire tire collapse from seperation within the walls of the tire.no punctures etc. Could be detected from my view.the tire was soft in the inner wall.

Front ball joint was checked and is going out, we discovered it after having to replace tires because the ball joint is causing the tire o wear uneven.

When driving on wet pavement at 30 mph rear tires broke.rear of vehicle wentinto a spin sideways, causingvehicle to go into a ditch. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.

I can not keep tires on front end from wearing unevenly, they keep cupping on outer edges. Chryler corp has replaced my front tires 3 times, lower control arms twice, & rt. Upper balljoint once. Now all 4 tires are out of round and causes a bad vibration in the vehicle. This is all caused by the suspenion parts being defected and chrysler corp. Will not replace the tires or correct the situation with me.

I can not keep tires on front end from wearing unevenly, they keep cupping on outer edges. Chryler corp has replaced my front tires 3 times, lower control arms twice, & rt. Upper balljoint once. Now all 4 tires are out of round and causes a bad vibration in the vehicle. This is all caused by the suspenion parts being defected and chrysler corp. Will not replace the tires or correct the situation with me.

I stopped at a service station to have the air checked.when he put air in the tire, it was leaking more.the tire repair station took the tire off the rim and noticed that the tire was splitting from the inside out.he said he has never seen that happen before....splitting from the inside out.the tire is no good anymore and i still have a lot of tread left on it.he took my spare off, from under the vehicle and noticed that it has been hot and melted the rubber from the exhaust.i have smelled rubber before but thought that was from the air conditioner that i have been having so much trouble with since i bought the vehicle.it has caused an electrical shortage before.the air conditioner is leaking freon and every few months, i have to go have it filled.can't find the leak and have taken it to 4-6 different dealers for the problem.when running the air conditioner, moisture runs down the sides of the dash vents with all the windows closed.the last dealer i took it took, told me that they can't find the leak and believes it is somewhere in the dash.they have been too busy and shorthanded to get to it right now.i have also complained to several dealers about the floor between the drivers seat and passenger seat.i lay my purse on there and when i go to town and pick my purse up, the bottom of my purse is really hot.when i drive for a long period of time, my foot that runs the gas pedal gets really hot and swollen from the heat coming from the same area.the dealers have all told me that nothing was wrong.when i first bought the vehicle i noticed a noise in where i thought it was the brakes and took it to the shop.i found out that the suspension was falling apart and bolts were missing.luckily, there was no accident over that. Manufacturers need to be more cautious.( dot number: tire size: 31x10.50r )

Consumer noticedtire uneven wear while traveling 60-65 mph. Vehicle started vibrating. Vehicle was serviced, andtechnician replaced ball joints.

Accident--toyota corolla grazed front left corner of bumper and hit tire.tire blew, upper and lower control arms were pushed back.

Owner has replaced the 3rd set of tires due to "cupping and feathering".

Front brakes (replaced 3x's in one year) keep failing on dodge durango causing uneven tire wear and alignment to shift. I've had to replace the front tires 4 times and the rear tires twice since i bought this vehicle january 2,2000. All tires wear at an angle with several bald spots in different places. I also replaced the water pump and radiator february 2003. Now the air conditioner is not working. The transmission went out a couple of months after i purchased the vehicle. It was still under warranty, but i still had to pay 300.00 out of pocket for whatever reason.

Owner has replaced the 3rd set of tires due to "cupping and feathering".

Sidewall of tire separated with 14,000 miles. (dot number: w2hltiresize: 235 75 15)

2 rear goodyear wrangler tr/s tiresp235/75r15 were experiencing tread separation, consumer feels tires should not have worn the way they did and replaced tires with another brand.

While drivingat 50 mph andwith no warning rear passenger tire tread separated, causingdamage to the bumper, and cracked the taillight. Consumer had to pull over. Dayton, model timberland, size 31x10-50r15lt, dot# unknown.

Consumer was driving at 15 to 20 mph with a trailer attached to the vehicle, and the trailer came unwelded from the tongue of the trailer andtook off. Consumer was able to get the trailer back, and thiswas the second time, the trailer came unwelded.

While driving at any speed engine check light illuminated ondashboard andvehicle cut off withoutprior warning. Consumer has contacteddealer, dealer stated that no electrical components have failed, causing the problem. Please provide any further details.

Owner was impressed with the vehicle's durability during a crash.

Car caught fire while driving.dt

All 4 power window regulators have gone out.

While drivingenginechecklight illuminated, indicating a malfunction within the system,shortlyafter a noise occurred in the engine compartment, then the vehicle completely shut down, cause unknown. Please give any further details.

While driving on the highway engine check light came on,vehicle started idling and cut off.pulled over and sat for awhile to cool off, then shift indicatorjumped out of gear.went to putfog lights, and they failed to operate properly. Fog light switch replaced three times,battery and throttle body also replaced.*ml

Engine check light illuminates, indicating a malfunction within the system.cause unknown.dealer cannot identify the problem.pleasew give any further details.

While driving on highway heard a loud clanking noise. Then, engine checklight iulluminated.took vehicle to dealer, and they stated thatcrankshaft had broken. Consumer had a lack of brakes and steering.took vehicle to dealer again,and they stated thatcrankshaft should notgo out. Please provide any further information.

Takata recall - i was in a car accident on 8/11/2015 and the airbag did not deploy.accident occurred on roadway and was in motion making a left turn when struck on the right side of vehicle.

Engine light.

Engine oil pressure sensor.

While starting vehicle enginechecklight came on. Noticedrough idle . Dealer has repaired vehicle for this problem eight times. Please provide further informaton.

I forgot to mention in my list of complaints from thur. 02/10/00, about the paint on the vehicle. There are spots that have appeared on the hood and some on the side . One spothas white showing, the vehicle is black.the spots looks like splatters or some like spider vains. We asked the service deptment the last time tit was being fixed at tomkinson dodge what it was or what causedit. They said it was bird droppings that caused it and that the color black will do that. We don't beleive this, because our vehicles have alway been parked in the same area and none have ever developed spots from bird droppings. I don't beleive anything was written down about this. We asked a friend,who has a body shop what he thought it was, which he said it looks like the clear coat was that was not applied properly. We feel that it should be repainted at no cost. No safety defect listed within summary.

Ball joints casuing undue wear and tear on tirereplaced front tire 3 times in 2 years

1. Stops or misses gears on upshift when accelerating.this occurs frequently, and is most apparent when towing/merging into faster traffic, or traveling up an incline.this slip causes the engine to rev into the very high rpms.the last time this occurred, a belt broke and caused the loss of steering in the truck. 2. Shift indicator on the dash does not display indicator when in d drive position.the indicator is lost between neutral and drive positions. 3. Noticeable vibration in the gas pedal when driving in certain speed ranges.it is most noticeable when accelerating between 30 to 40 and 60 to 70. 4.vibration noise can be heard and can be felt in the gas pedal.this is a recent development ( since nov, 1998 ).

While drivingcruise control unexpectedlyactivated without manual operation.driver appliedbrakes, and they failed to stopvehicle, driver also turnedcruise control switch off andvehicle continued to accelerate. After inspection of vehicle it was determined that throttle was stuck inopen postion. To gain temporary control ofvehiclethrottle was released, and cruise control system was disconnected.please give any further details.

Consumer was driving at 50 mph whenvehicle started to accelerate on its own ,hitting speeds of 80 mph.consumer applied brakes, but did not override the accelration. Consumer then shifted into park ,lost control of vehicle, turned igntion to off positon and pulled it out , wheels was still spinning for about 2-3 seconds afterwards.

The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson dodge) twice. The first time , they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. The second time , the window went down by itself , we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin dodge), theytold us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (i don't remember the time span after being "fixed". So this time we took it to evans chrsler-plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was aobject rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin dodgecould not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000.00 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides aroundthen stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

Due to to uneven driveway the vehicle stalled, or transmission began to spin and not move, at which the vehicle ignition was shut-off. It was attempted to push the vehicle about 50 feet to a parking place. Another person offers to help, then pushes vehicle 25/50 feet...advises to turn the wheel. The wheel does not want to turn. The vehicle has used a lot of power steering fluidalmost daily(has a history of squealing and hard turning at start unless lubricated). So advice to place vehicle in reverse caused the steering wheel to be even harder to turn, if at all. I requested help from the bystander, who at which point comes to the driver side where i was standing outside of the vehicle also. It's unknown if the bystander help turned the ignition on, or if the ignition somehow turned on by itself. The vehicle was occupied by one addition passenger at the time of the crash. The vehicle traveled in reverse gear, without anyone pushing on the accelerator. There were minor to severe injuries, and damage to 2 vehicles and one structure.

While driving with cruise control activated whenbrakes were applied.cruise controldeactivated, causingloss ofcontrol.please give any further details.

Cruise control failed to disengage resulting in damage to vehicle due to loss of control.yh

As my wife, starla lee citarella ,was pulling into a parking spacethe brake pedal pad slipped off as she applied the brakes. Her foot then hit the gas pedal , causing vcehicle to accelerate. She was able to direct the car away from the parked cars around her and went up a small em bankement, striking a light post and a small tree. She proceded over the small hill and came to rest on the downward slope.

While on the highway, the gas pedal dropped to the floor and the car accelerated out of control.applying the brakes did not stop the vehicle.the car had accelerated to over 85 mph when i pulled to the shoulder lane.i then stood up on the brake pedal, slowed the car down to 35 mph and turned the car off.the car eventually came to a stop.an aaa tow truck came out to help.the tow truck operator confirms that when he towed the truck that the gas pedal was still on the floor.when the car was dropped off at the dealer, the pedal was back in a more normal position.the dealer was unable to find anything wrong with the vehicle.

While driving at any speed a squeaking sound was coming from the front end. Dealer checked the vehicle, and found that the upper ball joints were severely worn out.the cruise control never worked.(intermittent problem) *sc

While starting vehicle enginechecklight came on. Noticedrough idle . Dealer has repaired vehicle for this problem eight times. Please provide further informaton.

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

Idle spped control unit failure.

Started vehicle & shifted into reverse. Took foot off brakes & vehicle suddenly accelerate, backwards. Hit another vehicle. Happened twice before, but weather was wet. Pedal went to floor at time.

During cold weather, the heating system fails to provide heat to the front panel vents.

There is a plastic flap covering the vent in the dashboard which prevents air or heat from coming out of the vent.i've tried to push the flap back down but it continues to flip up when i used the heat or air conditioner.

The flap which allows the air to either flow through the vents or defrost or heater vents is stuck blowing air out the heater and defrost vents. I have talked with others who have this same problem and have been told by the dealer that it is a known problem with dodge. I can't afford to pay $200 for a part that is known by dodge to have a defect.my children and i are about to suffocate from the heatof the summer.is dodge going to be fixing this problem or not? my next problem is the front end will not stay in alignment.i have been through two sets of tires and have had the front end aligned three times in the last 6 months with no results. I know of plenty of durango owners with this same problem. Is this defective parts causing this problem?i also have a problem with the ignition/starter not wanting to start at least three times a week.don't know if this is a defect or just something worn out. Don't know of anyone else with this problem yet. Thanks.

Since buying the used 1998 dodge durango slt in october of 2001 with approximately 26000 miles.i had the dodge dealership to replace the motor in the front driver's side window which cost me $100 for my deductible.i now have a problem with the rear view mirror defogger on the left and right side of the vehicle and now passenger side window motor is bad.i haven't replaced it as of this time.although the durango is approximately 4 yrs old, it only had 26000 miles on the vehicle which meant the vehicle wasn't driven often by the previous owner.i brought a car fax report to confirm that the vehicle was in good condition.i hope you can help with these problems which is definitely a manufacturing problem.thanks

Blower motor failed causing noise, due to broken fins. Mjs

Heater hose o-ring failed causing leakage. Mjs

Dealership has propped all windows up, and now they will not come down.dealer states does not know when they will be able to fix them.

My 1998 dodge durango continues to show problems with steering and front. There are only 57000 miles on this vehicle and the miles have been easy miles, (all on road and easy driving).i've replaced the power steering box, and the lower ball joints plus the front wheel bearing and drum.all of this has cost $550 the first time and $880 the second time.this cost come in addition to replacement a head gasket and rear windows that don't work.

Whiledriving in neighborhood another vehicle pulled outinfront. Consumer slammed on brakes and front wheels locked up, vehicle skidded andslammedinto the vehiclein front. Contacted dealerwho said that brake pads never touched the drums. Also, rear arm actuator power windows will not go up or down.

While trying to roll window down windows would not move. Passenger's side first, then driver's side and rear passenger's side window. No noises or sounds when trying to roll windows down.dealer said it was window regulators.

Driver side window switch failed.yh

Driver and passenger side windows inoperable.yh

Both windows on left side of car will not work... Driver window is going out.

Upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.the consumer believes this vehicle should be included in the recall and request reimbursement.three of the four power window motors have been replaced because they burned out.

Dt: owner complained aboutseveral vehicle problems. . on all four windows the regulator has had to be replaced more than once. Driver's side having to be replaced the most. Also,lower ball joints / left upper ball joint, and steering column has been replaced twice in less than one year time.currently the upper right ball joint had tobe replaced. These has been ongoing issues with this vehicle since consumerowned it.consumerdealt withdealership and manufacturer,but chrysler refused to help since there was no recall. Chrysler was very rude and hung up on the consumer.

Power window failed, dealer would not fix problem due a recall that will be issued in the future, window works fine for now. No recall issued yet.

Window sensor failed.yh

Owner states 3 of the power windows on vehicle have fallen down while in the up postion. Cause of problem unkown.

The contact owns a 1998 dodge durango.while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed that the steering was looser than normal.he took the vehicle to a local mechanic on february 21, 2008 and both upper and lower ball joints as well as the steering box were replaced.the repair cost $1,001.24.the failure mileage was 59,298 and current mileage was 59,598. Updated 05/05/08 the consumer stated on april 10, 2003 had to replace both rear window regulators. Updated 05/05/08

Window regulator failed.nlm

The power window motors/regulators have failed on all 4 windows repeatedly.repairs under warranty have been done, however after approx 2 months the windows fail to go up or down.. ...during low speed braking the front disc brakes make a grinding noise, the problem is continuous and the dealership says all items are within specifications.

The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson dodge) twice. The first time , they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. The second time , the window went down by itself , we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin dodge), theytold us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (i don't remember the time span after being "fixed". So this time we took it to evans chrsler-plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was aobject rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin dodgecould not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000.00 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides aroundthen stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

The power windows do not operate as designed,the window lock button doesn't work and the windows will not go up or down.nlm

Whilevehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop.it was found that rotors were out of round.dealer replaced rotors.vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time.no faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem.in addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.*la

Door--window regulators.

I have had several problems with my 98 durango. I am the original owner, and the vehicle has 31,000 miles.the current problem, and the one for which i filed the complaint, deals with the electric windows not unctioning.the left rear window went out last year.within the past two months, the passenger window went out, and the right rear has begun to operate inconsistently.as for repairs, a local chrysler dealer said they believe theproblem are the window regulators.as to cost, i am currently working with chrysler corp.(national customer service center) as to what they will do to fix.my own investigation indicates that this is a common problem on this year durango.just today chrysler has asked me to have the problem re-diagnosed at the local dealership (at my cost).they will then determine if and what they will do.however, the representative said he felt a total repair compensation for this problem will not happen and suggested i should have taken an extended warranty.i informed him of my research on this problem to little avail.he also said he was the final decision maker for this situation, and in case of my disagreement with his decision, i had no other recourse through chrysler corp.i also have a worsening rear main seal oil leak. The preliminary repair estimate is over $1200.again, because of the low mileage, i've asked chrysler to assist in the repair cost.they said they would consider, but feel this problem is not their responsibility.

Passenger's power window assembly on driver's side fails to open window.

Power operated window on driver's sidehas become jammed within door frame.please give any further details.

Electric window regulator failed.yh

Regulator onpower operated windows manlfunctioned which causedwindows to remain inupright position.

Power locks and power windows failed. Mjs

Automatic window switch failed.yh

Front passenger side window motor failed.yh

All four power windows went out in 2001. Transmission is shifting at a higher rpm. It does not shift until 3800 to 4500.this accured at 58000 miles june 4.

Reoccuring problems with both rear power windows.to this date they have been worked on 3 separate occasions.i don't think i'm the only customer having this problem!

Power windows go downby themselfs and will not go back up.dealer has repaired vehicle.

Window regulators on 3 doors have failed since stated date.normal shutting of doors causes a plastic piece were the cables meet to fail.this plastic piece is not a stand alone part.compete regulator must be purchased at $100+.

Since buying the used 1998 dodge durango slt in october of 2001 with approximately 26000 miles.i had the dodge dealership to replace the motor in the front driver's side window which cost me $100 for my deductible.i now have a problem with the rear view mirror defogger on the left and right side of the vehicle and now passenger side window motor is bad.i haven't replaced it as of this time.although the durango is approximately 4 yrs old, it only had 26000 miles on the vehicle which meant the vehicle wasn't driven often by the previous owner.i brought a car fax report to confirm that the vehicle was in good condition.i hope you can help with these problems which is definitely a manufacturing problem.thanks

Electrical system suddenly went out all gauges radio etc front area. Checked all fuses and nothing was burnt out.restarted engine four times before reset and then was ok.have had recurring locking of brakes and grinding lose of control at low speeds and on wet roads.disc brakes have no wear indicators on pads and it resulted in being worn down and ate into the front rotors before i was aware that the pads were shot.i had to buy new rotors and pads and the replacement pads also did not have indicators.the dealer stated that was the way that they were manufatured and i then stated that this was a severe and potentially dangerous and deadly oversight and that it should be corrected.i contacted chrysler and they stated that they had no recall on this and that they had no technical problems or bulletins on this.my battery also suddenly went out without any warning and it caused the engine to die.i could not restart the engine and a new battery had to be installed.power windows went out and could not be opened or closed by drivers switch.

1998 dodge durango slt: power windows, especially on right side of vehicle are periodically failing to open. All 4 regulators replaced once. Passenger front motor and regulator replaced twice and now both windows on passenger side are failed.are there any bulletins to direct dealer repair of this potentially dangerous condition?*la

Window's failed, driver's side does not go down everytime when button is pushed.

Power windows binding due to failure of the regulator on several occasions.mjs

Window regulator that controls windows has had 8 failures and replacements in as many years with minimal usage. I have no children and live in arizona so windows are in up position 80% of the time. No reason for failures other than defective placement and parts as stated by dodge service advisor.

Side mirrors (both) on dodge durangos and dakota trucks often crack.

I really like my dodge durango but the mirrors are very large which causes blind spots.i can't see trafficleft or right.i thought my height was the problem but my husband is 6'2 and he sees the problem.i need your advise and help on this matter.... I am so afraid of having a accident. Has there been many complaints on this matter ? i hope i'm sending this complaint to the right dept. And hope i gave you enought info. What everhelp you can give me will be appreciated.

Driver's side outside mirror & support beam causes a blind spot whenever making a left hand turn. The vehicle had incurred an accident due to location of beam & mirror & needs to be relocated.

Passenger's side rear view mirrors are large in sizeand height. However,it's extremely hard to determine traffic due to blind spot. Also,these vehicles are equipped with a tow package.please give any further details.

Traveling at 65 mph or over and back side windows are rolled down ,vehicle will begin to shake violently from tailgate to front of vehicle,including seats/dash/steering, etc , which could cause loss of control.chryler has been notified.

All four windows have fallen down and would not go up.

When driving vehicle at a speed of 55 mph or above with back windows down the vheicle starts to viberate until it is almost impossible to hold on the road.this viberation is like having a flat tire with the exception of the complete vehicle viberating

Dt: contact stated both lower ball jointswere replaced twice on vehicle.also, both front tireshad to be replaced twice.the service dealer stated the tires needed replacement due to the failure of the ball joints.the first replacement occurred when the vehicle'smileage was at 27,280.the second replacement occurredat 43,908 miles. Consumer statedfront end was making a squeaking noise and was driving differently.consumer contacted manufacturer, and was sending the service receipts.there was a recall on different modelyearfor this specific component, but consumer's vehiclewas not included in the recall campaign due to vin.consumer didnot have the complete address for the dealership where the vehicle was purchased.repair receipts attached for ball joints.windshield sprayer sprays one side.connector repalced.front brake pads and rotors machined.

Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because i am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.

Front differential replaced due to front wheels locking up.qcaw

We bought a 98' durango w/ 123k miles & after driving it less than 500 miles i began to notice a loud-repeating noise "thud...thud.." coming from the front passenger wheel wall.then i began to notice extreme steering problems so i stopped the vehicle and inspected it further.i jacked up the vehicle and observed a lot of "play" in the front tire.i was actually able to "wobble' back and forth and the lug nuts were still secured.i contacted a very reputable mechanic (3rd generation race car driver too!) and he advised that there have been massive problems with the ball joints failing on the durango's , but they only will fix back to 2000' model year.well, any reasonable auto company that knows it has a faulty part should take responsibility for the safety of its people....if not, then they are liable for continuing to allow a product that endangers the safety of the driver, its occupants & other motorist's/citizens-who expect their safety to be looked upon, not "investigated internally." i have been in law enforcement for +13 years, and as a result i have worked many vehicle accidents (some causing death) that just didn't make sense-until now!something needs to be done here...and not just "only 2000' year models and up" thing.do the right thing, because its the right thing to do!

My mechanic notice unable to keep tires. While driving with my 2 kids noticed extremely loose action while driving, car unable to stay on road. Mechanic checked and upper and lower ball joints defective. I have research and noticed no recall with these vehicles. Lots of complaints something needs to be done. We should not have to suffer for there lack of making a safe vehicle.

Hub assembly.

I would like to report 2 safty defects with my 1998 dodge durango.first is the poor quality wheel studs.during various tire rotations at a qualified service center, six studs have broken (twice at the dealer).i'm really worried that at some point a wheel may come off while i'm driving.second, the drivers power adjust seat rocks back and forth during braking & acceleration.this is annoying and i'm afraid that eventually, it's going to break all the way loose.

While making a left hand turn heard a popping soundand vehicle tilted to the side. Consumergot out, and thewheel at the front passenger's sidewas tilting inward, all lugs: studs were gone. Dealer is waiting for a representativeto see why lugs: studsbroke.

4 of 6 right rear wheel studs seized/broke off during routine tire rotation.nuts were correctly torqued to manual specifications.*la

Have had multiple incidents of wheel stud/bolt breakage.has occurred both during highway operation and during tire removal.have had to replace approximately 6 studs on various wheels.in each case, lugs were installed at proper torque and were removed either by hand or by air-powered tool.concerned that the studs on this vehicle are of poor quality or the materials used in the studs and lugs are not compatible and therefore seizing is occurring.i have not had this problem with any other vehicles i've owned and have had to replace too many wheel studs!4/10/01 - wheel lug could not be re-installed after removal for tire rotation, could not hand-start; concerned about problem with stud and potential breakage.tire dealer indicated that they have had a lot of trouble with durango studs breaking off.

Four of 6 rear wheel lug bolts snapped off.

Lug nuts and studs tore off causing tire to fall off and loss of control.




Read more




© 2024 All rights reserved