Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 2100202 | 07/08/2002 | 635721 | Subject regarding revision in diagnostic procedures and labor operation times for re transmissions. *tt | 10/30/2002 | |
| 2100601 | 03/16/2001 | 211699 | 621898 | Automatic transmission fluid usage atf+4. *tt *mj | 10/03/2001 |
| 210899 | 04/30/1999 | 604975 | Vehicles exhibiting buzz, whining, or moaning like noise from cold transmission when reverse gear is selected. *tt | 05/21/1999 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 181299 | 06/18/1999 | 181797 | 607298 | This bulletin explains the operation and application of the leak detection pump (ldp) monitor test. *tt | 09/17/1999 |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||||
| 210300 | 03/10/2000 | 610633 | Some customers may complain of a red-in-color oil seepage from under the vehicle. the oil seepage may be localized to the sector shaft seal of the transfer case. *tt | 05/09/2000 | |
| 212299 | 12/03/1999 | 6089820 | Customer complaint of nv-242 and nv-242hd sector shaft seal oil seepage from under the vehicle. *tt | 02/25/2000 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 030800 | 09/15/2000 | 614650 | ;subject regarding rtv use on corporate axle. *tt | 11/29/2000 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||||
| 030499 | 06/04/1999 | 606080 | Conditions with differential gear lubricant weeping from the front differential vent. *tt | 08/06/1999 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - UNIVERSAL JOINT | |||||
| 030598 | 07/31/1998 | 602319 | A clicking noise may be present when changing from a forward gear to reverse due to poor fitting universal joint retaining straps. *ak | 10/26/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 06/15/2000 | 40000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 05/02/2002 | |||
| Engine check light has come on, and from time to time light will stay on when getting vehicle checked out. spark plugs were melted and , head cylinder was cracked.*ak | |||
| 08/01/1999 | 10 | 07/01/1998 | |
| While driving abs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on. they could not find the problem to fix it correctly. *ak 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. *slc | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/11/2006 | 99350 | 6 | 12/01/2003 |
| Tl* - 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. *ak updated 2/6/2007 - *nm | |||
| 11/08/2006 | 71949 | 1 | 04/09/2005 |
| 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. | |||
| 08/15/2002 | 70000 | 2 | 08/15/2000 |
| 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. *nm | |||
| 06/03/1999 | 50000 | 4 | 03/06/1998 |
| I purchased a 1998 dodge durango in march of 1998. the car was brand new with 3 miles on it. the car was excellent until about 52,000 miles. 1st repair, water pump. at about 56,000 transmission rebuild. at about 61,000 heater core, and power steering fluid leaking. at 77,000 transmission rebuild again. at about 80,000 miles, steering wheel started to stiffen up and very difficult to turn wheel they told me i needed a new rack and pinion. durangos do not have rack and pinions, they have gear boxes. at about 94,000 transmission rebuild. at 106,000 trasnmission rebuild and installed a transmission cooler this time around along with an aftermarket transmission gauge which tells me the temp of the trans(price was $125.00 for gauge and wiring). called dodge was like talking to my dog, they said that it wasn't their problem. i swore to all my friends and relatives that the day i buy another chrysler is the day i eat s**t!!! dodge cars and trucks suck, their customer service is crap and i had to spend money $$$ out of my own pocket for repairs alone almost $9,500.00, out of which chrysler kept saying its not our problem. you know when its their problem, when they screw with someone who isn't just joe schmoe walking in to buy a car. someone with a degree in law so that they can royally ge smacked in the face and help all the other unfortunate ones who are stuck with dodge sucks (trucks). whoever wants to buy a dodge, be prepared for a rude awakening. they are going to rape you! *ak | |||
| 06/10/2004 | 60800 | 1 | 03/01/1998 |
| Transmission light illuminated in the instrument panel. dealership informed the consumer that the problem was pertaining to a burned transmission. *ak the transmission was serviced at 30000 miles then had to be replaced at 60000 miles. *nm | |||
| 06/05/2004 | 59000 | 1 | 08/06/1999 |
| 1998 doge durango - 60000 miles. transmission failure. had problems with transmission since purchase in 1999. *ak | |||
| 01/27/2004 | 72000 | 1 | 11/17/2002 |
| 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! *jb | |||
| 123000 | 2 | 05/02/2003 | |
| Consumer complained about a transmission problem. vehicle hesitated when driving. *ak the front differential pin failed and seized to the pinion shaft the upper and lower ball joints were replaced. *jb | |||
| 10/22/2003 | 68000 | 2 | |
| Pe 03-032, front suspension/upper ball joint failure: consumer took vehicle to dealer because of excessive tire wear. mechanic determined upper ball joints needed to be replaced. also gear shift indicator was off center. when vehicle was in drive indicator was between drive and neutral. consumer had one transmission replaced, and another one needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 01/31/2004 | 136000 | 2 | 06/10/2002 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 12/18/2003 | 51000 | 2 | 04/12/1998 |
| I own a 1998 dodge durango front end was popping and the transmission was 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.*ak | |||
| 03/04/2003 | 1 | 09/06/2002 | |
| 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. the light 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. *jb | |||
| 08/18/2003 | 26500 | 1 | 07/18/1999 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 08/04/2003 | 85000 | 1 | 01/05/2001 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 65623 | 1 | 09/25/2001 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 06/12/2002 | 61000 | 2 | 06/25/2001 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 47000 | 1 | 01/09/2002 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 10/10/2001 | 38000 | 10/28/1999 | |
| 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. | |||
| 03/20/2000 | 56000 | 4 | 07/07/2000 |
| 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. | |||
| 06/18/2003 | 62000 | 25 | 06/01/2001 |
| 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 reach 30 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 | |||
| 06/18/2003 | 68460 | 100 | 06/17/2003 |
| 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. | |||
| 02/01/2003 | 70000 | 1 | 03/01/1998 |
| 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.*jb | |||
| 03/14/2003 | 62700 | 1 | |
| Complete transmission failure at 60,000 miles. symptoms prior to failure were hesitation shifting into second gear when truck was initially started. *nlm | |||
| 02/25/2003 | 58800 | 1 | 07/13/2000 |
| 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! *jb | |||
| 4 | 11/01/2001 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 10/15/2001 | 04/01/2000 | ||
| 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.*ak | |||
| 07/12/2000 | 3 | ||
| 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. *slc | |||
| 02/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle has automatic transmission ; there was hesitation when shifting into second gear. when shifting into reverse, it was clanking. dealership was aware of problem.*ak | |||
| 11/25/2000 | 1 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Transmission failure at 52,000 miles. total rebuild costing $2,084.00. *ak | |||
| 3 | |||
| Usually driving at highway spped about 60 mph transmission will keep slipping. consumer has been at dealer 3 times, and cannot determine cause. *ak | |||
| 08/01/1999 | 10 | 07/01/1998 | |
| While driving abs light come on unexpectedly and stayed on. they could not find the problem to fix it correctly. *ak 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. *slc | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Transmission failed. yh | |||
| 06/24/1998 | 1 | 06/18/1998 | |
| Dealer replaced vehicles pressure governor for transmission which had been damaged due to low fluid level. *yc | |||
| 05/11/1998 | 5 | 03/01/1998 | |
| 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 ). *ak | |||
| 10/09/1998 | |||
| While driving the vehicle or starting/parking and then stopping the vehicle goes from park to another gear without letting driver touch the brake or pedal. contacted dealer, they don't know anything about a problem within this vehicle. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Transmission slips almost resulting in vehicle collision due to lack of acceleration. | |||
| 08/12/1998 | 1 | 08/01/1998 | |
| The defective automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing the gears to slip, resulting in decreased speed while driving which almost caused an accident. cause unknown. please provide details. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | |||
| 02/05/2008 | 71109 | 3 | 02/10/2001 |
| Tl*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. | |||
| 06/03/1999 | 50000 | 4 | 03/06/1998 |
| I purchased a 1998 dodge durango in march of 1998. the car was brand new with 3 miles on it. the car was excellent until about 52,000 miles. 1st repair, water pump. at about 56,000 transmission rebuild. at about 61,000 heater core, and power steering fluid leaking. at 77,000 transmission rebuild again. at about 80,000 miles, steering wheel started to stiffen up and very difficult to turn wheel they told me i needed a new rack and pinion. durangos do not have rack and pinions, they have gear boxes. at about 94,000 transmission rebuild. at 106,000 trasnmission rebuild and installed a transmission cooler this time around along with an aftermarket transmission gauge which tells me the temp of the trans(price was $125.00 for gauge and wiring). called dodge was like talking to my dog, they said that it wasn't their problem. i swore to all my friends and relatives that the day i buy another chrysler is the day i eat s**t!!! dodge cars and trucks suck, their customer service is crap and i had to spend money $$$ out of my own pocket for repairs alone almost $9,500.00, out of which chrysler kept saying its not our problem. you know when its their problem, when they screw with someone who isn't just joe schmoe walking in to buy a car. someone with a degree in law so that they can royally ge smacked in the face and help all the other unfortunate ones who are stuck with dodge sucks (trucks). whoever wants to buy a dodge, be prepared for a rude awakening. they are going to rape you! *ak | |||
| 07/21/1999 | 1 | 02/15/1998 | |
| Shift indicator replaced, misaligned. mjs | |||
| 12/01/1998 | 1 | 03/05/1998 | |
| The end knob on the shift lever of the transmission became loose and can easily be removed. mjs | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 01/19/2002 | |||
| Vehicle started losing transmission fuel, vehicle stalled out. transfer case had a large crack in it, which was causing fuel to leak out.*ak | |||
| 04/29/2002 | |||
| Transfer case exploded while driving 70 mph. dealer was contacted. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 06/29/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| 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 shows how 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.*ak | |||
| 12/14/1999 | 7 | ||
| 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 indicator jumped out of gear. went to put fog lights, and they failed to operate properly. fog light switch replaced three times, battery and throttle body also replaced. *ak *ml | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH | |||
| 04/01/1998 | 1 | ||
| 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. *ak | |||
| 07/12/2001 | 3 | ||
| A three year old son climbed into vehicle and shifted gear from park to reverse and again from reverse to drive without ever applying brakes. then, shifted again into forward without touching the gas pedal or brake pedal. crashed into the garage. *ak | |||
| 02/20/2001 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 0 | |||
| 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.*ak | |||
| 02/14/2000 | 11/01/1999 | ||
| Reporting 2-year old child was able to shift vehicle out of gear ( from reverse to forward ). vehicle ran into an office building wall. no injuries reported. *ak | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1999 | ||
| Vehicle can be placed in gear from park without applying the brake. this situation could allow unintentional movement of the vehicle and subsequent injury. *ak | |||
| 08/28/1999 | |||
| There is no automatic transmission interlock system in the 1998 durango. a child moved the automatic transmission, and the vehicle rolled away. it caused a crash. *ak | |||
| 05/29/1999 | |||
| Vehicle was 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. *ak | |||
| 07/08/1998 | 1 | 05/30/1998 | |
| Child accidentally moved gear shifter out of park, causing vehicle to go into a lake. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||
| 2 | 08/13/1998 | ||
| Four wheel drive fails to disengage when going from 4th wheel full time to 2nd wheel drive, drive train torque converter problem. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 11/12/2003 | 1 | ||
| 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.*ak | |||
| 08/14/2001 | 38627 | 4 | 07/10/2001 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The rear axle assembly failed and was replaced. *ak *nlm | |||
| 03/19/2001 | |||
| 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 rectify problem. consumer has been arguing that 4- wheel drive never worked. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT | |||
| 07/24/2003 | 1 | 11/01/1999 | |
| Dealer replaced right axle shaft which included lower and upper ball joints. consumer stated vehicle was running without warranty, as result cost $650.00.*ak *ph | |||
| 09/15/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 04/01/1999 | |||
| 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. *ak | |||
| 06/19/2000 | 05/15/2000 | ||
| Vehicle was experiencing loud noise from the rear differential unit. taken to dealer for repairs, and dealer replaced differential ring and pinon and rear axle bearing at consumer's cost. also, dealer noticed that some of the bearings were missing when removed. *ak *ml | |||
| 08/18/1998 | 1 | 11/29/1997 | |
| Transmission out put shaft bearing failed. yh | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - BANJO HOUSING | |||
| 05/20/2001 | 3 | ||
| Whole housing of rear end is defective which eats away the bearings, causing rear end to lock and stop wheels from rolling. dealer contacted.*ak *slc | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 98743 | 1 | 09/25/2004 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 07/18/2003 | 2 | ||
| Consumer has stated that since she has owned the vehicle all lower ball joints have been replaced once. at this time, all upper ball joints and cv boots need to be replaced as well. *ak | |||
| 05/31/2001 | 1 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Spoke to dealer about failure and he claimed this is normal. i do not believe the joints should fail at 37000 to 38000 miles. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||
| 12/15/2005 | 100000 | 2 | |
| 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. | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 68000 | 1 | 05/10/1998 |
| 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 1b4hs28z8wf180844. 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. *jb | |||
| 04/15/1999 | 1 | ||
| 1. seatbelts, housing repeatedly fell down. never replaced, service only pulled it back up and the problem continues 2. all four window regulators replaced prior to recall. now i have one window that will go down. the rest are stuck in the up posiiton. of course, my warranty is up. 3. rear differential went out at 63,000. 3,000 past warranty. 4. all four ball joints are bad. serviceman says unsafe to drive until replaced. still waiting on a recall. 5. passenger front seat cover came apart at seams. service said not covered by warranty. 6. hood latch does not release hood. my vehicle is now parked and not being driven at 80,000. i do not have and will never have another chrysler product in my drive. i bought this vehicle new and took very good care of it. it seems to be falling apart around me. seems i have heard stories about the ball joints, wheels coming off, etc. no one killed yet, but no recall yet either i see. *la | |||
| 08/15/2003 | 88000 | 1 | 01/30/1998 |
| Defective rear-end of the vehicle including the ring and pinion of the differential. dodge durango 1998. *ak | |||
| 10/14/2003 | 80000 | 2 | 04/04/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 08/02/2003 | |||
| 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. | |||
| 08/12/2003 | 41609 | 1 | 02/15/2002 |
| While driving, the vehicle had a high pitch squeaking noise. this was caused by a failure in the rear end. *ak the front rotor disk, ring gear and pinion was replaced. *scc *jb | |||
| 04/19/2003 | 94000 | 07/22/1998 | |
| 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. | |||
| 01/31/2003 | 52000 | 1 | 04/14/1999 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 4 | 11/01/2001 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 07/03/2002 | 1 | 07/01/1999 | |
| Pinion shaft broke while driving, causing rear end to lock up. gear busted, and there was a hole in rear end.*ak the gears broke and put a hole in the bottom of rear end. *yh | |||
| 05/11/2002 | 1 | 12/01/2097 | |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 05/11/2002 | 1 | ||
| While on the highway, vehicle's differential freezes and is unable to move forward or backwards.*ak 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 | |||
| 11/13/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| 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. | |||
| 09/15/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 11/24/1999 | 1 | 10/01/1999 | |
| 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. | |||
| 08/14/2001 | 07/01/2001 | ||
| 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 pinion gar had cracked, and rear needs to be replaced.*ak | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 1 | 03/01/1999 | |
| 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. | |||
| 02/15/2000 | 3 | 05/01/1998 | |
| 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. | |||
| 11/11/2000 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| 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. | |||
| 06/19/2000 | 05/15/2000 | ||
| Vehicle was experiencing loud noise from the rear differential unit. taken to dealer for repairs, and dealer replaced differential ring and pinon and rear axle bearing at consumer's cost. also, dealer noticed that some of the bearings were missing when removed. *ak *ml | |||
| 09/27/1999 | 1 | 02/15/1998 | |
| Rear end noise due to failure of the differential unit/ bearings/ pinion. mjs | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||
| 05/01/2003 | 60000 | 3 | 02/05/1998 |
| 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 been the 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.*ak | |||
| 09/11/2003 | 53000 | 1 | 06/13/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 08/08/2003 | 60000 | 0 | |
| Ball joints casuing undue wear and tear on tire replaced front tire 3 times in 2 years | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that while driving, the rear drive shaft fell off of vehicle. *ph | |||
| 06/26/2003 | 1 | ||
| Suspension, drive train, and front ball joints bad - 1989, dodge, durango. *ak | |||
| 04/19/2003 | 94000 | 07/22/1998 | |
| 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. | |||
| 02/05/2002 | 1 | 11/08/1997 | |
| 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. *ak chrysler was unwilling to assit with the repairs.*slc | |||
| 05/01/2001 | 12/01/1998 | ||
| 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 still there 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. *ak | |||
| 10/06/1998 | 6 | ||
| 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. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 05/31/1998 | |||
| While drivingthe vehicle on a highway at high speed, approximately 70mph. when pushing on the gas pedal, attempting to pass another vehicle, the transmission starts to slip and would not find the higher gear. the transmission failed, and was unable to pass the other vehicles. dealer was notified, and stated it was a normal problem with these vehicles, and cannot duplicate the problem | |||
| 06/15/1998 | 1 | 12/01/1997 | |
| The overdrive failed at 65 mph, the transmission locked up/failed at 30 mph and vehicle skipped to a stop. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | |||
| 12/24/2004 | 117230 | 1 | 03/01/2001 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 07/03/2003 | 81000 | 1 | 02/01/1998 |
| The consumer stated the seal on the transfer case leaked fluid. in addition the rear end disintegrated. dealer notified. *ak consumer stated a trucks rear end shouldn't disintegrate with 81000 miles. *ph *jb | |||
| 04/19/2003 | 94000 | 07/22/1998 | |
| 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. | |||
| 10/16/2000 | 4 | 05/01/1998 | |
| 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. | |||