Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||||
| 191297 | 11/21/1997 | 6088969 | Concerns with clunk/rattle felt in steering column/wheel. *nlm | 01/11/2000 | |
| 190298 | 04/17/1998 | 600761 | Complaints with clicking noise coming from steering column shroud when gear selector is operated. *yc | 06/05/1998 | |
| 190298 | 02/27/1998 | 600374 | Clicking sound coming from the steering column shroud when the gear selector is operated. *yc | 05/12/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 06/18/2009 | 130000 | 1 | |
| 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. *tr | |||
| 12/11/2008 | 123000 | 1 | |
| 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! *tr | |||
| 12/03/2005 | 1 | 10/21/2000 | |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 12/13/2004 | 10/17/2004 | ||
| 1998 durangos should be recalled also they all have the same ball joints as the others in the recall | |||
| 12/27/2001 | 71000 | 2 | 02/11/1998 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 45000 | 1 | 03/20/1998 |
| Nar 9-8-03. excessive movement in steering. excessive amount of noise in suspension front ball joints. dealer was notified *cb | |||
| 03/17/2004 | 4 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 1 | ||
| 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. *nm | |||
| 11/05/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 11/09/2001 |
| 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 | |||
| 05/01/2003 | 36000 | 1 | 04/16/1998 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 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 | |||
| 11/13/2002 | 133000 | 1 | 01/01/2000 |
| Front end had to be replaced because of loose steering. dealer notified. *ak both control arms and bearings were replaced. *ph *jb | |||
| 02/01/2003 | 47000 | 2 | |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 10/01/2001 | 1 | 08/01/1998 | |
| Consumer notices a banging noise coming from engine. vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed no cooling. engine needed to be replaced. *ak 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. *yh | |||
| 08/01/1998 | 0 | ||
| After vehicle was running about 10-15 minutes and was shut off, the vehicle started to roll backwards and down a slight incline-, hitting a carport. *ak | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 04/13/1999 | 6000 | 4 | 10/25/1997 |
| Dt: owner complained about several 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 to be replaced. these has been ongoing issues with this vehicle since consumer owned it. consumer dealt with dealership and manufacturer, but chrysler refused to help since there was no recall. chrysler was very rude and hung up on the consumer. *ak | |||
| 02/10/2005 | 55000 | 1 | 01/25/1999 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 08/06/2004 | 0 | 04/04/1998 | |
| Noise in steering column, sounds like something is loose or broken! durango has been to dodge dealer twice for correction, not repaired! *nm | |||
| 05/21/2004 | 3 | 01/10/1998 | |
| 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? *ak | |||
| 1 | 06/01/2001 | ||
| While driving a very loud clicking and popping sound was coming from the front end when making left or right turns. took vehicle to the dealer. dealer stated steering column was causing the popping and clicking noise. *ak *la | |||
| 01/03/2004 | 74000 | 1 | |
| Consumer complained that there was too much play in the steering column. consumer had to constantly adjust the bearings to keep going straight. *ak | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 34160 | 1 | 04/04/1998 |
| Intermediate steering column failure | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | |||
| 07/15/1998 | 10/15/1997 | ||
| Vehicle will not start due to security system alarm failure caused bt defective computer. | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 59298 | 1 | 03/20/2000 |
| Tl*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 *bf the consumer stated on april 10, 2003 had to replace both rear window regulators. updated 05/05/08 *tr | |||
| 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 | |||
| 12/04/2003 | 42000 | 1 | |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 11/04/2003 | 70000 | 1 | 04/15/1998 |
| Ball joint and steering box failures on a 1998 dodge durango with 70,000 miles. *la | |||
| 01/14/2003 | 86991 | 1 | 04/15/1998 |
| 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. *ak *nlm | |||
| 05/05/2003 | 45000 | 1 | 02/01/1998 |
| Excessive steering wheel play; requring early replacement of front suspension parts including, tie rods, steering arm linkages, steering gear, etc.*ak | |||
| 03/30/2001 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Loss of steering control while driving 30-35 mph;. vehicle towed to dealer, and informed consumer of a lower steering shaft failure. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed. nlm | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 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 | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 05/21/2001 | 1 | 07/01/2000 | |
| A mounting bolt for 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. | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 129000 | 5 | 03/15/1998 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 10/01/2001 | 1 | 08/01/1998 | |
| Consumer notices a banging noise coming from engine. vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed no cooling. engine needed to be replaced. *ak 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. *yh | |||
| 08/18/2000 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| 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 less than 10 months!!!*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed. nlm | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - ARM - IDLER AND ATTACHMENT | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 129000 | 5 | 03/15/1998 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 07/31/2003 | 65000 | 1 | 09/16/2001 |
| Upper and lower ball joints have failed at 65000 miles on 98' dodge durango. also had to replace pitman and idler arms. *jb | |||
| 08/07/2003 | 1 | 06/01/2001 | |
| 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. *ph the fuel pump assembly malfunctioned which caused the vehicle not to start. *ph *jb | |||
| 04/25/2003 | 1 | ||
| The upper control arms, ball joints, and idler on my 1998 dodge durango with 38,000 miles were severely 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.*ak | |||
| 05/05/2003 | 45000 | 1 | 02/01/1998 |
| Excessive steering wheel play; requring early replacement of front suspension parts including, tie rods, steering arm linkages, steering gear, etc.*ak | |||
| 85000 | 1 | ||
| When making a left or right turn there is a grinding noise in the driver's side front wheel. took vehicle to dealer, and dealer stated that upper & lower ball joints were defective due to rust. also, idler arm was replaced. however, none of the fixes corrected the problem.*ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - KNUCKLE - SPINDLE - ARM | |||
| 11/16/2004 | 3 | 11/01/1999 | |
| While driving approximately 5-10 mph the right front wheel shook. 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 knuckle separated, and the suspension moved. mechanic indicated that this was causing the shaking problem. vehicle would need to be lubricated every 2-3 months.*ak after having the vehicle serviced the consumer stated that the left side began having the same problem. *tc | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 129000 | 5 | 03/15/1998 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - ROD - RELAY - CONNECTING | |||
| 07/28/2003 | 1 | ||
| 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.*ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 06/19/2006 | 107778 | 1 | 08/01/2005 |
| 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. *nm | |||
| 03/13/2006 | 69100 | 1 | 03/18/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 08/09/2005 | 66000 | 4 | 05/15/1998 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 48000 | 2 | |
| The consumers 1998 durango needed both front and rear upper and lower ball joint replacement . *bf 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 | |||
| 08/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| All of the vehicle's ball joints had to be replaced. *nm 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 . the right inner tie rod assembly was replaced. *tc *jb | |||
| 06/24/2003 | 68202 | 1 | 02/27/1998 |
| 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. *ak 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 bushings 2.) possible consequences of not determining the problem prior to failure ? unsafe operation or life threatening accident due to steering failure correction: 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. | |||
| 02/01/2004 | 95000 | 1 | 12/23/1997 |
| Both upper ball joints had to be replaced due to wear.*ak upper and lower control arms as well as the inner tie rods were worn and were replaced. *tt | |||
| 12/04/2004 | 50000 | 2 | |
| Intermittently vehicle made a clanking noise while driving under normal conditions . vehicle was taken to a dealership for inspection, who indicated that 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. *ak | |||
| 07/22/2004 | 62000 | 2 | |
| Tie rod ends and driver side balljoint remature 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.*ak | |||
| 06/08/2004 | 35486 | 2 | 02/18/1999 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/14/2003 | 2 | ||
| 1998 dodge durango with bad upper and lower ball joints due to the bad ball joints the tierod is now warped.*ak | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 42000 | 8 | 11/26/2003 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 05/24/2004 | 1 | 09/10/2000 | |
| 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. | |||
| 05/20/2004 | 72995 | 1 | |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 120000 | 2 | ||
| 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 replaced the dealer refused to replace the ball joints free of charge.*ak | |||
| 07/08/2002 | 35165 | 1 | |
| The consumer had to replace both left and right ball joints and tie rods due to premature wear. *ph a faulty intake gasket caused an oil leak. the consumer notified the manufacturer and requested reimbursement. the consumer was denied reimbursement. *nm *sc *jb | |||
| 04/11/2004 | 60000 | 6 | 01/04/2002 |
| 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. | |||
| 03/18/2004 | 1 | ||
| Consumer took vehicle to dealer for an alignment, and was told that an alignment could not be done because vehicle needed upper and lower ball joints. consumer stated that tie rod in upper left arm was replaced. consumer had not yet had a problem with vehicle, but was told that the 1999 model was being recalled for ball joints. *ak | |||
| 02/03/2004 | 70000 | 1 | 09/12/1998 |
| 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. *ak the dealer also stated the tie rods needed to be replaced. *jb | |||
| 03/08/2004 | 94000 | 2 | 09/20/2001 |
| Upon replacement of the tires dealership 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. *ak *nm | |||
| 65000 | 2 | ||
| Consumer complained about ball joints and tie rod problems. while pulling out of the driveway front right wheel came off the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2003 | 67000 | 2 | 09/14/2002 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 05/22/2001 | 64000 | 4 | 10/01/1998 |
| Upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice. also control arms, upper arms on booth sides were replaced twice since ownership of the vehicle.*ak replacement of tie rods were also made on vehicle. *la | |||
| 12/10/2002 | 40000 | 2 | 10/20/2000 |
| 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 tires front 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 wheel has to install new thermostat gasket. *jb | |||
| 03/27/2003 | 68402 | 2 | 08/01/1998 |
| Tie rod ends and both lower ball joints failed. *ak prior to the ball joint failure the vehicle could not be balanced or aligned properly. *nm | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 129000 | 5 | 03/15/1998 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 10/03/2003 | 45311 | 1 | 04/29/1998 |
| 1998 dodge durango 45,311 miles needed upper and lower ball joints and inner tie rods replaced. *la | |||
| 11/01/2003 | 1 | 01/07/2001 | |
| Bad front end parts on 1998 dodge durango.*ak | |||
| 10/31/2003 | 73000 | 1 | 04/08/1998 |
| Two lower ball joints and two tie rods had to be replaced in my 1998 dodge durango. *la | |||
| 10/06/2003 | 70000 | 1 | 03/01/1998 |
| Tie rods & ball joints already needed to be replaced on the vehicle. *la | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving at low speeds noise 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. *ak | |||
| 06/01/2003 | 51000 | 2 | 04/01/1998 |
| Bad ball joints and tie rod ends. *nlm | |||
| 08/01/2003 | 74615 | 1 | |
| 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.*ak *ts | |||
| 08/07/2003 | 1 | 06/01/2001 | |
| 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. *ph the fuel pump assembly malfunctioned which caused the vehicle not to start. *ph *jb | |||
| 11/28/2001 | 65 | 1 | 03/01/1998 |
| 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 bearing replaced. all total i 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 vehicle continued to need repairs. *ak | |||
| 05/05/2003 | 45000 | 1 | 02/01/1998 |
| Excessive steering wheel play; requring early replacement of front suspension parts including, tie rods, steering arm linkages, steering gear, etc.*ak | |||
| 07/26/2003 | 1 | 08/23/2001 | |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 06/18/2003 | 62000 | 4 | 06/10/1998 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| 110936 | 1 | 08/21/2001 | |
| The upper ball joints, wheel bearing and tie rod needed to be replaced because they were loose, per dealership.*ak *ph *jb | |||
| 3000 | 5 | ||
| 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 experienced electrical problems, because the back brake light continued to blow out. *ak the front hub bearings and seals were replaced. *jb | |||
| 1 | 10/20/2001 | ||
| 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.*ak there was continued squeaking in the front end. sway bar and tie rods were replaced. *ph | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 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 steering needed replacing. *ak | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - PINION SHAFT | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 129000 | 5 | 03/15/1998 |
| 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. *ak | |||
| 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 | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK | |||
| When turning right or left vehicle makes noise. this is due to a faulty steering rack. dealer says steering rack needs to be replaced. *ak | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 04/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| Consumer states since she has purchased her truck, she has had steering wheel was off set. mr | |||
| 08/12/2002 | |||
| While driving on highway and when brakes are applied or vehicle hits a bump 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. | |||
| 05/01/2098 | |||
| 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. *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. | |||
| While traveling noticed steering wheel making a poping noise. dealer was contacted, and replaced steering column and coupling. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 12/26/2000 | 1 | ||
| Steering column failed. *slc | |||
| 1 | |||
| Steering gear idler, arm steering link and steering coupler shaft failed. nlm | |||
| 05/01/1999 | 1 | 07/21/1998 | |
| When making a turn vehicle would feel like it was losing control . owner took vehicle to the dealer and was advised that the ball joints were bad, the box in the steering column was cracked. manufacturer has been notified. *yc | |||