2000 Dodge Durango Complaint Log

FRONT LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF CAUSING CRASH AND COLLISION INTO GUARD RAIL, $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE STILL WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM DODGE. *AK

THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED BOTH THE LOWER AND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED SINCE THE DEALER HAD NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS A FOUR MONTH WAITING LIST. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 65 MPH CAR STALLED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES AS WELL. SHE THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD COMING TO A STOP.*AK

THE FRONT BALL JOINT IS MAKING NOISES AND BLACK LOOKING SOOT ON TIRE RIMS. *JB

2000 DODGE DURANGO - DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING UPPER BALL JOINTS. DEALERS OPINION IS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, DODGE HAS BEEN REVIEWING A PRODUCT RECALL ON THE DURANGO BALL JOINTS. THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.*AK

2000 DODGE DURANGO - DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING UPPER BALL JOINTS. DEALERS OPINION IS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, DODGE HAS BEEN REVIEWING A PRODUCT RECALL ON THE DURANGO BALL JOINTS. THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.*AK

(1) DRIVING VEHICLE, NORMAL SPEED, CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS (2) UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED, ALLOWING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO COME FALL OUSIDE THE VEHICLE. FAILURE CAUSED LACK OF STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE UNTIL STOPPED. DAMAGE AFFECTED ALL RELATED PARTS OUTSIDE OF FRAME INCLUDING ABS SENSOR, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, TIRE WHEEL, WHEEL BERRINGS, AXEL, DRIVE SHAFT, BRAKE LINE, LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING ARM, ETC. (3) ALL COMPONENTS REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE HAD MY FRONT BRAKES REPAIRED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND THE ARE OUT AGAIN MY GRAND CARAVAN ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES AND IS A 2000 I ALSO HAVE TO REPAIR MY INGNITION ON SOME THING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT KICK OVER AND I REPLACED THE RELAY FUSE AND THATS NOT THE PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS OUT OF SUCH A NEW CAR THATS NOT DROVEN THAT MUCH. I ALSO HAVE TO GET THE REAR BRAKES DONE BECAUSE THERE GOING OUT TO. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU MS UDARBE

WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT. THE WHEEL, HUB, AND BEARING CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO SLUMP OVER. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED. HOWEVER, THE SAME NOISE COULD STILL BE HEARD. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. *TC

WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

BALL JOINTS FAILURE. CONTROL ARM REPLACED WITH POLYURETHANE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *TC *JB

FRONT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. ON SOME OCCASIONS, DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT AND BEYOND THE 15 MPH. WILL TRY TO LOCK (EVIDENT WITH THE NOISE), BUT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN CHECKED. *NM

RECALL CAMPAIGN' DODGE DURANGO 2000 UPPER BALL JOINTS DEFECT. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED FOR NHTSA TO HELP INDUCE THE RECALL REPAIR PROCESS. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THIRTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAINIER DODGE OF OLYMPIA (2550 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502; (360) 754-5550) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT END COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT FRONT WHEELS SEPARATED. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT 35 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *TC

CONSUMER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS IN AUGUST 2003. AS OF TODAY PASSENEGER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS FRUSTRATED. *AK *TT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, THE ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING AND THE NEEDLE OF THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT. THE TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES WERE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE STEERING TIGHTENED AS THE KNOCKING BEGAN AND THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED. ON EACH OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC. THE MANIFOLD, OIL PAN AND VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE REPLACED ONCE AND SLUDGE BUILD UP WAS CLEANED OUT TWICE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY AFTER 58,000 MILES, JUST UNDER 5 YEARS OF USE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY FOR ALL RECOMMENDED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PER VEHICLE HANDBOOK. IN ADDITION, IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR TRANSMISSION CHECK-UP ONCE DURING THE FIRST 36,000 MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. I STILL FELT THERE WAS A PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO TRANSMISSION SEEMED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING.

WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THREE OUT OF FOUR WINDOWS...AND I AM THE ONLY DRIVER/OPERATOR! NOW THE LEFT REAR WINDOW IS NOT WORKING AGAIN AND OF COURSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SO IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A WINDOW THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED!*AK

FAULTY BALL JOINTS PUT ON VEHICLE, BY MANUFACTURER, AFTER WEAR SUV TIRES LEAN, ALSO CAUSES WHERE ON CONTROL ARMS. *NM

TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING. I ONLY HAD 49000 MILES ON MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO WHEN I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT STOPPED SHIFTING. LOST ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM. *AK PER TRANSMISSION SHOP IN THE AREA AND ALL OVER THE USA THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 518 TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A CHECK VALUE IN THE COOLER LINE THAT WILL PUG UP AND CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO OVER HEAT AND BURN OUT THE CLUCH. DODGE KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE REPLACED MANY TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRENTY. WENT THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACE THEY PUT IN AN UPGRADE KIT FOR THE COOLING LINE AND THE VALUE IS TAKEN OUT PER DODGES INSTRUTIONS. THE TORK CONVERTOR IS REPLACED WITH A NEW STILE THAT DOES NOT FLOT AND DOES NOT PUT MENTAL PATRS INTO THE FLUEDED THAT PLUGS THE CHECK VALUE. THE ONLY GOOD THING THERE IS THAT I WAS NOT IN CHICAGO OR SOME OTHER BIG CITY DURRING RUSH HOUR. OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BIG TROUBLE WITH NO WAY TO GET OFF THE ROAD.

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO THAT HAS 109,000 MILES. TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, MY TRANSMISSION DROPPED FROM 5TH GEAR TO 1ST/2ND GEAR CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE ENDING UP IN THE MEDIAN. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP IN TOPEKA, THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID (WHICH I WAS TOLD USUALLY GOES OUT AROUND 100,000 MILES)(I BELIEVE THIS WAS THE PART, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT CONTROLLED ALL SHIFTING BASED ON PRESSURES INSIDE THE HOUSING) AND TOLD ME THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. LESS THAN 80 MILES AFTER RECEIVING THIS SERVICE, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65 MPH. I, AGAIN, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, INITIALLY WEST-BOUND, AND ENDED UP NEARLY GETTING IMPACTED ON MY PASSENGER SIDE BY AN 18 WHEELER BEFORE COMING TO REST IN THE EAST-BOUND DITCH. THIS TIME, THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE TOPEKA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE "OLD TRANSMISSION" MINUS ANY PARTS THAT REQUIRED A CORING FEE (THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE THESE PARTS, EVEN AFTER OFFERING TO PAY THE CORING FEE). THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT PART WAS A TEMPORARY FIX AND "COULD HAVE LASTED UP TO 2 YEARS, BUT FOR YOU IT ONLY LASTED 1 WEEK." *NM

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHEN TURINING MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO I HEARD A POPING NOISE, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ON 10/27/04 MY BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND THAT THE WHOLE STERRING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, I THEN CALLED DODGE THEY ADVISED THE SAME. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE REPAIR WILL COST $1200.00, THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 48,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND THE CBS NEWS REPORT IT SEEMS THAT DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED.*AK

ON OCTOBER 26TH AT APPROXIMATELY 3:40PM MY WIFE, CARRYING OUR SIX CHILDREN, WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 DODGE DURANGO ON CHICAGO'S LAKE SHORE DRIVE WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL POPPED OFF. FORTUNATELY THERE WHER NO INJURIES RELATED TO THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN. OUR DURANGO HAS LESS THAN 75,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY DODGE DURANGOS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER, NEITHER DODGE NOR THE NHTSA HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIP IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, RADIO INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE CLOCK SPRING, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHJILE PARKED ANTIFREEZE SPOT STARTED SHOWING UP UNDER THE DODGE DURANGO 2000. REPAIR SHOP FOUND 8 FREEZE PLUGS LEAKING ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 61,250 MILES ON IT.

10/8/04 DROVE VEHICLE FOR APPROX 4 MILES TODAY, EVERYTHING NORMAL AS COULD BE. LEAVING A PARKING SPOT WITH LIMITED CLEARANCE, REQUIRING A FULL TURN-TO-LOCK ON THE STEERING WHEEL, UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE FRONT AXLE (4WD), AND SEPARATION OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR OTHER INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE. *NM

SINCE PURCHASING THE DURANGO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE LIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, YOU HAVE 3 CHOICES: GET OFF THE ROAD; TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS; FLICK THE LIGHTS AND HOPE THAT THEY COME ON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH AND THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT GO AT ALL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB

MY COMPLAINT IS SIMPLY THAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR AGENCY HASN'T ORDERED A RECALL CONCERNING DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS ON 2000 DODGE DURANGOS, AND DURANGOS OF OTHER MODEL YEARS SO AFFECTED. THESE DEFECTS ARE HIGHLY DANGEROUS, AND HIGHLY COSTLY TO OWNERS. YOUR INACTION IS SIMPLY FACILITATING DAIMLER CHRYSLER'S CYNICAL POLICY OF IGNORING THE ISSUE AND HOPING THAT IT BLOWS OVER. IN THE ABSENCE OF A RECALL ORDER, I FAIL TO SEE HOW YOUR AGENCY IS PROTECTING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS. *NM

VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TWO BACK DOOR LOCKS. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED TWICE. BUT EVERY TIME THE LOCKS WERE REPLACED THE DOORS STILL WERE UNABLE TO LOCK.*AK....DEALER REPLACED LATCHES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND CHANGING LANES CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHEEL WAS TITLED OUTWARD. *AK

WE PURCHASED OUR 2000 DODGE INTREPID 2.7L WITH 92,936 MILES. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH ONCE WE HIT 100,000 MILES THEN THE CAR TURNED TO JUNK. A BLOWN ENGINE! WE'VE BEEN AROUND AND AROUND WITH OUR OHIO ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER WITH NO LUCK! SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE TOLD US THAT AFTER 100,000 MILES THE INTREPID IS JUNK! WE CAN'T EVEN PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE JUNK YARD HAS BEEN OUT OF THEM AND CAN'T KEEP THEM IN STOCK BECAUSE OF HIGH DEMAND AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE IS A BACK LOG OF ORDERS FOR ENGINES. NOW IF THIS DOESN'T TELL YOU THERE'S A PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES. THE LAST MECHANIC SAID HE WAS PRETTY SURE THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TAKING PLACE IN REGARDS TO THE 2.7 L ENGINES. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER"SEHICLE WANDERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY, THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND, MADE A LEFT HAND CUT GOING INTO A DITCH AND HITTING A TREE. THERE WERE INJURIES. THE CONSUMER HAD A BROKEN RIGHT LEG. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

CONSUMER HAD PLACED KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, WITHOUT WARNING, AND HIT A TREE. VEHICLE WAS STILL IN PARK POSITION WHEN ACCELERATION OCCUR. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE CO. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE ESCALATED LOUDER AND LOUDER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWNN SHIFTED ON ITS ON. TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

ON SEPT. 17, 2004, I TOOK MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO TO THE NORM REEVES DEALERSHIP IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA, FOR SOME WARRANTY WORK AND A 60,000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED NEW BRAKES, AND I AUTHORIZED THIS SERVICE. I LATER GOT A CALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED SERVICE. WHILE THIS SERVICE WAS BEING PERFORMED, APPARENTLY THE LEFT FRONT SPINDLE CAME OUT WHEN THE CALIPER BOLT WAS BEING REMOVED. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WHEELS COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF. THESE TWO REPAIRS CAME TO NEARLY $1,000.00. MY QUESTION IS: IS ANY OF THIS RELATED TO THE BALL JOINT MOISTURE LEAK THAT WAS RECENTLY PUBLICIZED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION? IF SO, HOW SHOULD I ATTEMPT TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR DODGE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE! I AM A SINGLE PARENT, AND FEEL I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE I HAVE NO AUTOMOTIVE KNOWLEDGE. *JB

THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2000 DURANGO ARE SHOWING PREMATURE WEAR. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FIXING THIS. DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT IT PUTS ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER BY DRIVING IT, BUT THEY HAVE NOT WARNED ME OF THIS PROBLEM, NOR DOES THEIR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE INDICATE THAT THESE PARTS NEED INSPECTION AT ANY GIVEN INTERVAL. *JB

I HAD NOTIICE FOR SOME TIME THAT MY VEHICLE , A 2000 DURANGO HAD AN UNUSUSAL NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT ALONG WITH A "LOOSE" FEEL WHEN DRIVING ,ESPECIALLY WHEN ON A CURVE OR BUMPY ROAD. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT AND THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. I HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURANCE FOR THE VEHICLE SO THAT PAID FOR MOST OF THE REPLACEMENT COST BUT THAT DID NOT PAY ANYTHING FOR THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT REQUIRED AFTER THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. IT SEEMS REALLY UNUSUSUL THAT BALL JOINTS WHICH REQUIRE NO LUBRICATION AND CAN NOT BE LUBRICATED WOULD DETERIORATE SO RAPIDLY IN JUST 40000 MILES OF NORMAL OPERATION. AT THE TIME I ALSO WONDERED WHY THEY IMMEDIATELY DECIDED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE BUT I SEE FROM THE NEWS NOW THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS HAD A GOOD INDICATION THAT THEY DID HAVE A PROBLEM AND JUST HOPED TO KEEP ME QUIET. *AK

OUR 2000 DODGE DURANGO WITH JUST OVER 36,000 MILES BLEW ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN LEAVING US STRANDED. THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE CAME DOWN AND ARE TRYING TO BLAME IT ON US, SAYING WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE OIL ENOUGH, (THAT'S RIDICULOUS) WE DID CHANGE THE OIL, BUT EVEN IF WE HADN'T IT SHOULDN'T MAKE THE ENGINE BLOW, IT MIGHT MAKE IT RUN LIKE CRAP, IT WASN'T REALLY DOING THAT EITHER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, IT TURNS OUT IT IS A PART IN THE OIL PUMP THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN 98,99, AND 2000 MODELS BEFORE THEY EXTENDED THE FACTORY WARRANTY IN LATER MODELS. DO THEY REALLY EXPECT PEOPLE WITH THESE PROBLEMS TO BUY A NEW MOTOR FOR 6,000, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF IT!!!! OUR DURANGO IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. CHRYSLER IS TRYING TO IGNORE US, TO TRADE FOR A NEW VEHICLE, WE WILL LOSE AROUND 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS AND OUR PAYMENTS WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE THEN WE CAN REALLY AFFORD. WE STILL OWE $14,000 ON THAT PIECE OF CRAP. THEY NEED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY LIKE VOLKSWAGEN AND TOYOTA DID WHEN THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR MODELS, OR DO SOMETHING!!!! THANK YOU. *AK

SEPTEMBER 12, I WENT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE TIE ROD END CAME UNHOOKED FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. THE THREADS ON THE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED OUT. WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP WENT TO LOOSEN THE OTHER TIE ROD IT DISINTEGRATED. THEY COMMENTED THAT WE WERE REAL LUCKY IT HAD COME APART. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MILE TO WARRANT THE NEEDED REPAIRS. *NM

I NOTICED THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I THEN INFORMED MY HUSBAND AND HE CONTACTED A MECHANIC TO COME TO THE HOUSE, THE MECHANIC DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE ENGINE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WELL, ON MY WAY BACK FROM LUNCH (SEPTEMBER 2004) THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS BEGINNING TO LOSE POWER. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOOK THE ENGINE APART AND FOUND SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED UP TO ENGINE FAILURE. I RELIGIOUSLY HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND EVEN HAD A MASTER MECHANIC DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE ENGINE BEFORE THE FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER 2004 AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENT. I AM HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED FOR AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN IN A COUPLE MORE WEEK. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! REGARDS, RITA CANTU, INITIAL SECURITY ADMIN. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE MOTOR SLUDGE AT THE BASE OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED, SUCH AS, PROPER OIL CHANGES, TUNE UPS, ETC. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE THE SLUDGE WAS DISCOVERED. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY COMPANY SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE SAME DEFECTS. *AK

BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES A NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEGAN. OVER TIME THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WHICH FAILED WITH ONLY APPOXIMATELY 49,000 MILES ON A 2000 DODGE DURANGO. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH DURANGOS. BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED.*AK