2003 Dodge Durango Tires & Wheels Problems

HELLO YESTERDAY I LEFT WORK WASN'T IN MY TRUCK FOR 5 MINUTES AND IT STARTED SMOKING WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT AND I SEEN ANTIFREEZE SPRAY EVERYWHERE I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENGINE LOCKED ON ME OR THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN EITHER WAY WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS ALSO BEFORE THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT RAINS MY TRUCK WILL SPIN IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS THE TIRES LOOK GOOD

THE SPARE TIRE WINCH ON MY VEHICLE FAILED AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL TO THE PAVEMENT. IN MY CASE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ALMOST SURELY RESULTED. THE SPARE TIRE ON THESE VEHICLES IS QUITE LARGE AND HEAVY AND COULD CAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IF HIT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SPARE TIRE WINCH USES A STRANDED STEEL CABLE TO LIFT AND LOCK THE SPARE TIRE UP AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLES FRAME. THIS STRANDED STEEL CABLE FAILED RIGHT WHERE IT PASSED THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE RIM. THIS STRANDED STEEL CABLE IS GOING TO FAIL EVENTUALLY ON EVERY DODGE TRUCK THAT USED THIS DESIGN OF WINCH. EVERYONE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. CHRYSLER HAS USED THIS DESIGN IN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE 90S OR BEFORE. IT AMAZES ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE OF THE WINCH. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED MANY INSTANCES OF THE SPARE TIRE FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CABLE FAILING.

HIT A SEVERE BUMP IN ROAD WHICH BROKE THE STEEL CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE CAR BODY. CABLE WAS LIKELY CORRODED. TIRE DISCHARGED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, STRUCK PAVEMENT, AND BOUNCED 15-20 FEET INTO THE AIR REPEATEDLY NEARLY STRIKING THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING ME. LUCKILY TIRE ENDED UP IN DITCH BEFORE CAUSING ACCIDENT. RETAINING CLAMP IS LOST. SUSPECT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS SITUATION EXISTS WITH ANY DURANGO OR DAKOTA OF THIS VINTAGE. *TR

FOUND A FLAT TIRE THIS MORNING AND NOTICED THAT THE FLAT WAS DUE TO THE TIRE WALL SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE MY SUV ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND ALL 4 OF THE TIRES ARE DOING THIS ON AN EVEN SEAM AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2002. THE TIRES ARE PRACTICALLY NEW DUE TO THE ABOUT OF TREAD LEFT ON THEM. I FEEL THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE TIRES COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. *TR

2003 DODGE DURANGO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LUG NUTS STAMPED STAINLESS COVER. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHREDDED. ALL OF THE LUG NUTS CAME OFF, EXCEPT ONE. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE LUG WRENCH, TO BREAK IT LOOSE, THE STAMPED STAINLESS DECORATIVE CAP TWISTED OFF. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET IT BACK INTO PLACE, SO THAT THE 19MM LUG WRENCH WOULD WORK. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL OF THE LUG NUTS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTF, SIZE P26570R16 TIRES. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR PRESSURE WAS EXTREMELY LOW AT 32 PSI. SHE ALSO NOTICED DARK CIRCLES AROUND THE TIRES WHERE THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND THE SIDEWALL WAS SPLITTING. SHE HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE FOUR YEARS OLD, THE TREAD LIFE EXPIRED AND THE TIRES WOULD NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. IN DEC. 2006 THE ORIGINAL TIRES WALLS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE TREAD TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE RING AROUND THE TIRE SHOWING THE TREADS. I HAD TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE OF TREAD WEAR TO REPLACE THE TIRES AFTER ARGUING WITH A GOODYEAR DEALER. ON AUG. 3 2007, I WAS RIDING ON 495 DOING THE 65 MILE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE TIRE STARTED TO BUBBLE, SMOKE AND THEN PROCEED TO SHRED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHO STARTED TO REFUSE TO REPLACE THE TIRE AT THEIR COST BECAUSE HE SAID THE REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME RECALLED/DEFECTIVE TIRE. I NOW HAVE 5 TIRES THAT ARE STARTING TO HAVE LITTLE BLISTERS ALL OVER THE WALL OF THE TIRES. I AM IN NO POSITION TO PAY TO REPLACE THESE TIRES WITH ANOTHER KIND OR BRAND. I WANT THESE TIRES REPLACED WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO KILL US ONE DAY. OR GIVE ME THE MONEY TO BUY A DIFFERENT BRAND. *JB

TREAD AND WALL SEPARATION ON WRANGLER RTS APROX. 1.5 INCHES FROM TREAD TOP WITH 3/4 TREAD STILL LEFT. COULD SEE PERFECT RING AROUND THE WALL WERE IT WAS SEPARATING AND LEAKING AIR. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACE WITH AN ARGUMENT FROM SEARS BUT WAS REPLACED WITH SAME STYLE AND HAD TO PAY DIFFERENCE IN TREAD WEAR. I AM NOW HAVING TROUBLE WITH THESE WITH ONLY 15000 MILE ON THEM. 1 HAS ALREADY SHREDED ON 495 DOING 65 MPH. *JB

THE CENTER WHEEL CAPS COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAPS DO NOT FIT TIGHT ON THE WHEELS. I CAN REMOVE THE CAPS EASILY ONLY USING MY FINGERS.

I CURRENTY OWN A 2003 DODGE DURANGO, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN NOV 2003. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TROUBLE FROM DAY 1. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACE 3 TIMES, DUE TO PULSATING AND PULLING FROM THE FRONT END. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR CLICKING & POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHICH DEALER CLAIMED ON BOTH OCCASSIONS THEY COULD NOT FIND. DEALER KEEPS STATING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, WHEN IT COMES TO BRAKES WHICH I DON'T COMPREHEND SINCE I'VE OWNED NEW VEH BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. I'VE PAID FOR 2 HIGH SPEED WHEEL BALANCES, AND THE DEALER HAD THE NERVE TO THREATEN ME WITH THE FACT THAT IF VEHICLE WAS RETURNED AGAIN FOR BRAKES I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. ALSO RECENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOUD NOT COME ON OR SHUT OFF ON COMMAND. OFCOURSE AT THE TIME I NEEDED THEM TO VISUALLY SEE THE ROAD SINCE IT WAS RAINING. I CLICKED ON MY RIGHT SIGNAL IN ORDER TO GET OFF THE ROAD ONCE I SAW THE MALFUNCTION OCCURING ONLY TO HAVE THE WINDHSHIELD WIPERS MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO START WORKING. I'VE KEPT A LOG OF EVERY REPAIR SHOP VISIT AND LACK OF REPAIR FINDING BASED ON DEALER ENDS. CHRSYLER NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE I'VE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS.

THE FRONT TIRE ON MY DODGE DURANGO IS MESSED UP. IT GETS STUCK SOMETIMES WHEN I'M TRYING TO TURN. THE SHOP THAT I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE BALL JOINT IN THE FRONT TIRE IS BAD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OF A LOT OF DURANGOS THAT WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT MY TIRES ARE BEING WORN DOWN BECAUSE OF THE TURN OF THE WHEEL. I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW SET OF TIRES ALSO. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR ALL THE THINGS I HAD TO HAVE DONE. I SAW A WEBSITE ABOUT IT SO I DECIDED TO REPORT MINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. PLEASE RECALL THESE VEHICLES SO THE WORLD WON'T LOSE ANY OF IT'S PRECIOUS LIFE. MY KIDS LIVES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART IN MY CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACTS ABOUT TAKING HUGE RISKS BY NOT GETTING ALL THESE DURANGOS FIXED.*AK

THE REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DURANGO WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS THE CENTER CAP ON THE WHEEL IS COMING OFF WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEBODY WAS STEALING THEM BUT I NOW KNOW THAT ISN'T TRUE. AFTER I LOST TWO OF THEM I DECIDED TO CHECK THEM EVERY TIME I GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. YESTERDAY I HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, SO BEFORE I GOT INTO THE CAR I LOOKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TWO CENTER CAPS THAT WERE LEFT WAS STILL IN THEIR PLACES OF WHICH THEY WERE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DOCTOR I CHECKED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WAS MISSING ONE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. I DID NOT STOP ANYWHERE SO I KNOW THAT IT HAD TO COME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I ALSO CALLED THE DEALER PARTS PERSON TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAD REPLACEMENTS AND HOW MUCH THEY WERE AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS BEEN HAVING A RUN ON THEM AND THAT EITHER SOMEBODY MUST BE COLLECTING THEM OR THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. I KNOW THAT SOMEBODY WILL GET HURT BADLY IF THEY GET HIT BY ONE OF THESE, ESPECIALLY IF THE PERSON IS DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE AND AM HOPING THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME OUT. THANKYOU, LARRY OCCHIPINTI (OCCH1@AOL.COM) . *AK

I NOTICED THAT MY RIGHT TIRE WAS LOOSING IT WAS TREAD. I THOUGHT THAT I COULD JUST TAKE IT IN FOR A WHEEL ALLIGNMENT, BUT THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS A WORN OUT UPPER BALL JOINT. IT IS GOING TO COST ME AROUND $800.00 TO FIX IT. I AM OVER ON MY WARRANTY BY 1000 MILES AND WHEN I CALL DAIMLERCHRYSLER THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PENDING INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER, BUT DO NOT OFFER ANY INFORAMTAION. I THEN NOTICED ON THE INTERNET WHERE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND SO MANY OF US OWNERS OF THE DODGE DURANGO THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL INTO THIS MATTER. BALL JOINT PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM UNTIL 100,000 MILES AT LEAST.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX, LT265/75R16, DOT VNW81XY1402. *AK

THE SPARE TIRE WAS SMALLER THAN THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. *PH *TT *JB