NHTSA Complaint #10030558 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

THE STEERING, SUSPENSION, AND WHEELS SUCK!!! ON MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO.N FEB. 15, 2003 WHILE DRIVING MY DURANGO, IT TOTALLY LOST CONTROL, CAUSING ME TO SIDE SWIPE ONE CAR, THEN CAUSE DAMAGE TO A SECOND AND THIRD CAR. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN. WITH FOUR CHILDREN I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. IF I COULD GET OUT OF MY CONTRACT WITH DODGE AND TRADE IT IN FOR A SAFER SUV, I WOULD. WHEN RIDING I CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCE MY REAR WHEELS SLIDING TO MY RIGHT; THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHENEVER I RIDE OVER POT HOLES OR BUMPS IN THE STREET, WHICH IS PRACTICALLY EVEY COUPLE DOZEN FEET IN THE CITY. MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO IS SO UNSATISFYING. PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING MY DODGE, I WAS THE OWNER OF NOT ONE, BUT TWO TOYOTA CAMRY'S. I MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO GO BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO PURCHASE AN SUV. INSTEAD, AS A TOKEN OF MY APPRECIATION TO MY COUNTRY. I THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO PURCHASE AN AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE; YOU KNOW, KEEP THE MONEY AT HOME. EVERY DAY I QUESTIONED THAT THEORY. USUALLY I'M NOT THIS HARSH OF A PERSON, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY; WELL, I GET PRETTY PISSED. WE LIMIT OUR LONG DISTANCE TRAVELING TIME. I TOTALLY DO NOT DRIVE WHEN ITS RAINING, UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. ON HIGHWAYS I DRIVE AT LEAST 5-10 MILES UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT; FOR FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL. AND TO TOP THINGS OFF I HAVE THIS GRINDING TYPE NOISE UP AND AROUND MY AXLE THING; THAT NO ONE AT THE TWO DODGE REPAIR GARAGES SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS EXACTLY. I HAD MY BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWICE. ONE MONTH AFTER I GOT BRAND NEW BRAKES PUT ON, THEY STARTED TO SQUEAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MAJORITY OF DODGE SUV'S BRAKES SQUEAK, ITS JUST HOW THE MANUFACTURERS MAKE THEM; GO FIGURE. *AK