NHTSA Complaint #10030726 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

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