NHTSA Complaint #10032899 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I TOOK MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO IN FOR A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE INNER TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN AND WOULD ALSO NEED REPLACEMENT. I WAS EXTREMELY SHOCKED TO HEAR THIS. AT LESS THAN 38000 MILES, THIS SUV SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SUCH A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT. I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN TO SHOW ME WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HE PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME THE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO THIS FAULTY COMPONENT. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY THERE WAS NO GREASE FITTING ON MUCH OF THE FRONT END, HE REPLIED "THATS THE WAY DODGE DESIGNS EM" AND LEFT IT AT THAT. I OPTED TO PERFORM THE WORK MYSELF SO AS TO SAVE THE OUTRAGEOUS LABOR CHARGES HERE IN CALIFORNIA, AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT A HIGHER QUALITY PART WAS INSTALLED THAT INCLUDED GREASE FITTINGS. SHORTLY AFTER I COMPLETED THE REPAIRS, I BEGAN SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER DURANGO OWNERS. ALSO TO MY SURPRISE, I FOUND A SUSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THIS SUV, AND ALSO FOR MODELS OF OTHER YEARS. ANY AUTO MANUFACTURER WHO INSTALLS NON GREASABLE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ON AN SUV DESIGNED TO GO OFFROAD IS SIMPLY ENGAGING IN COST CUTTING MEASURES AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVES. I BELIEVE THAT MY WIFE,FAMILY AND I WERE LUCKY THAT THIS ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED EARLY AND THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. ADDITIONALLY, I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY A TECHNICIAN WOULD EVEN INSPECT THE FRONT END ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A SIMPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. UNLESS THE TECHNICIAN EXPECTED THE DAMAGE AND NOTING THE MILAGE ON THE TRUCK, SIMPLY INSPECTED THE COMPONENTS ON HIS OWN, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD OCCUR OTHERWISE.*AK