NHTSA Complaint #10050999 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

MY WIFE'S 1999 GARAGE-KEPT DURANGO WITH ONLY 25,600 MILES ON IT IS AT THE DODGE DEALER RIGHT NOW HAVING BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. COST ESTIMATE IS $560. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE SUSPENSION INSPECTED BASED LARGELY UPON THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS DEFECT, AND THE INFO I GLEENED FROM THIS USEFULL NHTSA DATABASE. I JUST CALLED THE DODGE CONTACT-US PHONE NUMBER, AND DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAINT. THE POLITE WOMAN TOOK DOWN MY INFO, BUT SHE SAID THAT WAS ALL SHE COULD DO, AND THAT I SHOULD SAVE MY RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS, IN CASE THERE IS A RECALL. I AM AN ENGINEER, AND I AM CONVINCED THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE A 1992 EXPLORER WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. WHILE AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE SHINY NEW 2004 DURANGO ON THE LOT - WHAT A SURPRISE! THE FRONT SUPENSION IS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED, AND LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE SUSPENSION ON THE 99. DODGE NEEDS TO STOP DODGING THEIR EXISTING CUSTOMERS, OR PEOPLE LIKE ME WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THEM. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER WHEN I RECALLED THAT THE FICTITIOUS AL BUNDY'S CAR OF CHOICE WAS A DODGE. TO ALL DURANGO OWNERS: HAVE YOUR SUSPENSION INSPECTED.