NHTSA Complaint #10055213 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE PURCHASED USED WHEN APPROXIMATELY ONE (1) YEAR OLD, A 1999 DODGE DURANGO, 4-WHEEL DRIVE 5.2L ENGINE, HAS A FAILED POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE SYMPTOM OF FAILURE IS BEST CHARACTERIZED AS AN OVER BOOST. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON ICE, OR IS JACKED, ENGINE RUNNING AND THE STEERING IS TURNED WITH MODERATE FORCE 2 TO THREE INCHES IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROTATION THE STEERING WHEEL WILL CONTINUE TO TURN FOR UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF A REVOLUTION WITHOUT FURTHER INPUT. THE DEFECT IS MORE PRONOUNCED TO THE LEFT, THAN THE RIGHT. SHORTLY BEFORE VEHICLE REACHED THE END OF WARRANTY MILEAGE (36K MILES) VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP (PENSKE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE 4505 WEST 96TH STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46268 PHONE: 317-872-6200). AMONG THE REQUESTED WORK ITEMS WAS THE SLIGHT RESISTANCE (OR POP) JUST RIGHT OF CENTER WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. IN LATE 2003, AFTER THE REPORTS OF BALL JOINT FAILURES ON DODGE DURANGO'S I ELECTED TO CLOSELY INSPECT THE BALL JOINTS AND FOUND SOME WEAR. THE WEAR WAS NOT TO THE DODGE DURANGO MANUAL LIMIT, BUT I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WEAR, AND THE WEAR PATTERN EVIDENT ON THE FRONT TIRES. ALL FOUR (4) BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH MOOG PARTS JUST PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS 2003. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE FOR ALIGNMENT (FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTERS 8583 MICHIGAN RD, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46268 317-876-3983) I WAS ADVISED THE STEERING GEAR WAS SUSPECT OF BEING FAILED DUE TO THE "SLOW ROLL" CONDITION NOTED ABOVE. DODGE DEALERSHIP QUREIED AS TOO PART AVAILABILITY. MY WIFE WAS TOLD THE STEERING GEAR WAS ON BACK ORDER. THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD BE A NEW PART NUMBER, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE A MINIMUM TWO (2) WEEK WAIT. THE NHTSA IS ENCOURAGED TO INVESTIGATE STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURES ON DODGE DURANGO / DAKOTA VEHICLES AND CORRELATE ALL STEERING RELATED REPORTS TO ENSURE A SYSTEMIC DESIGN OR QUALITY CONTROL DEFECT IS NOT EVIDENT ON THESE VEHICLES.*AK