NHTSA Complaint #10060402 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

THE 1999 DODGE DURANGO WAS PURCHASED FROM SOUTH OAK DODGE IN SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL. IT WAS PURCHASED AS A DEMO WITH A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FILTER AND TO REPORT SQUEAKING IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT JUST NEEDED LUBRICATION. EACH TIME AFTER CHANGING MY OIL THEY WOULD LUBRICATE THE WHEELS. I ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS WORSE WHEN I TURNED THE CORNER AND IF I HAD TO USE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE AND ON OCCASION IT LOOKED LIKE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. MY COMPLAINT WAS DISMISSED WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID "OH THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN " SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE SAID THE TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK AND THAT HE WOULD PUT A PLUG IN IT. MY COMPLAINTS WERE OFTEN DISMISSED. MY CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. THIS MORNING I HEARD THE NEWS REGARDING THE BALL BEARINGS ON THE DODGE DURANGO. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE THIS PARTICULAR CARRIER WILL PROVIDE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM UNTIL YOUR WARRANTY EXPIRES. WHEN YOU RETURN YOU ARE CHARGED S MAXIMUM AMOUNT TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRENTY. THIS HAPPENED TO MY BOYFRIEND WHO HAS A 1998 ONE TON PICKUP QUAD SEATS FOUR DOOR DODGE 24 VALVE TURBO ENGINE 3800 DOOLEY. THE RED ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MAJOR PROBLEM. NOT MORE THAN 3 BLOCKS AWAY THE LIGHTT CAME ON AGAIN. WE RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENNT. THE MANAGER STATED "OH I'TS PROBABLY JUST A SENSOR PROBLEM". IF YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS BRING IT BACK IN. THE RED LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THREE MONTHS LATER THE TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN POORLY. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENNT STATED THAT HE NEED A VALVE JOB THAT WOULD COST $1,800.00. FURTHER THE EXTENDED WARRENTY HAD JUST EXPIRED.*AK