NHTSA Complaint #10067711 — 2002 DODGE DURANGO

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DURANGO THAT IS EXPERIENCING EVERY PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN WITH DODGE BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. APR-2004 I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL FREEZING WHILE TURNING LEFT AND THE STEERING LOCKS AT 20-25MPH. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GREENFIELD DODGE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEMS, ALSO THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY NOTED THAT THEY "TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOUND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY (.075). THE SERVICE GROUP INFORMED ME THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULD BE READY AT 7:00PM THAT EVENING THE CAR WOULD BE READY. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL HOURS I MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET TO THE SERVICE SHOP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY NEVER BROUGHT THE CAR IN BECAUSE "OTHER THINGS CAME UP". I HAD NO WAY TO GET HOME SO I HAD TO RENT A CAR FROM THE DEALER SHIP. THE NEXT DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR AND HAD TO PAY $30 FOR THE RENTAL AND $108 FOR MY DEDUCTIBLE. REGARDING THE BRAKES. I DECIDED TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED AT MIDAS BECAUSE I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE AT DODGE. THE MECHANIC AT MIDAS REMOVED THE PADS AND THE CALIBER AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PINS THAT GO INTO THE CALIBER WERE STRIPPED. HE STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING THAT THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THE DODGE TRUCKS. THEY HAD TO TAP AND INSTALL A HELI-COIL. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND HAD TO PAY $30 FOR THE RENTAL AND $108 FOR MY DEDUCTIBLE. THE ENTIRE FEE FOR THE BRAKE SERVICE WITH THE ADDITIONAL PARTS THAT INCLUDED A HELI-COIL KIT AND SERVICE CAME TO $292.13. THE TWO DAY EXPERIENCE LEFT A VERY BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH AND WALLET.*AK