NHTSA Complaint #10068039 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

TOO MANY OWNERS SEEM TO BE UNIFORMED OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT-END DESIGN FLAW OF THE DODGE DURANGO. NEEDING UPPER AND/OR LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENTS AT 50K OR LESS SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER. THE MAIN ISSUE LIES IN THE FACT THAT THIS FLAW REQUIRES THE CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR THE FIXES WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN DESIGN SO THE NEED FOR FUTURE REPLACEMENT FALLS ON THE CONSUMER IN LESS THAN 50K MILES AGAIN! I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE EFFORTS MADE WITH DODGE TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER AND THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BY AT LEAST PAYING FOR THE FIX THE FIRST TIME AND PRIOR TO THE FAILURE CAUSING SUSPENSION FAILURES THAT CAN AND EVENTUALLY WILL CAUSE HARM OR DEATH. MY VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF THESE REPLACEMENTS WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENTS CANNOT BE PREFORMED AND WARRANTED UNLESS THE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE REPLACED. FOR MANY CONSUMER THAT ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE THEY MAY NOT DO THE REPLACEMENT AND EVENTUALLY DODGE MAY BE INVOLVED IN LAW SUITS THAT COULD ULTIMATELY SHOW FAULT IF NO PROACTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN BY THEM. I WOULD CERTAINLY YOUR HELP IN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU- IF DODGE DID PAY THE FIRST BILL, THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL , AT LEAST, THE FACT THAT THIS IS NEEDED BY THE CONSUMER IN THE FUTURE AND COULD REMOVE ALL LIABILITY TO THE ISSUE FOREVER.