NHTSA Complaint #10074657 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

BALL JOINTS. UPON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPORTS OF FAILURES ON THE DODGE DURANGOS I RECENTLY CHECK THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON MY PERSONAL VEHICLE TO FIND THREE OF THE FOUR BALL JOINTS WITH EXTENSIVE WEAR. ONE TO THE POINT WHERE SEPARATION IS POSSIBLE. BEING IN THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 25 YEARS I FIND DODGES RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER NOT TO BE COMPLETELY CORRECT. DODGE CLAIMS A FRONT END NOISE SHOULD BE HEARD AND THAT SEPARATION WILL ONLY OCCUR WITH SHARP HARD TURNS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. THEY CLAIM THE DESIGN OF THE CONTROL ARMS MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE WOULD ONLY HOLD TRUE IF SPRING PRESSURE WAS APPLIED ON THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, WHICH IT HAS NONE. THEY CLAIM THAT WATER WASHES THE LUBRICANT OUT OF THE JOINT. IF THE JOINT HAD BEEN PRODUCED PROPERLY WATER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER THE JOINT, IF THE JOINT WAS ABLE TO BE LUBRICATED IT WOULD REDUCE THIS PROBLEM, AS WEAR IS FROM LACK OF LUBRICANT MORE THAN WATER. I FEEL LIKE THE COST OF REPAIRS TO THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS, BUT THE MANUFACTURES RESPONSIBILITYS AS IT IS APPARENT THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM AND IS HOLDING THE BLIND EYE TO IT. ONCE THE JOINTS ARE REPLACED THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK