NHTSA Complaint #10102580 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH UNDERCARRIAGE PROBLEMS AND IN NEED OF BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT AND NUMEROUS OTHER PARTS IN BOTH FRONT TIRES. IN ADDITION, I HAVE REPLACED THE CV JOINTS ONCE ALREADY BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT AND THEY ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THE BALL JOINTS ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THE SUSPENSION, STEERING, AND SAFETY OF ANY VEHICLE, PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS. IF THE BALL JOINTS SHALL FAIL, AS MANY HAVE INDICATED HAVE DONE ON DODGE DURANGO'S, THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS INJURY, DAMAGE, AND POTENTIAL DEATH FOR THOSE INVOLVED. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE TIRES TO DUE UNEVEN WARE, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD COULD BE DUE TO THE BALL JOINTS. WITH THE HISTORY OF THE BALL JOINT PROBLEMS WITH DODGE DURANGOS, THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON DODGE DOESN'T RECALL THEM. DODGE'S LIABILITY AND CONSEQUENCE FOR NOT RECALLING THEM WILL BE FAR MORE DRAMATIC AND FINANCIALLY NEGATIVE AFTER MORE BALL JOINTS FAIL CAUSING MORE ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATHS RESULTING IN LAWSUITS. FOR ONE WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYONE HURT OR KILLED DUE TO DODGE'S NEGLIGENCE. ESTIMATE TO FIX IS AROUND $1600 FOR THE BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END. THE CV JOINTS WILL ALSO NEED REPAIRING. SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE DURANGO, I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD PAY FOR IT. DURANGO'S RECORD FOR INFERIOR UNDERCARRIAGE SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO DEMAND COMPENSATION TO ALL OWNERS OF THE DURANGO. THIS DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PHYSICAL INJURIES OR DEATHS THAT HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT IN THE DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINTS.*AK