NHTSA Complaint #10105679 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

MY 1998 ODGE DURANGO 4X4 SLTT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. IT SEEMED TO BE DRIVING SIDEWAYS. I WAS VERY ALARMED AND TOOK IT TO THE GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP IN CEDARTOWN, GEORGIA. THE GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP SAID THE BALLJOINTS WERE DANGEROUSLY WORN AND MUST BE REPLACED IMMMEADIATLY. I TOOK IT TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC AND HE ALSO SAID THE BALL JOINTS AND TIEROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED BEARINGS WERE VERY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RECALL. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SAID THE RECALL ONLY INCLUDED 2000-2003 4X4 DURANGOS. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND TIEROD ENDS BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I FEEL THAT THE DODGE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS AND SERVICE FEES AS WELL AS LABOR TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION ON MY DODGE DURANGO.I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION, AND I FEEL THE DODGE CORPORATION SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HELP TO RESOLVE AND RECALL CARS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE 1998 MODEL HAS SIMILAR DEFECTS AS THE 2000-2003 MODELS HAVE WHICH HAVE BEEN ALREADY RECALLED. *AK