NHTSA Complaint #10108158 — 2002 DODGE DURANGO

I MANAGE THE FLEET FOR THE FBI JACKSONVILLE DIVISION AND WHILE SERVICING ONE OF OUR VEHICLES, AN 02 2-WD DURANGO, NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION MADE A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I LOWERED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GROUND FROM OUR FRAME LIFT AND INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. THEY HAD ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF PLAY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30,000 MI. ON IT. THE BOOTS WERE NOT TORN NOR HAS THIS VEHICLE BEEN USED UNDER SEVERE CONDITIONS. WE ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER 02 DURANGO AND IT IS A 4WD BUT AT 22,000 MI. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOWING SOME WEAR/PLAY. AFTER HAVING TO ACTUALLY JACK THE VEHICLE UP IN THE DEALER SERVICE LANE AND SHOW THEM THE PLAY THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL ARMS UNDER WARRANTY ON THE 2WD AND I HAVEN'T TAKEN THE 4WD ONE IN YET. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT, EITHER THE JOINTS DIDN'T GET ANY LUBE WHEN MANUFACTURED OR THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS TO CAUSE THEM TO WEAR SO QUICKLY. I DIDN'T GET THE OLD PARTS SO I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALL ON THESE, I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE ON THE LATER MODELS FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. WHEN I TAKE THE NEXT ONE IN I WILL SEE IF THEY WILL LET ME HAVE THE ORIGINAL CONTROL ARMS BUT I'M DOUBTFUL THEY WILL. I CONSIDER OURSELVES LUCKY TO HAVE CAUGHT THIS BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK