NHTSA Complaint #10132910 — 2001 DODGE DURANGO

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DURANGO R/T THAT HAS HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. I KNOW THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. TWO OF WHICH ARE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER AND I JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THEY WANT IT DONE AGAIN. I ALSO KNOW THAT MY LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT AND IS DEFINITELY A COMPLICATION OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT PROBLEMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ON THE SAME PIVOT POINT. ALSO MY UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEIZING UP AND CAUSING NOT ONLY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF NOISE BUT A SEVERE AMOUNT OF WHEEL HOP WHILE AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. WHILE CORNERING AND HITTING THE EXPANSION JOINT OF A BRIDGE OR OTHER HIGHWAY BUMP THE TRUCK SEEMS TO WANT TO BOUNCE FROM LANE TO LANE. I ALSO HAD A DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SHOCK BREAK IN HALF WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY LAST WEEK. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM THE BIT LEAST WORRIED ABOUT IT. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY CONSUMER COMPLAINT PROGRAM OR ANY FOLLOW UP PROCEDURE THAT I COULD BE INVOLVED WITH AND HE WAS QUICK TO SAY NO. HE ALSO INSTRUCTED ME THAT I COULD DO ONE OF TWO THINGS, I COULD HAVE THE BALL JOINTS CHANGED FOR THE FOURTH TIME OR GET RIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS DODGES SINCE ON THE WHOLE PROBLEM BY OFF LOADING THE VEHICLE ONTO ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING PERSON AND HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. HE JUST REPEATED HIMSELF. I AM A AIRCRAFT MECHANIC BY TRADE AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THE FAA AND THE NTSB WOULD HAVE GROUNDED EVERY AIRCRAFT THAT WAS AFFECTED IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE IS SUCH A DOUBLE STANDARD WITH THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. I DRIVE AROUND MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE TO INCLUDE MY 5 MONTH OLD SON AND IT SCARES ME TO DEATH JUST READING THE STORIES ONLINE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH. I HOPE IT HASN'T HAPPENED BUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED WITH DODGE, (MULTIPLE DEATHS WITH THIS $30,000 LEMON) THANK YOU MIKE AUDAS. *NM