NHTSA Complaint #10238099 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

SEE FIRST COMPLAINT 10237419. I'M HAVING CONTINUED FRONT END STEERING/SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED ON 09/28/07. BY FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR I'M EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEMS... CLUNKING SOUND (METAL TO METAL) THAT STARTS WHEN ENGINE AREA IS HOT. AFTER 45 MINUTES OF DRIVING. VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING AND FLOOR BOARDS. THE NOISE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND I FEAR THAT SAFETY MAY BECOME A ISSUE. THE DURANGO MAKES A SOUND SOMETHING LIKE THE TIRE AND RIM IS GOING TO VIBRATE RIGHT OFF THE VEHICLE. I'M NOW ON MY THIRD MECHANIC....RICHMOND, CA. HILLTOP DODGE, WHO TEST DROVE MY DURANGO AND HEARD THE SOUND ON 08/12/08. THEY INSPECTED THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, AND ASSURED THAT EACH AREA WAS TIGHT . THEY DEEMED THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT WEREN'T SURE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY THINK IT MAY BE LOOSENESS IN THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT. DEALER/MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE MORE CONSISTENT TO ISOLATE THE NOISE. INSPECTION CHARGE $124.95. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED OR RESOLVED, BUT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR POTENTIAL RECALL IN THE PAST. *TR