NHTSA Complaint #10252191 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

THE BALL JOINTS FAILED ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH THE SAME CLUNKING NOISE THAT THE BALL JOINTS FAILED ON THE 2000 - 2003 DODGE DURANGO'S. YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 CLEARLY STATES THIS PROBLEM. SINCE YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE THE 1999 DODGE DURANGO'S IN THE RECALL I REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS MYSELF. USING THE APPROPRIATE STEPS I REPLACED THE BAD SQUEAKY, CLUNKING BALL JOINTS WITH NEW MOOG BALL JOINTS. AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS THE FRONT END OF MY DURANGO SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO MIENEKE IN SPRING , TEXAS TO GET IT EVALUATED. THE MANAGER AT THIS OUTLET INFORMED ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD WALLOWED OUT THE HOLES ON THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WHERE THE BOLTS GO THROUGH BALL JOINT AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. HE THEN CHARGED ME $1400.00 TO REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE AND INSTALL NEW BALL JOINTS. MY DODGE DURANGO BEGAN MAKING NOISE AGAIN ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED HIM BACK AND LET HIM KNOW THE PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. HE SAID HE WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH AND GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME. A DAY OR TWO LATER HE CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT THAT SAID YOU SHOULD NOT REPLACE JUST THE BALL JOINT BUT YOU SHOULD REPLACE THE WHOLE UPPER CONTROL ARM THAT HAS A NEW BALL JOINT RIVETED ON TO IT. HE SAID THE METAL ON THE CONTROL ARM IS TO WEAK AN MALLEABLE. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN DODGE GET AWAY WITH USING SUCH CHEAP METAL AND PARTS AND WHY DON'T ALL OF THE PARTS HOUSES AND REPAIR SHOPS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? ONLY DODGE MAKES A REPLACEMENT UPPER CONTROL ARM WITH AN ATTACHED BALL JOINT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE DURANGO. IT COST APPROXIMATELY $400 FOR EACH SIDE. *TR