NHTSA Complaint #10403335 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY STEERING LEFT AND THE WHEEL BASE WOULDN'T TURN. SO I BACKED UP AND CONTINUE TO GO AROUND THE CURVE, ONCE I REACHED ABOUT 200 FT OFF MY DRIVEWAY, MY CAR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON IT'S OWN. I BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY DRAGGING MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SIDEWAYS. ONCE I GOT OUT TO CHECK WHAT WAS GOING ON, MY TIE ROD END HAD BECOME COMPLETELY STRIPPED OFF THE RACK AND PINION. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIONS, SOMEHOW THE GROVES ON THE RACK AND PINION HAD WORE DOWN SO MUCH IT ALLOWED THE TIE ROD TO STRIP AND RELEASE. I WAS SO GLAD I HADN'T BEEN DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO FLIP AND PROBABLY KILL US. I KNOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY RACK AND PINION AND TIE ROD AND JUST REPLACING THE BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE NOT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE IT NOW IN FEAR THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.