NHTSA Complaint #743859 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF WHEEL STUD/BOLT BREAKAGE. HAS OCCURRED BOTH DURING HIGHWAY OPERATION AND DURING TIRE REMOVAL. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 6 STUDS ON VARIOUS WHEELS. IN EACH CASE, LUGS WERE INSTALLED AT PROPER TORQUE AND WERE REMOVED EITHER BY HAND OR BY AIR-POWERED TOOL. CONCERNED THAT THE STUDS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE OF POOR QUALITY OR THE MATERIALS USED IN THE STUDS AND LUGS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE AND THEREFORE SEIZING IS OCCURRING. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TOO MANY WHEEL STUDS! 4/10/01 - WHEEL LUG COULD NOT BE RE-INSTALLED AFTER REMOVAL FOR TIRE ROTATION, COULD NOT HAND-START; CONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEM WITH STUD AND POTENTIAL BREAKAGE. TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH DURANGO STUDS BREAKING OFF.