NHTSA Complaint #749185 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

I TOOK MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO INTO ALLEN MELLO DODGE 6/21/01 FOR A WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SERP.ENTINEBELT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I BRING IT BACK 7/10/01 WHEN I HAD AN APPOINTED TO HAVE THE CAT. CONVERTER REPLACED. JUNE 23, 2001 I TOOK A DAY TRIP AND ON THE WAY HOME THE CAR BROKE DOWN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT, TRANSFER CASE, SHIFT ROD, ROD GEAR, PIVOT GEAR AND SOME OTHER PARTS TO BE DESTROYED. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IN TILTON NH IS THE UNIVERSAL JOINT MAKES A WHISTLING NOISE AND HE SAID THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER AND ALLEN MELLO DODGE IN NASHUA NH AND THEY HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL THAT AFTER ONLY 53,000 MILES ON THE CAR THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UNIT WHERE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS, CANNOT BE GREASED BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED UNIT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. IF I COULD HAVE HAD THIS MAINTAINED THIS PROBLEM MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I ASKED CHRYSLER WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND THEY SUGGESTED HARD DRIVING. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND WE HAVE TWO VERY SMALL CHILDERN, THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A TOW PACKAGE, AND OTHER THAN THE WINTER, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. *AK