NHTSA Complaint #754815 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD WHINING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE DURANGO. AFTER VERIFYING THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 4WD WAS NOT ENGAGED, THE WHINING SOUND BECAME LOUDER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO A DEALER IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX (A SUBURB OF FORT WORTH). THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SURE THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND ALL WOULD BE FINE. AFTER SERVICING THE DIFFERENTIAL THE SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE "RING AND PINON SET, AND CUP AND CONES" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ( THIS IS THE RING AND PINON GEAR, THE PINON SEAL, AND THE SIDE BEARING THAT SUPPORT THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE). THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $1323.08. I REMINDED THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 47333 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE I BELIEVE THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO AND HE SUGGESTED I CALL DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. AFTER SPEAKING TO DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE THREE TIMES, THEY "REVIEWED" MY SITUATION. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY, DODGE OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR COST AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE". IN THE END, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $502.28. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $1004.56 AND WITH DODGE'S "GOOD WILL GESTURE" THE REPAIR COST ME OUT OF POCKET $502.28. HOWEVER, AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE I FEEL MORE STRONGLY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF THIS VECHICLE.