NHTSA Complaint #756110 — 1999 DODGE DURANGO

PROBLEM: REAR AXLE PINION BEARING FAILS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO PINION GEAR AND RING GEAR. AT EACH REPAIR ATTEMPT, BEARINGS, CUPS AND SEALS ARE REPLACED, REPAIRS HAVE LASTED ABOUT 2000 MILES, 500MILES AND TWICE AT UNDER 100 MILES. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED 4 TIMES, ONCE AT A DODGE DEARLERSHIP OTHER THAN THE ONE WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND 3 TIMES AT THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP. THE LAST REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE REAREND HOUSING, NOW THOUGH, WITHIN 100 MILES, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. AT LAST TEAR DOWN OF THE REAREND, THE PINION GEAR'S TEETH WERE CHIPPED. THIS FACT IS WHAT SCARES MYSELF AND MY WIFE, A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PINION GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD BE DISASTROUS. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE ABOUT THE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND FAILURES THROUGH CERTIFIED MAIL, MY ONLY CONTACT WITH THEM IS TO SAY THEY RECEIVED THE NOTICE AND THEN THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO VOICE HIS HOSTILITIES TO US AS TO WHY WE WENT OVER HIS HEAD WITH THIS! I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, WE ARE HAVING TO DRIVE THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER AVAILABLE VEHICLE.....IT IS SCARY.