1998 DODGE DURANGO Steering Problems

DUE TO TO UNEVEN DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED, OR TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SPIN AND NOT MOVE, AT WHICH THE VEHICLE IGNITION WAS SHUT-OFF. IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ABOUT 50 FEET TO A PARKING PLACE. ANOTHER PERSON OFFERS TO HELP, THEN PUSHES VEHICLE 25/50 FEET...ADVISES TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL DOES NOT WANT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAS USED A LOT OF POWER STEERING FLUID ALMOST DAILY(HAS A HISTORY OF SQUEALING AND HARD TURNING AT START UNLESS LUBRICATED). SO ADVICE TO PLACE VEHICLE IN REVERSE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE EVEN HARDER TO TURN, IF AT ALL. I REQUESTED HELP FROM THE BYSTANDER, WHO AT WHICH POINT COMES TO THE DRIVER SIDE WHERE I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO. IT'S UNKNOWN IF THE BYSTANDER HELP TURNED THE IGNITION ON, OR IF THE IGNITION SOMEHOW TURNED ON BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY ONE...

BUSHINGS ON STEERING SHAFT BEARING MADE FROM CHEAP MATERIALS WEAR QUICKLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CHRYSLER DOES NOT CURRENTLY PRODUCE A PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NO AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 98' DURANGO W/ 123K MILES & AFTER DRIVING IT LESS THAN 500 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOUD-REPEATING NOISE "THUD...THUD.." COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WALL. THEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE EXTREME STEERING PROBLEMS SO I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED IT FURTHER. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A LOT OF "PLAY" IN THE FRONT TIRE. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO "WOBBLE' BACK AND FORTH AND THE LUG NUTS WERE STILL SECURED. I CONTACTED A VERY REPUTABLE MECHANIC (3RD GENERATION RACE CAR DRIVER TOO!) AND HE ADVISED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS FAILING ON THE DURANGO'S , BUT THEY ONLY WILL FIX BACK TO 2000' MODEL YEAR. WELL, ANY REASONABLE AUTO COMPANY THAT KNOWS IT HAS A FAULTY PART SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS PEOPLE....IF NOT, THEN THEY ARE LIABLE FOR CONTINUING TO ALLOW A...

1998 DODGE DURANGO. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. I HAD THOUGHT I NEEDED SHOCKS AND AN ALIGNMENT AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD END AND IDLER ARM. THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER ABUSED, AND 90% OF THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND BELIEVE FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND RECALL IS NECESSARY. *JB

1998 DURANGOS SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME BALL JOINTS AS THE OTHERS IN THE RECALL

1998 DODGE DURANGO SLT BALL JOINTS HAVE WORN OUT TWICE. LOOSE STEERING, DRIFTING IN LANE, DIFFICULT NOT TO OVER STEER. DIAGNOSED BY DODGE DEALER 12/27/2001 AT 71,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN BAD FOR A LONG TIME. REPLACED UPPER, LOWER, AND TIE ROD ENDS ON 4/23/02 NOT AT DODGE DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AGAIN BY DODGE ON 9/23/2004 AT 103,000 MILES AND REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS AGAIN, AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

NAR 9-8-03. EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN STEERING. EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE IN SUSPENSION FRONT BALL JOINTS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED *CB

WE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH UNEVEN FRONT TIRE WEAR ON OUR 1998 DODGE DURANGO. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT AND NEED REPLACED. RECEIVED QUOTE OF $800 TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINT PROBLEM CAUSED TIRES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND UNEVEN, STEEL BELTS ALMOST SHOWING ON INSIDE OF ONE TIRE.

THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON DODGE DURANGOS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AND MADE A HARD TURN IT SOUNDED AS IF HIS TIRES WERE RUBBING. WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELT FUNNY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY DISTANCE. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *NM

MY 98 DURANGO MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE (FRONT END) EVERY TIME I DRIVE OVER A BUMP. IN ADDITION TO THE NOISE, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING IS ALSO VERY LOOSE. VEHICLE TRACKS WELL, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE/FEW INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. SUSPECT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS. AWAITING OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION FOR REPAIRS. *LA

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO NEED TO BE REPLACED. EVALUATED AT LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. EXPERIENCING TIRE WEAR AND HUMMING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVEN IN ADDITION TO LOOSE STEERING. PROBLEM FOUND AT 38,000 MILES. *AK

ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELTS DIDN'T WORK PROPER. LOSS OF OF CONTROL FROM STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING PROBLEMS ON WET ROADS. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, DOESN'T SHIFT PROPER, NO AIR CONDITION, CAN NOT DRIVE WITH WINDOWS DOWN IN BACK, VERY HARD TO CONTROL. CAR IS PARKED BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. BEEN BACK TO DEALER WITH PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LOOSE STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. *PH *JB

EXCESSIVE PLAY AND OFF-CENTERED STEERING WAS CORRECTED AT 47K MILES BY DEALER- ADJUSTMENT TO THE STEERING BOX. PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AT 87K MILES. CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH OFF CENTERED STEERING AND NOW-GROWING TRACKING PROBLEMS WITH CONSTANT CORRECTIONS NEEDED TO KEEP VEHICLE IN STRAIGHT LINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

CONSUMER NOTICES A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED NO COOLING. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK METAL CHIPS AND SLUDGE WERE FOUND IN THE MOTOR AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS. THE BEARINGS FOR CYLINDER 1 AND 5 SPUN THE CRANK SHAFT, DEALER REPLACED THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS. *YH

AFTER VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES AND WAS SHUT OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE-, HITTING A CARPORT. *AK