1998 DODGE DURANGO Suspension Problems

BOUGHT MY DURANGO NEW IN MAY 1998. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING IMPROPERLY IN JULY 2000. TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (31,418 MILES). THEY DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND PRONOUNCED IT DOA (PAN WAS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS). SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE WRITING ON THE WALL BUT I LOVED THIS VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO AN INSPECTION STATION FOR SAFETY & EMISSIONS TESTS IN MAY OF 2006. IT FAILED FOR BAD BALL JOINTS. I ASKED THE MANAGER WHY HIS MECHANICS SEEMED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FRONT END DURING INSPECTION AND HIS REPLY WAS IT WAS VERY COMMON TO FIND BAD BALL JOINTS ON APPROX. 50% OF ALL 1998-2000 DURANGOS. HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, BOTH SIDES, AT 74,064 MILES, TO THE TUNE OF $701 PLUS TAX. I THEN STARTED HEARING ABOUT OTHER DURANGO OWNERS WITH SIMILAR BALL JOINT...

THE CV JOINT CAME OUT RUIN THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSED RUBBING ON MY INNER RIM, AFTER A WHILE IT HAS CAUSE THE INNER RIM TO TO BREAK OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CV JOINT, WHEEL HUB BEARING, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE STEERING BALL JOINT. NOW THE LOWER BALL JOINT IS STILL HITTING THE INNER RIM AND I CAN'T DRIVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS ONCE. AT A REGULAR TIRE ROTATION, I WAS TOLD THEY ARE WEARING OUT AGAIN. BASED UPON RESEARCH - THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH DURANGO MODELS FROM 1998 TO THE PRESENT. A RECALL OF THE DURANGO IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS. *NM

I TOOK VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, COMPLAINT REGARDING LEFT FRONT BRAKE. ALREADY HAD NEW BRAKES, ROTORS REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALREADY HAD BALL JOINTS REPLACED, DURING A TSB REPAIR BULLETIN, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO, 4X4. MECHANIC SAYS THAT SPINDLES NEED REPLACED, ALONG WITH BALL JOINTS. PREMATURE FAILURE, VEHICLE SHOULD DRIVE FOR 100,000 MILES BEFORE A FAILURE SUCH AS THIS ON THE BALL JOINTS. CURRENTLY WAITING ON PARTS FROM DEALER, TO REPLACE WORN PARTS, HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT ALREADY RAN OUT IN MAY 2005. AM ALSO HAVING BUSHINGS REPLACED, DUE TO EXTREME TEMPS IN PHOENIX AREA. WILL COST OVER $3000.00 TO DO THE REPAIRS, WHICH SHOULD EITHER BE RECALLED BY DC, OR COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WILL ALSO CALL AND COMPLAIN TO DEALER. *NM

1998 DODGE DURANGO DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY AND THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR IN THE YEAR 2000 THE CONSUMER HAD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TOTALLY REPLACED. *NM

THE CONSUMERS 1998 DURANGO NEEDED BOTH FRONT AND REAR UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT . *BF THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SPIN OUT ACCIDENT DUE TO FRONT END INSTABILITY AND BAD TIE ROD ENDS. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT IN ONE YEAR. *SC

CONSUMER HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO,WITH BALL JOINTS PROBLEM AND HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FRONT END. *BF THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE OLDER MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. *NM

BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY 1998 DURANGO IN 2002. I KEPT HEARING POPPING NOISES FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHEN I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE OR CAME TO A STOP SIGN.*JB

CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS FOR THE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH THE VEHICLE'S LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT (THREE TIMES), RIGHT INNER TIE ROD (TWICE), LEFT INNER TIE ROD, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD PROBLEMS CAUSED STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL THE TIRE ROD AND BALL JOINT REPAIRS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHOOK. WOULD HEAR NOISES EVERY TIME STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, STOPPING OR EVEN BRAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED. ALSO, THE STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATED, AND THE SUSPENSION MOVED. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSING THE SHAKING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE LUBRICATED EVERY 2-3 MONTHS.*AK AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LEFT SIDE BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TC

BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 60K MILES. *PH AT 45000 THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EH VEHICLE'S RIDE WAS NOT SMOOTH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. AT ABOUT 60000 MILES THE CONSUMER HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY AROUND CURVES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE TIE RODS AND UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. *PH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT AN UNUSUAL INTERMITTENT NOISE WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE JOINT AREA. (NAR)

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 78,000 MILES. *JB

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

REPEATED STARTER REPLACEMENT. *PH THE STARTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SC

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AS IF IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. BUT WHEN SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SUSPENSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, BALL JOINTS CRACKED IN HALF. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IF SHE HIT A HARD BUMP FRONT TIRES WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF. CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL OR ANY WARNING. *AK

THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS IN LIGHT OF THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY CONCERNING THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE FRONT SHOCKS WHICH LEAKED OIL. THE CONTROL ARMS AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. ALSO, WHEN TURNING CORNERS, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL HUB. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE REPLACING THE FRONT TIRES,THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO THE FRONT ALIGNMENT DUE TO BALL JOINT PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN DRIVING. *AK THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL PIN FAILED AND SEIZED TO THE PINION SHAFT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

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

BAD BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO. IT HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. *NLM

BALL JOINT EQUIPMENT IS TOO SMALL FOR 1998 DODGE DURANGO. *MR THEY ALSO HAD NO GREASE FITTING FOR LUBRICATION FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY YEAR DURING THE YEARLY INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *SCC *JB

TIE RODS & BALL JOINTS ALREADY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. *LA

I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY WHEELS WERE GETTING READY TO FALL OFF AND THE TRUCK WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN AUGUST OF 2003. I BARELY HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES ON IT ARE TERRIBLE. WHEN IT IS RAINING I HYDROPLANE JUST ABOUT EVER TIME I PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW BROKEN. IT STAYS AT ZERO MOST OF THE TIME BUT WILL OCCASIONALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHEN IT LOCKS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHENEVER I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND GO OVER 60 MPH THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. *JB

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. IT COST THE CONSUMER $1,229.OO. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *LA *JB

THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT A LOW MILEAGE. *JB *SC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR ALIGNMENT SERVICE DUE TO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE UPPER BALL JOINT WEAR. *AK ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS FAILED AND BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD BADLY WORN OUT. *SCC *JB

EXTENSIVE SUSPENSION REPAIRS THAT SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED. I OWN A FORD, F150 WITH 160000 MILES WITH NON OF THE FOLLOWING WORK DONE TO IT, SO I DIDN'T EXPECT THE SUSPENSION OF THE DURANGO TO NEED THE FOLLOWING WORK.*AK AT 65000 MILES (9/28/00) LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 130000 MILES (7/10/03) BOTH TIROD ENDS AND REAR STABILIZERS REPLACED AND UPPER LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT REPLACED.

SUSPENSION, DRIVE TRAIN, AND FRONT BALL JOINTS BAD - 1989, DODGE, DURANGO. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE AND EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT ONE. ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THE BACK BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT. *AK THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND SEALS WERE REPLACED. *JB

WHENEVER DRIVING ON FREEWAY OR MAKING TURNS VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY & MAKE NOISES. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC CHANGED & BALANCED. STEERING WAS CHANGED & WHEELS ALIGNED. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.ALSO, WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT RACK & PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

SUSPENSION VIBRATION CAUSING CONSUMERS EAR DRUM TO HURT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MJS

WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 TO 55MPH THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE, SOMETIMES CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VIRBATION WHENEVER VEHICLE REACHES HIGH SPEED OF 50 OR MORE MPH. BETWEEN 50-70 MPH VIBRATION APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM REAR, AND 70-75 MPH, THE WHOLE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. VEHICLE BEEN IN /OUT DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. *AK