1998 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfront Problems

THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A VERY NOTICEABLE "CLUNKING NOISE" DURING TURNS AND OVER BUMPS. THE VEHICLE OFTEN FALLS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND DRIVING FEELS UNSTEADY AS ON OF THE FRONT WHEELS IS LOOSE. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARS THIS IS BEING CAUSED BY PREMATURE WEAR TO THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED EXCESS WEAR ON THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION. AS OF YET NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAS TAKEN PLACE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM; HOWEVER, IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSES PROMPTLY. *TR

1998 DODGE DURANGO. 27500 MILES. YES 27500 MILES. UPPER BALL JOINTS BOTH SIDES SHOT $321.00 TO REPAIR. RIGHT SIDE WAS EXTREMELY BAD. *TR

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AND BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I REPLACED THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN AWFUL SQUEAKY NOISE AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY TO STILL BE ALIVE AS THE BALLJOINTS WERE EXTREMELY WORN OUT DUE TO BE AN UNGREASEABLE TYPE. THE REPAIR COST ME $650. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3MONTHS SINCE THE REPAIR IN WHICH THE BALLJOINTS WERE REPLACED WITH DEALER PARTS AND ONCE AGAIN, THE SQUEAKY SOUND IS BACK, I'VE GONE BACK TO THE MECHANIC ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE BALLJOINTS HAVE FAILED!! ANOTHER $650 TO FIX, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!! DODGE MUST BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT THESE BALLJOINTS CONTINUOUSLY FAIL AND THEY MUST COME UP WITH A GREASEABLE TYPE. IN THIS ECONOMY IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SPEND $650 EVERY 2-3 MONTHS ON BALLJOINTS!! AT...

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER '08. I HAD MY BRAKES DONE BY AN INDIVIDUAL MAYBE TWO WEEKS LATER. A COUPLE OF DAY LATER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I STARTED HEARING A REAL LOUD IRON GRINDING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AAMCO, WHO TOLD ME MY CALIPER PINS HAD CAME OUT, AND I WOULD NEED A NEW STEERING KNUCKLE AND A SET OF CALIPER PINS.THE TRUCK WAS FIXED COSTING ME $525 (NOTING: MECHANIC USED A USED STEERING KNUCKLE.) NOW 2 MONTHS AFTER THOSE REPAIRS I NEED A WHEEL SPINDLE, AND CALIPER BOLTS BECAUSE THE THREADING HAVE STRIPPED AWAY AND SOMETHING TOTALLY UNRELATED A NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. COSTING ME $580. I WAS TOLD THAT BY FIRESTONE WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIE RODS AND THEN CORRECTED THEMSELVES BY TELLING ME I NEEDED A NEW STEERING KNUCKLE - WHO WOULDN'T EVEN...

HEARD METAL TO METAL RUBBING ON 2/2/09 NOW ON 2/6/09 HUB BEARING BROKE RIGHT SIDE.... WHEEL IS TILED IN TO WHEEL WELL. *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...

DODGE DURANGO 1998 BALL JOINT FAILURE AND FULL SEPARATION WITH NO WARNING, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN AN ON-ROAD ACCIDENT TO SEVERAL VEHICLES. DODGE CORPORATION WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUNDREDS OF BALL JOINT FAILURES AND LOST LIVES DUE TO THIS POOR DESIGN AND DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. MY VEHICLE HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT AND BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES! BALL JOINTS, ACCORDING TO TOP MECHANICS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST ABOUT 100,000 MILES BEFORE REPLACEMENT AND RARELY SEPARATE. THESE COMPONENTS USED BY DODGE ARE DEADLY, DEFICIENT, AND OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. HOW MANY MORE LIVES HAVE TO BE LOST BEFORE THE ISSUE IS PROPERLY DEALT WITH?? *TR

CONSUMER INQUIRY AS TO WHY DODGE DURANGOS WERE ONLY RECALLED TO THE 2000 MODEL FOR THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS.****NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM

1998 DODGE DURANGO - I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO FROM BRANFOIRD DODGE 2 YEARS AGO. THE DOSGE HAD 50,000 MILES AND NOW HAS 71,500 MILES. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND THE CONTROL ARMS AND JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DODGE SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS IN PLACE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. DODGE IS TELLING ME THAT ONLY THE 2000-2003 MODELS ARE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY! WHY WOULDN'T THE 1998 & 1999 BE COVERED AS WELL SEEING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES AND ACCIDENTS WITH PICTURES DUE TO BALL JOINT FAILURE ON THE 1999 & 1998 DURANGOS. WHO DO I CALL AND FOR ASSISTANCE ON THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS A BILL OF OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. PLEASE REPLY WITH ATTORNEYS INVOLVED WITH MATTERS SUCH AS THIS ONE. CHARLES T PILOTTI 15 TAYLOR AVE EAST HAVEN,...

SUSPENSION; LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. WORN SO BADLY THAT GARAGE UNABLE TO COMPLETE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. VEHICLE MILEAGE 132,848. *AK

I BOUGHT A USED 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 24,000 MILES IN FEB 14TH 2003. THIS WAS A DODGE CERTIFIED USED CAR. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTRA WARRANTY PACKAGE FOR $900.00. AFTER 60 DAYS I HAD A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. I CALLED THE DODGE GARAGE FROM WHICH I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY HAD IT TOWED. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID I HAD A BIG PROBLEM. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THE RIGHT FRONT AXEL, BALL JOINT UPPER ARM ASSEMBLY HAD BROKE APART CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITH A TOTAL OF $1700.00 MY RESPONSABILITY. THEY SAID DODGE WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THEY SAID MY EXTENDED DODGE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. NOW I READ THAT MANY VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. REMIND YOU THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY...

NOISE BEGAN IN FRONT WHEEL AREA AND GREW VERY LOUD WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES (CAR SHAKES AND PULLS TO RIGHT). TOOK VEHICLE IN TO CHECK IT OUT - HAD TO REPLACEL FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TENSION RODS ENDS. WE HAD TO PAY OVER $2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT, AND CAR STILL DOES NOT STEER PROPERLY. DEALER REPORTED TO US THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE.

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING AT TURN. *AK

1998 DODGE DURANGO FRONT END PROBLEMS. PREMATURE FRONT END WEAR.*AK

AT 60,000 MILES VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO LEFT. TOOK TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $700, MAYBE MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHY DO BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, ETC NEED TO BE REPLACED TO ALIGN FRONT END. WHY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT SUCH LOW MILES? THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST IN EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES. *AK

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO FRONT END WAS POPPING AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AT 51000 MILES. IT GOES INTO THE SHOP TO BE CHECKED DEC.23, WITH ALL THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END THIS MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED. MY WIFE AND I ARE CHEERLEDING SPONSERS AND TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE WITH THE GIRLS.*AK

MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO'S FRONT SUSPENSION REQUIRES REBUILDING AT 72,000 MILES. THE BALL JOINTS ARE ALL WORN, AS IS THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING. VEHICLE WANDERS, ESPECIALLY ON UNEVEN SURFACES. METALLIC NOISES EMANATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER SAYS THERE WILL BE A RECALL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. MEANWHILE I DO NOT CONSIDER THE VEHICLE SAFE! *LA

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

IF THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING A NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. *AK

REGARDING PE 03032 FRONT SUSPENSION ON DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER TOLD ME AFTER ONLY 30000 MILES ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO THAT MY FRONT SUSPENSION IS WORN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET. I'M DESPERATELY WAITING ON A RECALL AND THE OUTCOME OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. THE CAR IS MAKING NOISE AND IS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. HOW LONG DOES A INVESTIGATION TAKE? *LA

I HAVE REPLACED TWO WINDOW MOTORS AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO REPLACE AS IT IS OUT NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY COMPLAINTS OR CAMPAIGNS ON WINDOW MOTORS ALSO I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FRONT SUSPENSION EITHER THE BALL JOINTS UPPER OR LOWER ARE WEAK OR OUT BUT I HAVE WEAR PROBLEMS ON MY NEW TIRES AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY ONLY BEING A 1998 ARE THERE ANY CAMPAIGNS ON THIS .*JB

FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY DODGE DURGANGO CAUSED A CUPPING WEAR ON MY TIRES. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THAT I JUST DID NOT ROTATE THE TIRES, WHICH I HAVE DONE REGULARLY. THE TIRE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT DO AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF BAD BALL JOINTS. THE CAR HAS 64K MILES ON IT. *AK

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PERFORM THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. *TS *NLM

VIBRATION AND NOISE IN FRONT END OF 19'98 DODGE DURANGO. HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS AND INNER TIE ROD ENDS AT 61000 MILES.MECHANIC REMARKED THAT I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS IT WAS READY TO FAIL.AFTER THE REPAIR AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED TO BRING WHEELS BACK TO SPECS.*AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. HREE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT NEWS CONCERNING THE NHTSA INVESTIGATING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR WORK DONE.*AK

OUR 1998 DODGE DURANGO HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS VECHILE. AFTER EXPERIENCING WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN A ADDITION, THE INNER TIE ROD ALSO REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. I HAVE THE RECEIPT DESCRIBING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AND THE COST.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. TOOK IT TO DODGE, AND DODGE ALIGNED THE VEHICLE. LATER, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. *AK THE BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC(S) INFORMED HIM THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. WITHIN THE FIRST 10 K MILES THE VEHICLE HAD A 3 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *SCC *JB

I HAVE BEEN READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE DODGE DURANGO AFTER HEARING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FIXING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED. MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, WOULD STAY ON FOR AWHILE, THEN GO OUT. WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT ON THE COMPUTER, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING FROM 0 TO 60 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, A SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO SPENT ALMOST $1000 REPLACING BRAKES, ETC. BECAUSE MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY ONLY IN A PARKING LOT, AND THE CALIPERS, BRAKES, ROTORS, ETC. HAD TO BE REPLACED. I JUST REPLACED MY TIRES BECAUSE OF SEVERE CUPPING. THESE TIRES WERE NOT THAT OLD AND THIS CONDITION WOULD CAUSE MY...

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BOLT JOINTS. HE WAS AWARE OF THE NEW INVESTIGATION. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECALLS.*AK THERE WAS CONTINUED SQUEAKING IN THE FRONT END. SWAY BAR AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *PH

WHEN CO. REP SAID THE CO. WOULD NOT COMPENSATE DUE TO AGE AND MILAGE EVEN THOUGH PARTS FAILED FAR SHORT OF NORMAL SERVICE LIFE. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. DT

SPOKE TO DEALER ABOUT FAILURE AND HE CLAIMED THIS IS NORMAL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE JOINTS SHOULD FAIL AT 37000 TO 38000 MILES. *AK

I CAN NOT KEEP TIRES ON FRONT END FROM WEARING UNEVENLY, THEY KEEP CUPPING ON OUTER EDGES. CHRYLER CORP HAS REPLACED MY FRONT TIRES 3 TIMES, LOWER CONTROL ARMS TWICE, & RT. UPPER BALL JOINT ONCE. NOW ALL 4 TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND AND CAUSES A BAD VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ALL CAUSED BY THE SUSPENION PARTS BEING DEFECTED AND CHRYSLER CORP. WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES OR CORRECT THE SITUATION WITH ME.

I CAN NOT KEEP TIRES ON FRONT END FROM WEARING UNEVENLY, THEY KEEP CUPPING ON OUTER EDGES. CHRYLER CORP HAS REPLACED MY FRONT TIRES 3 TIMES, LOWER CONTROL ARMS TWICE, & RT. UPPER BALL JOINT ONCE. NOW ALL 4 TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND AND CAUSES A BAD VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ALL CAUSED BY THE SUSPENION PARTS BEING DEFECTED AND CHRYSLER CORP. WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES OR CORRECT THE SITUATION WITH ME.

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND STAYED ON. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT CORRECTLY. *AK THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS TO 100MPH AND FALLS TO 0 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE OVERDRIVE HARNESS IS STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MODULE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MODULE. THE REAR SEAT WOULDN'T FOLD UP. THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. THE RIGHT REAR PANEL CAME LOOSE. MOTOR OIL WAS FOUND IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. *SLC

THIS PROBLEM CAUSED PREMATURE WEARING OF TIRES (GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT/S 31.00 - 15 STOCK). *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO VIBRATE. REAR WINDOWS DOWN & FRONT WINDOWS UP. *AK