1998 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Arm Problems

1998 DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINTS & CONTROL ARM UPPER AND LOWER THEY WERE FIRST REPLACED IN 2000 THEN IN 2004 AND NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED IN 2005 CONTINUOUSLY FAILS SAFETY INSPECTION VIN NO. [XXX] UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

RELATING TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA03023: I OWN A 1998 DURANGO WITH THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS. I HAVE SPENT $1000 TO FIX ONE SIDE OF THE FRONT END (HUB ASSEMBLY, BALL JOINTS, CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD ENDS - IT ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED) AND NEED TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER $1000 TO FIX EVERYTHING ON THE OTHER SIDE. WHY IS THE RECALL ONLY FOR 2000-2003 MODEL YEARS? THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED FOR MODEL YEARS 98 AND 99 - MY SEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE WAS FOR 1998 MODEL YEAR ISSUES AND THIS ISSUE IS LISTED AS A PROBLEM FOR 1998, ALTHOUGH MOST COMPLAINTS SEEM TO COME FROM MY 2000-2003 OWNERS, THAT'S NOT A REASON TO NOT FIX THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS MY MODEL YEAR.*AK

I PURCHASE MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN FEBRUARY OF 2004. AFTER TWO MONTHS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BEGAN (BOTH FRONT TIRES) WITH THE DRIVER SIDE BEING THE WORST. I HEARD CLICKING WHEN I WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE CV JOINT. I TOO K THE VEHICLE TO BRAUNING AUTOMOTIVE AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1500.00 IN REPAIR COSTS. I PURCHASED THE PARTS MYSELF AND MY FATHER REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS THE FOLLOWING DAY. ( I AM DOUBTFUL HE STILL HAS THE OLD PARTS - BUT I WILL ASK) THIS WAS BACK IN APRIL 2004 AND I AM HEARING THE CLICKING YET AGAIN. WHEN MY FATHER WORKED ON MY CAR HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A BOLT THAT WAS PARTIAL SCREWED IN AND THE THEADS HAD ACTUALLY BEEN STRIPPED...

HAD TO REPLACE FT CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS ONLY 42.000 MILES BOUGHT USED FROM DEALER WITH 29.000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ALSO EVERY ONE I TALK TO WITH THIS HAS EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS ---------- CALLED CHRY WOULD NOT HELP OR EVEN PAY A PORTION ALSO CALLED DEALER THEY WERE SAME ATTITUDE --- I DO NOT BELIEVE TGIS TRUCK WAS CHECKED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT FORTUNATELY NO ONE HURT. *JB

OUR 1998 DODGE DURANGO MADE A LOT OF CREAKING NOISES IN THE FRONT WHEN WE DROVE IT. WE REPLACED THE BRAKES (THROUGH GOODYEAR NOT DODGE) WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. FINALLY WE PAID TO REPLACE THE FRONT BALL JOINTS THROUGH DODGE. A FEW WEEKS AGO WE SAW A TV REPORT ABOUT DURANGO FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES, WE FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE, BUT FEEL THAT DODGE WAS NOT HONEST TO US THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT COULD CAUSE SAFETY PROLEMS. THE GOODYEAR STORE CERTAINLY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE BALL JOINT ISSUE!*AK WE HOPE FOR A RECALL TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM GETTING HURT.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM. *JB

1998 DODGE DURANGO. UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINT SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT.*AK

BALL JOINTS CASUING UNDUE WEAR AND TEAR ON TIRE REPLACED FRONT TIRE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS

THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO NOTICED SLIGHT PLAY IN THE GEAR BOX AND ADJUSTED IT. A FAULTY SOLENOID IN THE CAB CONTROLLER CAUSED THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEARD A LOAD POP, AT WHCIH POINT STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS RUBBING OR HANGING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBUS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED, THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS, AND THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS ALL MUST BE REPLACED. TOTAL REPAIR COST TO BE $1,900. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK 3 YEARS AND HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE DURING THE TIME PERIOD. WE HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTANENCE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. IT APPEARS THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME TO HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *AK

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

PREMATURE FAILURE OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT WITH NO MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT FROM DEALER OR DAILMER/CHRYSLER!*AK

FURTHER INVESTIGATION HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM. SAFTY CONCERNS IN STEERING SYSTEM MAY PRODUCE FUTURE INJURIES. BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE COMMON TO FAILED. *AK

UPON A STATE SFAETY INSPECTION I WAS NOTIFIED THET BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (RIGHT SIDE) AND LOWER BALL JOINT (LEFT SIDE) REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS 30, 455 MILES AT THIS TIME. THE SERVICE PERSON ADVISED THAT DODGE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS THESE ON THE 1998 AND 199 DURANGOS. MAYBE THIS JUSTIFIES A "RECALL" OF SOME SORT! T.*AK

FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING DOWN EXCESSIVELY FAST AND UNEVENLY DUE TO BALL JOINTS, ON TOP AND BOTTOM, BEING SHOT. *AK

THIS IS THE 4TH SET OF BALL JOINTS THAT HAVE GONE BAD. WHEN DO THEY ADMIT A PROBELM EXISTS?*AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. THIS WAS NOT NOTICED TILL A TIRE BLEW BECAUSE THE INNER EDGE OF THE TIRE HAD WORN OUT. A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASED, BUT I COULD NTO GET AN ALIGNMENT. TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS, I ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY EVER SEEN HIGHWAY MILES. BALLJOINT'S HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY. AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DURANGO OWNERS CLUB I KNOW THIS IS BECOMING A VERY COMMON OCCURANCE, EVEN ON NEWER VEHICLES.

WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT PIPE BROKE OFF. THIS CAUSED TIRE TO COLLAPSE INWARD. VEHICLE COULD NOT MOVE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF PARKING LOT.*AK

I KNOW OF OTHERS HAVING PROMBLEMS WITH EARLY FAILIERS ON THE BALL JOINTS I THINK DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE UPPERS & LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

BALL JOINTS REPLACED 8/3/01 BUT HAVE BE FAULTY FOR LONGER. *AK

THE FAILURE WAS DETECTED DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS HURT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE SUSPENSION DOES NOT PERFORM PROPERLY AND IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE ROADS ARE LIKE IN MO (NOT THE ORIGINAL HOME OF THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS BOUGHT USED) THEN THE SITUATION IS EVEN WORSE. THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS/CONTROL ARMS NOT ONLY EFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE BUT ALSO THE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND STRUTS/SHOCKS. THE BALL JOINTS/CONTROL ARMS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THIS FAST.*AK

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO RIGHT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FRONT RT & LT (UPPER & LOWER) BALL JOINTS & TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT CAUSING IMPROPER ALIGNMENT & EXCESSIVE & UNEVEN WEAR ON THE TIRES....WE HAVE PURCHASED NEW TIRES 3 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM! IN APRIL OF 2001, WE FIND THAT WE NEED REPLACEMENT OF THE LT UPPER BALL JOINT AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AS THEY SAY WE HAVE TOO MANY MILES! ALMOST ENTIRE MILEAGE IS OPEN ROAD DRIVING & VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. A VEHICLE THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT NEED BALL JOINTS REPAIRED/REPLACED LET ALONE 2 TIMES IN LESS THAN 10 MONTHS!!!*AK

BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHEN COULD BE HAPPENING AGAIN, AND DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING OR WHAT IS CAUSING IT.*AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH BALL JOINTS THAT WEAR OUT FAST, AND HAD BEEN RECALLED. WHEN MAKING A TURN FEELS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, AND IS NOT TIGHT ANY MORE. *AK

BALL JOINTS SUPPOSEDLY REPACED BY DEALER REP AT PURCHASE OF USED VEHICLE - MILEAGE 36,000. NEXT YEAR INSPECTION DENIED DUE TO FAILED BALL JOINTS AGAIN - UPPER ON BOTH SIDES. DEALER WILL REPLACE FOR HIGH FEE. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE SO WORN OUT THAT THEY WOULD FAIL THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN SPITE OF REGULAR GREASING. THEY WERE REPLACED ONLY AFTER GOING TO THREE DODGE DEALERS.

BALL JOINTS FAILED.

ALMOST THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED DUE TO FAILURES OF THE BALL JOINTS. CURRENTLY, I AM WAITING ON DELIVERY OF THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY (WHICH APPARENTLY DODGE HAS UPDATED TWICE NOW). IT HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH AND THE TRUCK IS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *AK

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW ONLY 20 MONTHS AGO AND THE BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED. DEALER ADMITS THAT THAT'S UNUSUAL AND THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST A VERY LONG TIME. *AK

BALL JOINTS FAILED.

WHEN MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS LOSING CONTROL . OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, THE BOX IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS CRACKED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *YC

BALL JOINT GOING TOO EARLY ON DURANGO. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WIHT NO SUCCESS.