1998 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS LOOSER THAN NORMAL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC ON FEBRUARY 21, 2008 AND BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL AS THE STEERING BOX WERE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST $1,001.24. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,298 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,598. UPDATED 05/05/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 10, 2003 HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. UPDATED 05/05/08 *TR

TIRES NEVER LASTED MORE THAN 20K MILES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR NEW. FRONT END SHIMMY AND WANDER ON THE HIGHWAY EVEN AFTER TWICE YEARLY ALIGNMENTS. TO BE REPAIRED SOON. I CAN SAVE OLD PARTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT WERE LOOSE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,945.

BOTH BALL JOINTS LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER AND UPPER ARE BAD, HAVE NOT REPLACED AS OF YET WILL SOON. TRUCK HAS ONLY 82K ON IT. *JB

I BOUGHT MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO FROM A SMALL USED CAR LOT. WHEN I GOT IT HOME AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY MY MECHANIC THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THAT WAS $1000+. AFTER FINDING OUT THAT THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM IN THE LATER MODELS BUT THAT THEY WERE BEING RECALLED, I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO SOMEONE'S ATTENTION. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR BALL JOINT REPAIRS ON A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINT RECALL AND BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS GOING EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE. THAT DID NOT OCCUR AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCE TO PAY FOR UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. *NM

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DODGE DEALER THAT MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO NEEDS TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. THEY WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 70,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE. DODGE HAS REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY ON EITHER OCCASION. SINCE BALL JOINTS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO THINK THE FAILURE RATE ON THESE PARTS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I DO KNOW DODGE HAS ISSUED RECALLS ON LATER MODEL DURANGO'S FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT USED OFF ROAD AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. PLEASE HELP. *JB

I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO FROM A SMALL CAR DEALERSHIP IN 2004. IT ONLY HAD 50K MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BEFORE A TRIP THAT MY TRUCK HAD SOME "PLAY". NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT WAS, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. I AM NOW TOLD THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1000 TO FIX IT AND THEN I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 5K MILES ON THEM. I AM LOOKING AT A 2K DOLLAR FIX! ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY WERE EXTREMELY UNSAFE! I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS OUR MAIN VEHICLE. HOW MANY LIVES ARE THEY GOING TO PUT IN DANGER FOR THE DURANGO OWNERS (1998-1999)? WE HAVE THE SAME BALL JOINT PROBLEMS AS THE 2000-2003 OWNERS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FORUMS AND HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS SO WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN...

AFTER PAYING $1500 TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON OUR RECENTLY PURCHASED DURANGO, I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT FOR DURANGOS. WHEN I INQUIRED WITH DEALER ABOUT A POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS RECALLED I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VEHICLE YEAR, IT ONLY APPLIED TO 2000-2003 MODEL YEARS. ALTHOUGH OUR 1998 MODEL ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES, DAIMLER CHRYSLER WASN'T WILLING TO REIMBURSE OR DO ANYTHING FOR US. I FOUND THIS VERY DISAPPOINTING CONSIDERING THIS IS THE FOURTH DODGE WE'VE OWNED AND CURRENTLY BOTH OUR VEHICLES ARE DODGE MAKES. WITH THE ENORMOUS NUMBER OF DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO EXPECT THE NHTSA TO DEMAND DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALL THE 1998 AND 1999 DURANGOS FOR BALL JOINT PROBLEMS AS WELL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TIRE REPLACEMENT AND ALIGNMENT THE DEALERSHIP OBSERVED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE TIRE REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES. SINCE PURCHASE, THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, SMOKE COMES FROM THE WHEEL WELL AREA. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT.

AFTER SEEING A REPORT ABOUT FAILED BALL JOINTS IN DODGE DURANGOS, WE HAD OURS INSPECTED AND THEY ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD THEM REPLACED AND 4 MONTHS LATER THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL (04V596000) FOR BALL JOINT AND EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YR / 100000 MILES FOR 2000 - 2003 DURANGOS. MY QUESTION IS WHY THE '98 DURANGOS WERE NOT INCLUDED SINCE MY 98 DURANGO HAD THE SAME FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS ONLY 69,000

DT: THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, THE CERTIFIED REPAIRMAN DETERMINED THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND LODGED A COMPLAINT. THE CASE NUMBER WAS 14394561. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

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

BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 1998 DURANGO SLT W/ 5.9L ENGINE AND 81,500 MILES. HEARD CLUNKING SOUND IN FRONT END DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY IN DALLAS, TX. PULLED IN MIDAS SHOP AND LEERED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT WAS READY TO COME COMPLETELY APART. THE MIDAS SHOP MANAGER ADVISED ME TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS. BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST: $1,400. I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *JB

UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. BALL JOINTS REPLACED. *NM

PREMATURE WEAR ON UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. THE SEPARATION OF THESE COMPONENTS CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IN ADDITION TO THE BALL JOINTS, THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES FAIL PREMATURELY WHICH IN COMBINATION WITH THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM GREATLY INCREASES LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAUSES SLOW ACCELERATION WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *NM

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. ENTIRE FRONT END FAILED! TIRES WERE GETTING READY TO FALL OFF! TIRES LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD WORN COMPLETELY BOLD BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END. WAS TOLD THAT THE 2000 WAS RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! BUT MY 1998 IS NOT IN ON RECALL...AND IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!@!!!!!!!*JB

BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THESE TRUCKS HAVE RECALLS FOR 1999 AND 2000. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 62,000 WHEN 3 OF THE 4 BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER THAT HAD LEAKED INTO THE JOINTS. MY REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THE COMPLAINT THAT I FILED WITH DODGE IS # 13277677. *JB

1998 DODGE DURANGO UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*MR *JB

I SAW ON AN NBC SPECIAL THAT CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASE THE DODGE DURANGO OR DAKOTA HAD THE BALL JOINTS OF THEIR VEHICLES JUST FAIL ON THEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAVE MY BALL JOINTS CHECKED ( I HAVE THE WORK ORDER) AND SURE ENOUGH ALL THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I HAD THEM REPLACED( THAT WAS ABOUT 18MONTHS AGO) AND AGAIN THE JOINTS HAVE DETERIORATED. MY CAR HAS LESS THAT 80K MILES ON IT. IT IS HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS. THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN- THE BALL JOINTS I HAD INSTALLED CAME WITH A LIFE-TIME WARRANTY. THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MY CONCERN THAT IF WE DID NOT INSPECT THE SUSPENSION, WE WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THIS PROBLEM EVEN EXISTED. CONSUMERS SHOULD AT LEAST BE INFORMED OF THE RISKS OF THEIR VEHICLE POSSIBLY FAILING BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE JOINTS.

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)

MY DODGE DURANGO STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPON TURNING OR GOING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND THERE WAS A FAILURE OF BOTH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AS WELL AS THE TIE-ROD ENDS, NEARLY SEPARATED. PER THE GARAGE, UNUSUAL FOR A 7 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 66,000 MILES. THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OCCURS. REPLACEMENT WILL INCLUDE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE AND 4 TIE RODS. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $1,100. *JB

FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. 35,661 MILES TO DATE 17,819 MILES ON WHEN UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. ROTHROCK MOTORS WHERE I PURCHASED IT WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY SATISFACTION SO I WENT TO BROWN DAUB DODGE. THEY REPLACED THEM THE FIRST TIME. (07/31/01). THIS TIME ON 07/28/05 I CALLED ROTHROCK LEFT A MESSAGE AND NO ONE EVER CALLED ME BACK SO I CALLED BROWN DAUB AND THEY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO LOOK AT THEM. THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THEM THIS TIME AND I WAS CHARGED $546.41 AND TOLD TO CONTACT CHRYSLER TO RECOUP MY MONEY. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEXT YEAR FOR INSPECTION, THEY BARELY PASSED. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED TWICE ON VEHICLE. ALSO, BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE WAS AT 27,280. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OCCURRED AT 43,908 MILES. CONSUMER STATED FRONT END WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE AND WAS DRIVING DIFFERENTLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS SENDING THE SERVICE RECEIPTS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR FOR THIS SPECIFIC COMPONENT, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN DUE TO VIN. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE COMPLETE ADDRESS FOR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.*AK REPAIR RECEIPTS ATTACHED FOR BALL JOINTS. WINDSHIELD SPRAYER SPRAYS ONE SIDE. CONNECTOR REPALCED. FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS MACHINED. *TT

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSTABLE EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE MECHANIC ENCOURAGED HIM TO LET NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. *AK

DT: CONTACT HAD TO GET THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. ON IT. DEALER SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE, AND NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED ON THAT PARTICULAR YEAR TO WARRANT A RECALL. *AK

DT: CONTACT OWNED A 1998, DODGE, DURANGO. THERE WAS RECALL O4V596000 CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THIS RECALL WAS ONLY FOR 2000-2003 MODELS. CONTACT ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

DT: OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL VEHICLE PROBLEMS. . ON ALL FOUR WINDOWS THE REGULATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. DRIVER'S SIDE HAVING TO BE REPLACED THE MOST. ALSO, LOWER BALL JOINTS / LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT, AND STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR TIME. CURRENTLY THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THESE HAS BEEN ONGOING ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE CONSUMER OWNED IT. CONSUMER DEALT WITH DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER, BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HELP SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. CHRYSLER WAS VERY RUDE AND HUNG UP ON THE CONSUMER. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. HE STATES THAT HIS UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE ABOUT TO BREAK BECAUSE HIS WHEELS ARE LEANING. *TT

PERHAPS THIS IS NOT THE PROPERLY MECHANISM FOR MY INQUIRY; IF SO, I APOLOGIZE. I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DURANGO, ON WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE (EXPENSIVE!) UPPER BALL JOINTS TWICE! MY QUESTION TO THE NHTSA IS SIMPLY, "WHY WERE THE 1998 AND 1999 MODEL YEARS EXCLUDED FROM THE BALL JOINT SAFETY NOTICE YOU ISSUED PREVIOUSLY (#04V596000)? MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT THE BALL JOINT DESIGN ON MY 1998 MODEL YEAR DURANGO IS ALSO DEFECTIVE -- WHY IS IT NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL?

UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE / AXLE SEAL LEAKS

A PREMATURE WEAROUT AND NEAR SEPERATION OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. UPPER AND LOWER JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES. THESE ARE THE SAME BALL JOINTS INVOLVED IN 2000-2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE NO CLUE WHY MODEL YEAR 1998 WAS NOT INCLUDED.

(1)BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE MAKING POPPING NOISES EVERYTIME WE DROVE OVER A BUMP OR JOLT IN THE ROAD. (2)THE BOTH WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING, THANKFULLY BEFORE THEY CREATED AN ACCIDENT. (3)BOTH BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE REALIGNED.

UPPER BALL JOINT ON OUR 1998 DURANGO ARE BAD. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOW ISSUE FOR THE DURANGOS. HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALLED, WHICH INCLUDED 2000 AND ABOVE DURANGOS. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER 1998 AND 1999 DURANGOS. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE WRECKS AND EVEN DEATHS. PLEASE HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.*AK

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND FRONT AXLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT AND WILL BE REPLACED. *JB

1998-1999 DODGE DURANGO OWNERS ARE YOU MAD !! I AM ! WHY WERE WE LEFT OUT OF THE DAIMLER-CHRYSTLER BALL JOINT RECALL ? ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IT IS THE SAME PART AS USED IN THE 2000-2005. MINE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND WERE ALMOST BROKEN. *AK WHEN I TOOK MY SUV TO THE SHOP. NOW IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1000 TO FIX IT. DON'T WE DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AS THE 2000-2005 OWNERS. I CALLED THE TERRY WISEMAN'S DEEALSHIP OF ROBINSON,ILLINOIS. AT FIRST THE SERVICE DEPT. PUT ME ON HOLD FOR 15 MINS. I HUNG UP AND CALLED AGAIN AND GAVE THE RECEPTIONIST MY PHONE NUMBER, INFO, AND ASK FOR THEM TO CALL ME WITH AN ESTIMATE. I RECIEVED NO CALL. I CALLED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY THE RECEPTIONIST PUT ME THROUGH TO BARRY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE TOOK MY INFO. ABOUT 9:00 AM...

I WON A 1998 DODGE DURANGO 4X4. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON MY DURANGO. I HAD ONE OF THE PADS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BREAK LOOSE FROM THE SHOE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AS WELL. COSTING ME $435. THE MECHANIC DOING THE WORK WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES RECENTLY. I INFORMED HIM THAT I HAD NOT. THE FRONT AND REAR WERE REPLACE AT THE SAME TIME MAYBE A YEAR EARLIER. HE SAID THERE WAS NEXT TO NO WEAR ON MY REAR BRAKES. SINCFE HAVING MY BRAKES REPLACED THERE IS THIS AWFUL GRINDING SOUND IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANINC AND HE SAID ALL 4 BALL JOINTS, UPPER AND LOWER, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400. PARTS AND LABOR. I KNOW DODGE RECALLED THE 2000-2003, BUT THIS IS REDICULOUS. I HAVE...

CONSUMER LEFT FRONT TIRE LOCKED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER , AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND WERE BEING REPAIRED.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR.*AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. THREE OF THE FOUR POWER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THEY BURNED OUT. *NM

ALL 4 BALL JOINTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE CLOSE TO FAILING AT 72,310 MILES. PLUS, AN INNER TIE ROD WAS BAD AND THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE VERY LOOSE AND IT BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. *AK

ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE AMOUNT SHE PAID FOR SERVICE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON . THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *TC *JB

THE VEHICLE'S UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE MANUFACTURER EXCLUDED 1998 DURANGOS WHEN IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS 2000-03 MODEL YEARS. *BF *NM *SC *TC *JB

ALL FOUR OF THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 1998 DURANGO IS NO DIFFERENT FROM HIS WIFES 2000 DURANGO. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998-1999 VEHICLE SHOULD BE LISTED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TC *JB

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

KNOCKING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO BECOME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I BROUGHT IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION. I BROUGHT IT TO ALEXANDER DODGE IN FRANKLIN, TN AND THEY SAID THAT THE DEFECT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE YEAR, WHICH I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO 1999 AND AFTER WHEN MY VEHICLE IS A 98 AND I FIND IT HATRD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR TO A VEHICLE MADE THE PREVIOUS YEAR UNLESS THEY HAD CHANGED MANUFACTURERS IN BETWEEN. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE WHEELS APPEARED TO BE COMING OFF. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. *AK

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: 1.) NOISE EMINATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ? CLUNKING, SQUEAKING; 2.) LOOSE STEERING ASSOCIATED WITH CLUNKING; .) WANDERING AT SPEED. *AK FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: 1.) PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL DEALER AS WORN LOWER BALL JOINTS, RIGHT INNER TIE ROD END, AND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS 2.) POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DETERMINING THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO FAILURE ? UNSAFE OPERATION OR LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING FAILURE CORRECTION: 1.) REPLACED LOWER BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS, SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, AND THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD END ($777.78 PARTS AND LABOR) IN LIGHT OF RECENT RECALLS REGARDING BALL JOINTS OF 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS, WE BELIEVE INVESTIGATION INTO EARLIER MODELS IS WARRANTED. EXTREMELY SIMILAR SYMPTOMS ARE EVIDENT ON THE EARLIER MODELS PRIOR TO 2000 LEADING US TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM EXISTED PRIOR TO THE 2000 MODEL YEAR. GIVEN...

1998 DODGE DURANGO HAS SAME PROBLEM AS 2000-2003 DAKOTAS/DURANGOS, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. *BF