1999 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Arm Problems

I PURCHASED MY 1999 DURANGO IN EARLY 2000. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS OF THE FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING WHEEL BEARINGS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, RIGHT SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY, BOTH SPINDLES, AND THE ROTORS TWICE. LAST WEEK, I NOTICE THE WHEEL WAS LITERALLY FLOPPING SIDEWAYS WHEN I TURNED. MY DEALER THEN REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BALL JOINTS, I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN EXTREME SHAKING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND A DRAMATIC PULL TO THE RIGHT. MY DEALER EXAMINED THE FRONT END AGAIN, AND AFTER ELIMINATING ALL OTHER POSSIBILITIES FOR THE PROBLEM THEN NOTICE THAT THE FRONT BRACKET WHICH HOLDS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS FRACTURED. UPON EXAMINING THE BRACKET THEY DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO SPOT WELD ON THE BRACKET AND THE TWO SIDE WELDS WERE ONLY ON THE...

BLL JOINTS NEEDE TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 60,000 MILES.

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO THAT I PURCHASED ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO, IT HAD 69,000 MILES . ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, UPPER & LOWER,WERE BAD ALSO THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I TRIED TO FIND THESE PARTS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, BUT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE AT OUR LOCAL AUTOSTORES. I BELIEVE THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED... THANK YOU VERY MUCH... STEVE KENNETT. *LA

CONSUMER STATED THAT THREE OUT OF THE FOUR BALL JOINTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE.*AK ALL FOUR CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *PH

BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY POINTED OUT THE THE BOTH BALL JOINT (UPPER AND LOWER) AND CONTROL ARM WHERE LOOSE AND NEEDED REPLACE. I TOOK MY 99 DURANGO IN DO TO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE GETTING A LOT DURANGO'S IN WITH THE SAME LOOSE BALL JOINT PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEALER THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67K MILES. THANKS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE WOULD "CREEK" AND SHAKE WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR GREATER. DEALER STATED THAT CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. *AK

PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF FRONT END COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A $1300 REPAIR BILL AT 70,000 MILES. VEHICLE BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. ALSO STATED THAT CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE FALLING APART. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *PH MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT A RATE OF 50/50% BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE SHOULD'VE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AT 36,000 SO THE REPAIRS COULD'VE BEEN FULLY COVERED. *PH

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET NEW TIRES, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. *AK ALSO THE CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. *JB

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO. THE BALL JOINTS WRE OUT AND I HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL FALL OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL OR OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS? THANKS, KENNETH LOWRIE

ON DECEMBER 27, 2002 I BROUGHT MY DODGE DURANGO TO JUST CRUISIN, INC TO HAVE MY ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT I FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO OUT OF SPECIFICATION CONDITIONS ON MY FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE HAD 62,810 MILES AT THE TIME OF THIS INSPECTION. THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY BELIEVED THIS TO BE A PREMATURE WEARING OF THE PARTS. ON 1/17/03, THE ORDERED PARTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED, AND I HAD THEM REPLACED. JUST CRUISIN REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS, THE LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT, AND BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS. I DID NOT NOTIFY CHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM YET. TODAY, I READ AN ARTICLE REGARDING 4 ACCIDENTS AND 81 COMPLAINTS OF PREMATURE WEAR ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF DODGE DURANGOS AND DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I ALSO INTEND TO CONTACT CHRYSLER REGARDING RECOUPMENT OF MY EXPENSES. BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED W/ FACTORY...

I WAS TOLD RECENTLY FROM DODGE DEALER THAT I NEEDED RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND HAD WORN OUT BALL JOINTS THAT WOULD COSTS ROUGHLY 1500.00 TO FIX.I HEARD ON NEWS TODAY THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OR RECALL.IM SURE THERE OR OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM SHELLING OUT HARD EARNED CASH TO HAVE THIS FIXED,BECAUSE THE MECHANIC I TALKED WITH SAID THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH THAT MODEL;ACTED AS IF IT WAS NORMAL.I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR SO NEW.I HAVE BEEN SAVING MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED, BUT NOONE FROM DODGE TOLD ME THAT I WAS IN DANGER IF I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT LIKE THAT,THEY DID SAY IT WOULD WEAR MY TIRES OUT AND I WOULD NOTICE IT MORE THE LONGER I DRIVE IT LIKE THAT.IM GLAD SOMEONE IS LOOKING...

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE INTO TWO PLACES FOR UNDERBODY INSPECTIONS AND M-59 DODGE TOLD ME MY BALL JOINTS (UPPER & LOWER) AND CONTROL ARMS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD M-59 DODGE REPLACE THEM ONCE AT 44,000 MILES ON MY '99 DURANGO AND NOW AT 77,000 THEY SAY THEY NEED IT AGAIN? SO, I TOOK IT INTO ANDERSON DODGE FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FINE (GOOD) ACTUALLY. SO, I CHECKED DEFECTS OFF THE NHSTA WEBSITE AND SAW SEVERAL INSTANCES OF BALL JOINTS FAILING AT EVERY 30,000 MILES. SO, I CALLED A DODGE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND ASKED WHAT THE PART #S WERE FOR BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS FOR A '99 DURANGO AND FOR A '99 DAKOTA (4X4) AND GUESS WHAT THEY ARE THE SAME NUMBERS????? LET ME GUESS, DESIGN THE 4X4 DAKOTA AND JUST ADD ALL THAT WEIGHT AND MOMENT ARMS OF THE BACK...

BEARINGS IN UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DETERIORATION. DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM ON SEVERAL VISITS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY, AFTER NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE REPLACEMENTS A FRIEND MECHANIC NOTICED BEARINGS WHICH CAUSED NOISE FROM ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE. CLICKING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS AND TURNS TURNED INTO LOUD GRIND, WHICH IS WHEN PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUND PROBLEM. ONE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FRONT SHOCKS. REPLACED THEM BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIPS ARE AVOIDING PROBLEM HOPING WARRANTIES RUN OUT. I EQUATE CAR DEALERSHIPS/SERVICE DEPARTMENTS WITH CARNIVAL WORKERS. THIS IS THEIR CASH COW!!!!!

CONSUMER STATES TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION. DLR ADVISED THAT BALL JOINTS HAD A DESIGN DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY. MR

1999 DODGE DURANGO IS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS WILL RESULT IN ACCIDENTS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO FATALITIES. *AK

AT 65,000 MILES, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. HE ALSO SAID THAT DURANGO'S APPARENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM SINCE HE HAD ALREADY REPLACED AT LEAST 20 OF THEM. THE FRONT END OF MY CAR HAD BEEN CREAKING FOR AWHILE WHEN I WOULD HIT A SPEEDBUMP OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. I AM A WOMAN AND DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND RESEARCHED THIS AND HAVE SEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM DURANGO OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY NIECE ALSO OWNS A DURANGO AND I TOLD HER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SHE HAD TO BRING HER CAR IN FOR A DIFFERENT REPAIR TO HER DEALER, SO SHE ASKED THEM TO CHECK HER BALL JOINTS. THEY SAID THAT HER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES ON HER VEHICLE SO HER REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER...

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND STATE INSPECTION ATTENDANT STATED THAT UPPER AND LOWER LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. CONSUMER FELT BALL JOINTS WENT OUT AT A VERY LOW MILEAGE. DODGE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK JLG

DURING STATE INSPECTION MECHANIC NOTICED BOTH LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN APRIL 2002 RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED.*AK

TOOK MY DURANGO IN TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED AND A 4-WHEEL THRUST ALIGNMENT. HE ADVISED ME THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO WANTED ME TO HAVE THEIR MECHANICS DIAGNOSE IT. THEY AGREED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE 36,00 MILE WARRANTY. THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND I WOULD PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE. A FILE WAS OPENED. ON AUGUST 2, 2002 I TOOK MY DURANGO TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE A ROUTINE TIRE BALANCE AND ROTATION DONE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER , BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

TOOK MY DURANGO IN TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED AND A 4-WHEEL THRUST ALIGNMENT. HE ADVISED ME THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO WANTED ME TO HAVE THEIR MECHANICS DIAGNOSE IT. THEY AGREED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE 36,00 MILE WARRANTY. THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND I WOULD PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE. A FILE WAS OPENED. ON AUGUST 2, 2002 I TOOK MY DURANGO TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE A ROUTINE TIRE BALANCE AND ROTATION DONE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER , BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

SEAT TRACK HAS BECOME LOOSE - PROVIDES ROCKING CHAIR EFFECT - NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE INSPECTED & REPLACED AS PART OF MAINTENANCE - HOWEVER MECHANIC STATES THEY THEY FAILED WAY TOO EARLY.*AK

BOTH BALL JOINTS FAILED WITH LESS THEN 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

WENT IN TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED AFTER JUST PURCHASING THIS USED 1999 DODGE DURANGO. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS WEARING FUNNY AND NOTICED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SUSPENSION SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT RIGHT BUSHINGS ON THE ARM CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A PART THAT CANNOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. I HAVE NOTIFED DODGE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY WASH THEIR HANDS OF THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A STICKER IN MY WINDOW OF A 21 POINT CHECK PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH INCLUDED TIRE ALIGHTMENT. THE TIRE ALLIGNMENT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED WITHOUT NOTICING THE PROBLEM WITH THE ARM CONTROL BUSHINGS.*AK

FACTORY INSTALLED UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT 31,797 MILES. DEALER TECHNICIAN "DRILLED & TAPPED FITTINGS ON THE RIGHT JOINT" WHEN REPLACING UNDER 3YR. 36,000 MILE WARRANTY.*AK

REPLACEMENT UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS & CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT 45,551 MILES. DEALER AUTO TECH REPLACED PARTS - THE RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT FITTING WAS INITIALLY "DRILLED & TAPPED" BY DODGE AUTO TECH ON 4/10/01. THE COST FOR INSTALLATION AND PARTS FOR SECOND REPLACEMENT WERE NOT WARRANTIED BY DODGE OR MOPAR - 12,000 MI. WARRANTY OFFERED BY MOPAR - WE WERE 1,834 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. WE PAID HALF THE COST ON THIS SAFETY HAZARD REPAIR.*AK

REPLACEMENT UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS & CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT 45,551 MILES. DEALER AUTO TECH REPLACED PARTS - THE RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT FITTING WAS INITIALLY "DRILLED & TAPPED" BY DODGE AUTO TECH ON 4/10/01. THE COST FOR INSTALLATION AND PARTS FOR SECOND REPLACEMENT WERE NOT WARRANTIED BY DODGE OR MOPAR - 12,000 MI. WARRANTY OFFERED BY MOPAR - WE WERE 1,834 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. WE PAID HALF THE COST ON THIS SAFETY HAZARD REPAIR.*AK

THE FRONT END IS MISALIGNEDAND SQUAEKS CAUSING THE TIRE TO WEAR PREMATURELY, THE BUSHINGS TO THE CONTROL ARMS (UNKNOWN UPPER OR LOWER) ARE SEPERATING. THE DEALER INDICATED THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO NO SHIELD TO DEFLECT HEAT FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ITS YEARLY EMISSIONS INSPECTION. VEHICLE WAS REJECTED BECAUSE OF FAULTY BALL JOINTS. DRIVER WAS TOLD BY INSPECTOR THAT WHEEL COULD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FAILED VEHICLE INSPECTION 9/20/01 FOR LOW BALL JOINTS, (MILEAGE=15,730), VEHICLE TO HARR DODGE 9/22/01 TO 9/28/01 FOR REPAIR, HARR DODGE STATED REPAIR NOT NEEDED BECAUSE "BALL JOINT PLAY WITH-IN SPECS" PER SERVICE MANUAL (MILEAGE=15,746). VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION (RETEST) 10/11/01 FOR "BAD BALL JOINTS" (MILEAGE=15,953). VEHICLE TO SUMNER'S GETTY/AUTO REPAIR STATION, LEICESTER, MA. ON 11/18/01 (MILEAGE=16,614) STATED "NEEDS TWO TIRES (FEATHERING), AND BALL JOINTS, UPPER AND LOWER".. *AK

BALL JOINTS FAILED INSPECTION, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

AFTER SEEING INFORMATION ON INTERNET CONCERNING DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS THAT COULD CAUSE TIRES TO WEAR OUT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN TIRES. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER, BUT VEHICLE COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE OF EXPIRED WARRANTY. *AK THE TIRES WORE OUT DUE TO THE BALL JOINTS BEING WORN, JOINTS WERE WORN OUT TO A POINT OF VEHICLE BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DODGE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NEW TIRES TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT UPPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 21000 AND 43000 MILES. NEW PART WAS REDESIGNED TO INCLUDE A GREASE FITTING. DODGE PAID FOR PARTS NOT FOR LABOR.*AK

THE ORIGINAL UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 37,838 ON 7/6/00. LESS THAN 11 MONTHS LATER WE HAVE FAILED INSPECTION TEST DUE TO FAULTY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

CURRENT PROBLEM: BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT FEELING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ARMS OR SOMETHING IN THAT AREA, NOTHING WAS EVER LOOKED AT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE SAME BUMP I FELT, SO THEY REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY DURANGO FOR NEW TIRES ON MAY 1, 2001; THE TIRE PLACE ROBERTSON TIRE IN TULSA, SAID THE BALL JOINTS ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE WAS TOAST. SINCE I DID NOT PUT MY CONCERNS OF THE ARMS OR BALL JOINTS IN WRITING I HAVE NO PROOF THAT I HAD MENTIONED IT TO THEM THE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WHEN THEY PERFORMED OTHER WORK ON MY VEHICLE. ALSO, WE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKES. WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED,...

FRONT BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

BALL JOINT FAILED PREMATURELY AT STATE INSPECTION. *AK

BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AND RUINED FRONT TIRES. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE TIRES OR BALL JOINTS!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 31X10.5R15 )

WHILE DRIVING COULD LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN KEEP STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT. VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE SIDES. A TECHNICIAN SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. *AK

DODGE CURRENTLY HAS NATION WIDE BACK ORDER OF OVER 1100 2X4 BALL JOINT ASSYMBLES.MY TRUCK IS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO PARTS AVALABILITY.B/O PROMPTTED MY REQUEST.DEALER FOUND PROBLEM AT 18 MOS. OF SERVICE DURING ROUTINE ALIGNMENT SERVICE. *AK

NOTICED POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END SUMMER/99 @24000 MILES TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID BALL JOINTS WITHIN SPECS. BALL JOINTS ARE VISIBLY LOOSE, ABLE TO WOBBLE WHEEL.