1999 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Arm Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING AND CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IN 2002, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SPECIALTY ALIGNMENT SHOP AND THEY REFUSED TO ALIGN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN OUT. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HOWEVER, HE CONTINUES TO HEAR THE CLUNKING AND CREAKING SOUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114. THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE STAYED ENGAGED. THE ENGINE PINGED A LOT. UPDATED 11/06/07.

1999 DODGE DURANGO WITH STEERING PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR ON MANY OCCASIONS HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING BOX**CC THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE DATE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE LOOSE STEERING DEFECT AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $2,167 TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ALL NEW COMPONENTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING BOXES WERE REPLACED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND DRIFTS BOTH WAYS BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FOREMAN SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FLAT SPOT ON THE FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE SUM OF $1,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HE...

SUSPENSION FRON CONTROL ARM UPPER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM - FAILURE

VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OR MORE AND A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DURANGO WHICH HAD TO HAVE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL AS THE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. AS AN OWNER OF A DURANGO, I DO NOT FEEL THE RECALL SHOULD BE LIMITED TO MODEL YEARS 2000 TO 2003. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE FAULTY PARTS USED BY DODGE WERE USED IN MODEL YEARS PRIOR TO 2000. *JB

I HEARD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THEY BEGAN WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL, THEN WORSENED RAPIDLY TO A CONSTANT NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD MY LOWER BALL JOINTS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD DETERIORATED. HE SAID IT WAS LUCKY MY TIRES STAYED ON AND THAT THE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED SO EARLY IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE. THE DURANGO IS A 1999 MODEL AND HAD 81,500 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF REPAIR (MARCH 26, 2004). THE REPAIRS COST 1657.78. THIS AFTERNOON I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN FOR SQEAKING. HE OILED THE SAME PARTS AND SAID THEY LOOKED BAD AGAIN AND WOULD MOST LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. I HAVE ONLY GONE 10,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST REPAIRS WERE DONE. I CONTACTED DODGE,...

1999 DODGE DURANGO. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 6,000 MILES FREEZE PLUG; 48,691 TIE ROD END OUTER, SERPENTINE BELT; 63,851 TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR; 66,002 MILES BALL JOINTS FRONT UPPER; 68,175 MILES BALL JOINTS LOWER.*AK CONSUMER PAID OUT-OF-POCKET FOR EACH INCIDENT. I HAD EXTENDED INSURANCE THAT WAS PAID FOR WHEN TRUCK WAS BOUGHT, BUT WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT. NEVER RECIEVED ANY INFO FROM FEDELITY INSURANCE ABOUT EXTENDED INSURANCE. DURING INVESTIGATION, BY MYSELF, TO REPORT INCIDENTS TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER DISCOVERED ON BILL OF SALE THAT EXTENDED INSURANCE HAD BEEN PAID FOR. CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND FIDELITY INSURANCE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER REIMBURSED FOR PARTS OF TIE RODS & UPPER BALL JOINTS; THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE AND CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO CONSUMER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE. FIDELITY INSURANCE WOULD ONLY REFUND UP TO A YEAR FROM INITIAL REPORT OF 08/04/04. REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR ANYTHING BEFORE. SUBMITTED ALL DOCUMENTATION...

I JUST HAD ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO REPLACED. I ONLY KNOW 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN THIS VEHICHLE AND THEY HAVE BOTH HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME PARTS LONG BEFORE YOU SHOULD NEED TO.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WERE TILTED INWARD . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM, BUT SQUEAKING STILL PERSISTED. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, AND WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION WHILE DRIVING A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *AK

RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS OUT OF SPEC AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LEFT IS ALSO GOING OUT. COST OVER $400 FOR EACH SIDE! I UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS WELL DOCUMENTED. DODGE NEEDS TO SUCK IT UP AND PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT!*AK

UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND BALL JOINTS STARTED MAKING NOISE AFTER 12,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY 50,000 MILES. THE COST OF REPLACING THESE COMPONENTS WAS OVER $750.00. *LA

WE HAVE BEEN DETECTING FRONTEND NOISES FOR SOME TIME NOW IN OUR 1999 DODGE DURANGO(VIN# [XXX]). ON FRIDAY MORNING, NOV 28,2003, THEY SUDDENLY BECAME MUCH WORSE. THE SUDDEN INCREASE CAME WHILE WE WERE VISITING FAMILY FOR THANKSGIVING SOME 350 MILES FROM HOME. I PROMPTLY TELEPHONED MY SERVICE PERSON AT HOME AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE AND I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND HE HAS CONTINUALLY REASSURED ME THAT NO PROBLEM OF ANY SERIOUS NATURE IS DETECTABLE. ON THIS OCCASION, HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD REFER ME TO ANOTHER DEALER IN NJ OR I COULD BRING IT IN TO HIM WHEN I GOT HOME WITH THE TRUCK. I DESCRIBED THE NOISE IN DETAIL, A METAL ON METAL GRATING NOISE WITH SQUEAKING THAT WORSENED OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR ON RIGHT TURNS. AT NO TIME DID THE SERVICE PERSON INFORM ME OF...

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

AT 66,510 MILES BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH INNER TIRE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO AND THEY TOO HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

HAD TO REPLACE CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS ON 1999 DODGE DURANGO ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 85000 MILES. COST ~$2,000.*AK

HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO ALONG WITH WORN OUT TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES. THE TRUCK ATE THROUGH MY TIRES IN LESS THEN 26,000 MILES AND WHEN I WENT TO GET AN ALIGNMENT DONE THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR HAS BEEN REPLACED. THIS WAS MY FAMILY VEHICLE WITH TWO KIDS AND MY WIFE WHO TYPICALLY DRIVES IT. KNOW AFTER 909 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR I SAW A REPORT ON CBS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH THIS SUIT. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION.*AK

AT 70MPH, ON I-75 IN MICHIGAN '99 DURANGO TRANSFER CASE BLEW APART CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP WITH SMOKE POURING OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. MECHANIC STATED FRONT DRIVESHAFT CRACKED THUS MAYBE CAUSING TRANSFER CASE CV JOINT TO GO BLOWING APART TRANSFER CASE. ANOTHER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE AT HIGH SPEED DUE TO RUNNING OVER PIECES OF TRANSFER CASE. HAVE SPENT OVER $4000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS TO DURANGO IN 3 YEARS INCLUDING (FRONT DRIVESHAFT, TRANSFER CASE, WATER PUMP, PCM, UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, UPPER CONTROL ARMS, SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, FRONT ROTORS, BRAKES, ETC. ONLY 78,000 ON THE VEHCILE WHEN TRANSFER CASE BLEW UP. CAN I FILE A CLAIM FOR LEMON LAW REGARDING BALL JOINTS. UPPERS NEED REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

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

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *PH *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED AT OIL CHANGE WITH DEALER AT 52000. THEY SAID THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $1700! I ASKED WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURENCE ON DURANGOS. I ASKED WHY AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS WOULD NEED TYO BE DONE BUT IT WAS NOT URGENT BECAUSE IT WAN'T A SAFETY ISSUE.PROBLEM AGAIN IDENTIFIED BY DEALER AT 56000 OIL CHANGE. I HAD THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED BY A PRIVATE SHOP. I TOLD THEM I WANTED THIS FRONT SUSPENSION WORK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A FRONT SUSPENSION FAIL AT ONLY 57K! THEY LOOKED AT IT AND DETERMINED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL...

IN SEPTEMBER 2002 MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO FAILED INSPECTION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT AND LEFT AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS, AT A SIGNIFICANT OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE TO ME. ($1013.60 PARTS AND LABOR) THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD AND IS REGULARLY WELL MAINTAINED. I AM AWARE OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE AGENCY AS REPORTED IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER NEWSPAPER. I DID NOT FIND ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS SITE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IF THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD A RECALL ISSUED TO ALLOW FOR COST- FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE OWNERS. THANK YOU.*AK

1999 DURANGO, AM BEING TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND NEED REPLACING AT 60,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE GETS ONLY HIGHWAY MILES, NO ROUGH STUFF AT ALL. MECHANIC SAYS FRONT END SHIMMY (EXPERIENCED FOR PAST 10,000 MILES) IS RESULT OF BALL JOINT AND TIE RODS FAILING. THERE IS NO WAY A CORRECTLY DESIGNED SUSPENSION SYSTEM WILL FAIL IN 50-60,000 HIGHWAY MILES. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THEIR ERROR.*AK

TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE GOING OUT ON MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 MILES. ALSO INDICATED THAT RACK & PINION WAS LEAKING.*AK

CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END. TOOK TO DEALER IN LOS BANOS, CA. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALER WILL CHANGE UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES IN 1 YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE "BUSHING" IS DETERIORATING ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. *NLM *SCC

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

-UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS BAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 52,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY AND IS NOT SUBJECTED TO ABUSE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIP & MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO REPLACE COMPONENTS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE COVERED WARRANTY MILEAGE OF 32,000 MILES. HAVING DONE SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS.*AK