2000 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint Problems

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO THAT WE PURCHASED FROM A CERTIFIED DODGE DEALER IN NOVEMBER 2003. RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT IT WE NOTICED A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END AND HAD THEM CHECK IT OUT ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. I JUST TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE FOR A FRONT-END ALIGNMENT AND THEY TELL ME THAT BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND MUST BE REPLACED, AND THE JOB WILL COST $500. THERE IS NO WAY BALL JOINTS SHOULD GO BAD SO QUICKLY AND THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY SOLD IT. WE'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE 15 MONTHS. THERE IS AN INVESTIAGATION ON THIS BY DODGE AND OTHER AGENCIES BUT THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

UPPER BALLJOINTS ARE BAD

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60-65 MPH WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER WAS CLOSE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND WHEN HE CAME UPON AN EXIT HE TOOK IT AND PULLED TO THE SIDE. WHEN HE GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT WHEEL IT HAD TURNED TOE-IN. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY CALLED DEALER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT COST OF $2100.00. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS, TIE RODS, STEERING COLUMN, AND THE STEERING RACK. ALL THOSE PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF BALL JOINT FAILURE, AND THE WHEEL COMING ALMOST OFF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2000 DURANGO, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS COMPLAINING OF SQUEAKING NOISE, NEITHER TIME WAS THE PROBLEM FOUND OR FIXED, I HAVE NOW LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THE NOISE AS I GO ABOUT MY DAILY ROUTINE. SQUEAK NOT HEARD CONSTANTLY BUT IS HEARD MORE THAN PERIODICALLY. *AK

EXCESSIVE INSIDE FRONT TIRE WEAR, AND BALL JOINT SEPERATION. BALL JOINT SEPERATED WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. NO INDICATION OF PENDING FAILURE. EA03-023

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DURANGO 4 X 4 WITH APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2003 I PURCHACED NEW TIRES. ON NOVEMBER 21, 2003 I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED AND ALIGNED, HOWEVER THIS COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY BALL-JOINT ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS QUITE ALARMING TO MYSELF AS WELL AS THE TIRE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD ONLY APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES. A NEW BALL JOINT WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING NEWS REPORTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, I FEEL IT NECESSARY TO BRING MY EXPERIENCE TO YOUR ATTENTION. MY CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS...WHAT MUST I DO TO PREVENT A SIMILAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE FROM OCCURING TO MY VEHICLE? *JB

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINT PROBLEM IN THE SUSPENSION. IT HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT THE LAST 40,000 MILES. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, NOR DO I BELIEVE IT'S MY OBLIGATION TO FIX IT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE, AND DODGE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS ALSO A NUISANCE SINCE IT CREATES A VERY LOUD SOUND ON TURNS AND BUMPS. MANY PEOPLE STARE AT MY DURANGO WHEN THEY HEAR THIS NOISE. IT DOESN'T HELP THEM SELL CARS! *JB

WHILE DRIVING ENTIRE FRONT END VIBRATED. THE VIBRATION WAS WORSE WHEN SPEED INCREASED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD DISINTEGRATED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS.*AK *LA

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE WAS A CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN MAKING TURNS CONSUMER HEARD RAPID CLANKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND EXAMINED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK *LA

WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO HAS BAD BALL JOINTS. I WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT BAD ENOUGH. HOWEVER, NOW I AM SEEING REPORTS OF DURANGOS CRASHING BECAUSE WHEELS ARE COMING OFF. HOW DO I KNOW IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE MY DURANGO? DO I HAVE TO WRECK TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED PROPERLY? THERE IS ALSO NOISE AND NOW I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY.*AK

I DRIVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. BRKAES, TRANSMISSON AND UPPER BALL JOINTS, WHICH THEY DO NOT WISH TO FIX AND IT IS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD KNOW LUCK ON THEM FIXING IT. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE( BALL JOINTS ) BUT THEY KNOW IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOMETIME. YOU PAY BIG DOLLARS FOR A VEHICLE AND EXPECT SAFETY BUT ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY NOT THE CONSUMERS SAFETY OR NOT. NOR IS IT ABOUT THE COST WE HAVE TO PAY OUT FOR DEFECTS AND NOT NORMAL WEAR. I HOPE FOR MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS YOU LOOK CLOSELY INTO THIS MATTER AND FORCE THE MANUFACTURE TO RECALL THESE DEFECTS. THANK YOU FROM A VERY CONCERNED CONSUMER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TIRES FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE GOING TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. AFTER DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS FAILED. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PARKED VEHICLE UNTIL SOME REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO AND I AM HAVING AN ANNOYING SQUEAKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END AND THOUGHT IT WAS MY SHOCKS, SO I HAD NEW SHOCKS INSTALLED AND IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I HEARD ON THE NEWS WHERE ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE BALL JOINTS GOING BAD. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED DUE TO APPARENTLY THERE IS A DEFECT OR THERE WOULDN'T BE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. *AK

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED, BUT THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS COULD BE THE CAUSE. *AK *JB

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM RELATED TO BALL JOINTS, BASED ON A TV REPORT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN OUT. DEALER EXAMINED UPPER BALL JOINTS AND REPAIRED THEM. *AK *LA

WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FIVE TIMES, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT BALL JOINTS CAUSED THE NOISE. *AK

THE BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. SOMETIMES, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF THE DRIVER'S HAND, AND THERE WAS A CLANKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. ALSO, POWER DOOR LOCKS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK *LA

BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.*AK

MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. ALSO, WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE INNER/OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

BALL JOINTS HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

WHILE CHANGING LANES AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED, VEHICLE LUNGED TOWARDS THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NEARLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, EXCESSIVELY WORN UPPER BALLS JOINTS WERE DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 46,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE WHEEL OF MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO CAME OFF THE CAR AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL AND LAND IN A DITCH. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINT.*AK

WITHOUT WARNING, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF OF MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES AND THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A SEPARATION OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT, THE TIE ROD, THE FRONT AXLE, THE BRAKE LINE, THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND 1 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. WE WERE 1/4 MILE FROM TAKING A RAMP TO THE RIGHT AND ENTERING A 65 MPH EXPRESSWAY. I COULD HAVE LOST ONE OR BOTH OF MY CHILDREN TODAY DUE TO CHRYSLER'S NEGLIGENCE.*AK *NM EA03-023

WEARING OF BALL JOINTS IN 2000 DODGE DURANGO. *JB

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT WORE OUT AT 70,000 MILES. STARTED AT 50,000 MILES. ALOT OF CLUNKING WHEN TURNING.*AK

2000 DODGE DURANGO 4X4 UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT SEVERELY WORN, HAD TO REPLACE.*AK

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *LA

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS UNUSUAL WEAR, REPLACED AT 70000 MILES. ALSO DEALER AND OIL CHANGE PLACE SAID SLUDGE IN ENGINE. I REGULARLY CHANGE MY OIL, THE INTAKE MANIFORD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED ENGINE TO KNOCK AND HAVE SLUDGE. SPEED SENSOR IN REAR AXLE WENT BAD, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER AND ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WORN OUT. TRUCK HAD ONLY 40,000 MILES. *LA

DURING A ROUTINE VICHICLE INSPECTION, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE MACHANIC THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE UPPER BALL JOINT WEAR AND THAT REPLACE MENT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS MIGHT BE REQUIRED. THE 2000 DODGE DURANGO HAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES WHICH IS TOO SOON FOR UPPER BALL JOINTS TO BE WEARING OUT.

I HAVE A FAMILY OF FIVE AND BOUGHT A DURANGO TO SAFELY TRANSPORT THEM. I AM STARTING TO HEAR THE FRONT SUPENSION CREEKING AND POPPING. BEING NO STRANGER TO AUTOMOBILES I AM SURE IT IS THE BALLJOINTS. I DONT HAVE TO PAY A MECHANIC TO TELL ME THAT. DODGE MUST RECALL THIS IT IS NOT SAFE AND IT WILL HURT THEIR SALES IF THEY DON'T

FRONT END WAS MAKING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BROKE. *AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 17,000 MILES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

BALL JOINT FAILURE. IT APPEARS THIS IS OF EPIDEMIC PROPORTION AND POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS FOR BOTH THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER VEHICHLES. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF TIRES, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND WORN OUT DUE TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT. ALSO, BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINT FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THERE IS A CONSTANT SQUEAKING NOISE WHICH BECOMES LOUDER WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR TURNING THE WHEEL. A DEALERSHIP HAD FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEN HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN ONLY DAYS LATER, STATING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. IT HAS BECOME A REPETITIVE PROBLEM, STARTING AT ONLY 20,000 MILES AND CONTINUING ON. * CB

THE FRONT END SHAKES REAL BAD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES HIGH SPEEDS. THE BALL JOINTS WERE CHECKED AND REPLACED, IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM, NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT NORMAL FOR A DODGE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY SENSITIVE AND WHEN IT WAS PRESSED FELT LIKE THE ROTORS WHERE WARPED. *CB

BALL JOINTS ON 2000 DODGE DURANGO WORN OUT AT 47,000 MILES. *CB

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE DRIVERS SIDE. FRONT POWER DOOR LOCK DRIVERS SIDE. *CB

I WAS NOTIFIED BY CONCERN RELATIVES THAT THEY HAD WATCH ON TV THAT DURANGOS WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT. THE DEALER SAID I HAD EXACTLY 6 WEEKS OR LESS BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE FAILED. MY DURANGO IS A 2000 WITH 69,000 MILES. IT CARRIES CHILDREN EVERY DAY. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA. ALTHOUGH THE ROAD IS PAVED, THE ROAD IS DANGEROUS. BECAUSE OF YOUR NOTIFICATION YOU SAVED US FROM HAVING AN ACCIDENT THAT PROBABLY WE WOULD HAVE NOT SURRIVED BECAUSE OF THE TERRAIN. PLEASE CONTINUE TO NOTIFY PEOPLE. I CALLED UP CHRYSTLER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THEY TRULY DO NOT FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM LET ALONE THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO DRIVE DURANGOS CARRIES CHILDREN. I GO IN ON MONDAY, 2 HOURS AWAY TO GET MY VEHICLE FIX AT APPROXIMATELY $500.00. BUT...

I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BALL JOINTS REPLACED IN MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. IT WAS INCREDIBLY LOOSE. WHEN I HAD IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THERE WERE 110 SETS OF THESE ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *LA