2001 DODGE DURANGO Suspension Problems

WHILE I LOVE MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO RT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS / SAFETY ISSUES THE VEHICLE HAS. NUMBER ONE IS THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT IS VERY LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING WHICH COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A WRECK, WHIPLASH ETC. IN DOING MY RESEARCH THE AVERAGE FIX THAT THE DEALERS WILL DO COSTS BETWEEN 600-800.00 WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE LINKS ON VARIOUS FORUM FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO FIX YOURSELF FOR ABOUT 40.00 OROVOODMG A BETTER FIX THAT THE DEALERS WILL NOT PROVIDE, BUT IT IS COMPLICATED AND VERY LABOR INTENSIVE. MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS TO BE SAFE AND HAVE SAFE PASSENGERS! TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS INTO DODGE AND GET THIS PERMANENTLY FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. THERE ARE UNTOLD AMOUNTS OF DODGE DURANGO OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THIS...

2001 DODGE DURANGO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BALL JOINT FAILURE DURING AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION CONCERNING RECALLED BALL JOINT FAILURE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT.*JS

MY WHOLE TIRE CAME OFF, LITERALLY SEPARATED FROM AXLE.. DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED.. BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. AND SHAKES. I HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED COMING OUT OF DRIVE THRU.. AFTER I PAID THE TRUCK OFF IT WAS DOWNHILL FROM THERE.

I PURCHACED A 2001 D0DGE DURANGO USED ABOUT A MPNTH AGO AND ALREADY I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN AND THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS WOBLING AND HAD A ROAR. PULLED OVER DIDNT SEE ANYTHING , SO WENT ON HOME TOOK IT TO GATEWAY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BALL JOINT. NOW IM PAYING PAYMENT ON A VEHICLE I CANT DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND A CRACKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CRACKING NOISE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY BALL JOINTS. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE LIGHT BULB AND SOCKET WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE PLENUM GASKET LEAKED OIL FROM THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 7/11/16 AND THE SAME DAY THE TIRE BLEW DUE TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT WHICH DOES HAVE A RECALL. MINE WAS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED, BUT SUPPOSEDLY THE RECALL WAS CLOSED AS IT WAS TO HAVE BEEN SERVICED ALREADY. EITHER IT WASN'T SERVICED OR THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE. I CONTACTED NHTSA AND THEY PUT ME THROUGH TO DODGE WHO SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT THERE ONLY BEING ONE OPEN RECALL ON IT AND I TOLD HER ABOUT THE BALL JOINT AND SHE TOLD ME THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR AND TOW AND SENT A TOW TRUCK AND TOWED IT TO MOTOR VILLAGE BUT DID NOT TELL THEM THAT THEY WOULD BE COVERING THE BALL JOINT WORK SO THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE DODGE CONTACT THEM IN THE MORNING. WHEN I DID CONTACT DODGE, THE FIRST REP COULDN'T GET THROUGH AND SO SHE OPENED A CASE. I THEN...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

CLUNKING WHEN TURNING. *TR

PRIOR TO THE HUB FREEZING UP THE SUV WAS MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE FRONT END THIS LATER TURNED INTO A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD SWAY WHEN EVER THERE WERE LANE CHANGES ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT HWY SPEEDS 55 TO 65 MPH AND DRIVING OVER THE LANE MARKER CAPS ON THE FREEWAY. THIS THEN DEVELOPED INTO A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END PRIOR TO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATING INVERTING UNDERSIDE CAR CHASSIS. *TR

GOING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE & AS I TURNED ON HER STREET I NOTICED HER DRIVING PAST ME GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY. WE BOTH PUT ON OUR BRAKES AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE & STARTED TO BACK UP A FEW FEET SO I WOULD HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN AROUND. I HEARD A GIANT "CLUNG" & THOUGHT "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT..?" I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND TURNED MY WHEELS TO THE LEFT TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER. THE CAR WAS IN FORWARD MOTION TRAVELING 1-2 MPH FOR APPX. 3 SECONDS WHEN SUDDENLY THE NOSE DIPPED DOWN & TILTED TO THE LEFT. THIS BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN INSTANT & ABRUPT STOP. I LOOKED OVER AT MY FRIEND & SHE SHRUGGED HER SHOULDERS LIKE "WHAT'S GOING ON?" I TRIED AGAIN TO GO FORWARD BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. MY FRIEND STARTED...

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH 2 OF MY KIDS.. I STARTED TO SMELL ANTIFREEZE GOING INTO MY CAR, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE BURSTING OUT OF MY CAR. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH IN 3 MONTHS, THE RADIATOR HOUSE BURST. AND NO LIGHTS CAME ON.. THE OIL PRESSURE ALSO DROPPED. TOOK IT TO SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED, CRACKED HEAD GASKETS AND BLOWN MOTOR, NOW WE ARE WITH OUT A CAR.... SAD BECAUSE I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE. WE WERE ALSO NEVER NOTIFIES ABOUT THE RECALL ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS AND PAID CASH FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BECOMING PREMATURELY WORN DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIE ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE, WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE CONTACT'S THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,127. UPDATED 3/13/13 *CN

UPPER BALL JOINTS CLUNKING NOISE OVER EVERY BUMP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND SWING ARMS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO FAULTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY CAR WAS SQUEAKING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN THE WHEEL FELL OFF AND THE REPAIR SHOP HAD TO FIX THE BALL JOINT AND SAID I NEEDED THE OTHER SIDE DONE TOO. 2 WEEKS LATER I HAD THE OTHER SIDE FIXED. *TR

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 5/27 THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER WHEEL BEARING OF MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO SUDDENLY SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSED THE DURANGO TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND CRASH INTO TWO PARKED CARS. THE WHEEL, AXLE, BEARING, RACK AND PINION AND ASSOCIATED PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED. OLD PART WILL BE SAVED. *JB

I HAVE BEEN WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND. CURRENTLY WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE VENTS. IT WAS A FIRE WHICH THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND WHERE THE SHORT IS. ALSO THE CONVERTOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER IS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE OF THE SHORT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES BECAUSE OF THE BURNING IT UP, THE SPRING BROKE WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND MY DAUGHTERS NECK WAS WRENCHED. EVERY OTHER DAY THE VEHICLE WON'T START, THE LOCKS WON'T WORK AFTER HAVING THEM REDONE BY CLIO CHRYSLER, THE WINDOWS WON'T GO UP AND DOWN, THE CAR HAS A BAD STEERING RACK WHICH WE REPORTED TO YOU QUITE SOME TIME AGO (2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS EVALUATED AND REPORTED THIS), THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, THE CAR CREAKS CURRENTLY UNDERNEATH AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO...

THE VEHICLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES BECAUSE IT MADE NOISE. *NM WHILE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BEING REPLACED THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE CONSUEMR REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BALL JOINTS SINCE THEY WERE RECALLED. *NM

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A BIZARRE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE TRUCK. SHE IMMEDIATELY STARTED DRIVING TOWARDS THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE WHEEL FOR UNKNOWN REASON BROKE AT THE HUB AND SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK, CAUSING HER TO SKID WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED. *AK

CREAKING, CLICKING NOISY FRONT END SINCE 4/2004. REPAIRED ON 4/16/2004 AT FLEMINGTON DODGE CAR & TRUCK COUNTRY. IT IS NOW 10/9/2004 AND THE SAME NOISES ARE STARTING AGAIN, VERY NOISY. I AM TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED WITH AN APPROPRIATE FINAL RESOLUTION. IT COSTS ME $151.90 TO FIX THIS EACH TIME AND A CAR RENTAL IS REQUIRED. ALSO, IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3.5 MONTHS SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

PROBLEMS WITH LOWER BALL JOINTS, SHOCKS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, ETC. *PH THE FRONT-END BEGAN TO FAIL. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD DEGRADED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO GO BACK IN FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE NOISE IN THE FRONT-END, THE REPAIR SHOP ASSUMED THAT THE SHOCKS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THEM WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE NOISE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE RIGHT SIDE HUB BEARING. THE WINDOW'S PLASTIC CASING INSIDE OF THE WINDOW COMPLETELY BROKE IN TWO PIECES. THE PLASTIC WAS BRITTLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL THE EXPENSES INCURRED. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED UNSPECIFIED PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2000 DODGE DURANGO. *SC

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. AFTER SEEING A REPORT ON THE BALL JOINTS ON TV I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED. GOOD THING I DID BECAUSE THE RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT BALL JOINT HAS SOME WEAR BUT WAS NOT REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. *AK THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE VACUUM HOSE LEAKED, AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT. IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT THE REAR DOOR LATCH RATTLED DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. *SC *JB

I BOUGHT MY DODGE DURANGO IN OCTOBER 2002. I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE & FELT LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND WHEN I WOULD STOP. HAD CHECKED AT PONTIAC DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT, THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. I SAW CBS NEWS STORY ON DURANGOS AND REALIZED THAT THE BALL JOINTS MAY BE THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE, IT STILL MAKES THE SAME CLUNKING NOISE, AND I STILL FEEL THE VEHICLE PUSH FORWARD WHEN I AM STOPPING MY VEHICLE. ON FEBRUARY 14TH OF THIS YEAR, I WAS DRIVING AND LOST MY BRAKES, FOUND OUT THAT THE CYLINDERS WERE BAD. I WILL PUT THIS DOWN AS AN INCIDENT, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL ONGOING, AND SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD AN INCIDENT & WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT ONE.

WHEN TURNING EITHER DIRECTION THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END PRODUCES A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND NO PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED, BALANCED, AND THE TIRES WERE CHANGED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER ARM AND THE BALL JOINTS. *NM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A WALL. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *AK BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD END FAILED TO CAUSE SUCH ACCIDENT. *TS

I HAVE 2001 DODGE DURANGO AND RECENTLY HEARD NOISES IN THE FRONT END ,AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SKIP ACROSS THE ROAD WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. IN ADDITION, THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES BOTH FRONT AND BACK ARE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE. THE LEFT SIDE IS WEARING NORMALLY. WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS, THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES, IS ALMOST THROWN OUT OF YOUR HANDS. VEHICLE ALSO SEEMS TO BE RIDING VERY ROUGH THAN WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. DEALER INSPECTED FRONT END AND CLAIMED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS.*AK

THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR. *AK. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB

STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO RIGHT (AS IF SOMEONE GRABBED IT AND PULLED). STEERING PULLED SAME WAY AGAIN (WITHIN SECONDS) AND DURANGO WENT INTO SPIN, THEN INTO DITCH, THEN ROLLED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT, NO OTHER TRAFFIC, WEATHER WAS DRY AND CLEAR.*AK