2002 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING, WHINING, AND HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE DROVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND A TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT: CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE REPAIR. THE SWITCH TO OPERATE THE BLOWER MOTOR FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 07/15/08.*LJ THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. UPDATED 07/15/08.

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE DURANGO IN JAUARY OF 2007. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FOR CHRYSLER. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON MY TRUCK IN 2005. WHEN I INFORMED THE SERVICE CENTER THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE THEY WERE AMAZED TO FIND THAT THEY BALL JOINTS HAD WORN SO QUICKLY AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS "STILL" PRESENTS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR DODGE DURANGO OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. WHEN SHE MAKES A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO RETURN AUTOMATICALLY AND SHE MUST PULL HARD TO GET IT BACK IN POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

2002 DODGE DURANGO SLT 2WD: BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AFTER RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED, THE EXACT SAME NOISES BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WITH THE COMPLAINT AND THEY DENIED THE NEW BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. UPON GETTING NEW FRONT TIRES INSTALLED AT SEARS (ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE JOINTS) THEY INSPECTED THE CAR WITHOUT BEING ASKED (IT IS PART OF THEIR SERVICE) AND ON THE REPORT THEY ISSUED, IT SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE INDEED WORN. THE RECALL NOTICES I HAVE READ ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS STATE THAT IF THE JOINTS FAIL YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SO OBVIOUSLY I AM IN FEAR THAT MY CAR CAN FAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I AM WRITING THIS TO MAKE IT AWARE THAT I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RECALL REPLACEMENT, BUT FEAR THAT THE...

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP THE MECHANIC LOST CONTROL. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE GOING OVER BUMPS. IT HAD OCCURRED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND KEPT GETTING WORSE. *AK

DT: THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. THEY WERE SO LOOSE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, BUT NOT FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT. *AK *TT

THE UPPER BALLS JOINTS WERE REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL, AND THE MANUFACTURER PART OF THE PAYMENT. CONSUMER RECENTLY WENT THROUGH INSPECTION,AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. NO RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS LIFTED HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE WHEEL INSPECTED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THAT FRONT BALL JOINTS, LEFT OUTER TIE ROD, AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

HEAR RATLING IN FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALER INVESTIGATION REVEALED PREMATURE WEAR OF BALL JOINTS. DEALER SUGGESTED TO WAIT, AS A POSSIBLE RECALL MAY OCCUR.*AK

PREMATURE WEARING OF BALL JOINTS . *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED UNEVEN WEAR AND TEAR ON ALL FOUR TIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DURANGO THAT IS EXPERIENCING EVERY PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN WITH DODGE BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. APR-2004 I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL FREEZING WHILE TURNING LEFT AND THE STEERING LOCKS AT 20-25MPH. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GREENFIELD DODGE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEMS, ALSO THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY NOTED THAT THEY "TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOUND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY (.075). THE SERVICE GROUP INFORMED ME THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULD BE READY AT 7:00PM THAT EVENING THE CAR WOULD BE READY. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL HOURS I MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET TO THE SERVICE SHOP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY NEVER BROUGHT THE CAR IN BECAUSE "OTHER THINGS CAME UP". I...

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A VERY LOUD CLICKING, POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE . CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A CURB. PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK EA03-023

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

I HAVE NOTICED STRANGE SOUNDS EMINATING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY DODGE DURANGO SINCE OCTOBER OF 2003. INITIALLY I ASSUMED THESE SOUNDS WERE FROM COLD SHOCKS SINCE IT FIRST OCCURED WITH THE ONSET OF COLD WEATHER.*AK AFTER SEEING THE STORY ON CBS, I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS CHECKED BUT I AM AFRAID TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP CHECK THEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEED CONSUMER HEAR LOUD NOISE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT END. DEALER HAS INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES, MECHANIC INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER WE DIDN'T HEARD ANY NOISE IN YOUR CAR, IS FINE.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, AND TURNING THE LEFT OR RIGHT CONSUMER HEARD LOUD CLUNKY NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. MECHANIC, AT DELUSIVE INDICATED VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING THROUGH THE FROM END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED NEED TO BE REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AT OWNER EXPENSES. AND CONSUMER DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

I OWN A 2002 DODGE DURANGO WITH 35,000 MILES THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE DEALER REPLACE 2 WORN BALL JOINTS LAST WEEK, I'VE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE, AND ONE ROTOR ON ONE SIDE (IN FRONT) TURNED, AND I AM STILL HEARING STRANGE NOISES. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION DONE ON MY VEHICLE, AS I AM DRIVING MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF AROUND EVERYDAY, AND MY FACTORY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. ITS OBVIOUS DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS NOT CONCERNED WITH SAVING PEOPLES LIVES, AS I HAVE JUST WITNESSED THE MARCH THIRD EVENING EDITION OF CBS NEWS WITH DAN RATHER. I AM RATHER CONCERNED THAT THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS LET DAIMLER CHRYSLER GET AWAY WITH NOT RECALLING THESE PROBLEMS CONSIDERING THE LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. PLEASE HELP ME AND CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. EMAIL ME AT [email protected] OR PHONE ME...

TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION THAT THEY COULD NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE TO ME WITHOUT REPLACING THEM BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE BACKORDERED BECAUSE OF SO MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND THAT IT MIGHT TAKE A WEEK OR MORE UNTIL I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK. THE VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON AND HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, WHY NO RECALL? *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SNAPPED OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *SC *JB EA03-023

BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE FAILING AND THE ENTIRE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 44,700 MILES. *AK

WE OPERATE A FLEET OF NINE 2002 DODGE DURANGO SUVS. THESE VEHICLES ARE USED AS PARAMEDIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES. BASED ON INFORMATION WE'VE SEEN IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WE'VE BEEN PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SPECIFICALLY THE BALL JOINTS. EIGHT OF THE NINE VEHICLES CURRENTLY HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS ON ONE OF THE NINE (AT JUST UNDER 50,000 MILES). THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WAS "CLOSE TO FAILURE."*AK

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINT. DEALER STATED WE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALL, AND CAR WAS FINE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

HAD TO HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS/CONTROL ARMS & LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO SXT 4X4 UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO FAILING PA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD 27K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE VEH NOW HAS 40K ON IT & I'M EXPERIENCING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRT END AGAIN. A PRIVATE SHOP STATED THAT THE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE EXCESIVE MOVEMENT & MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEH BACK TO THE DEALER & THEYE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THEM UNDER WARRANTY AGAIN DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THIS VEH IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD WITH 40,000 ALL HWY MILEAGE & WAS NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY OPINION & A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE BALL JOINT DOES SEPARATE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, RIGHT HUBS AND BEARINGS. EA03-023