2003 DODGE DURANGO Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint Problems

NOISE IN WHEEL BEARINGS: HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS DUE TO BAD BEARINGS. WAS WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY AND WHEEL LOCKING UP. FINALLY GOT REPLACED AT ~89000 BUT STARTED ~82000 MILES AS WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY AND THEM LOCKING UP/FALLING OFF. THEN WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER JOINTS NEED REPLACING. POOR QUALITY FOR AMERICAN PRODUCTS AS VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD AND IN THE SOUTH WITH GOOD WEATHER. *KB

I HAVE NOTICE A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF MY DURANGO FOR SOME APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. I RECENTLY BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT REPLACE. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS ISSUE WAS RECALLED ON OTHER 2003 DURANGO, HOWEVER, MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN (04V596000). THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO GO BEYOND THE CUT OFF FOR THE RECALL SINCE REVIEW OF THE COMPLAINTS INDICATES NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE STRUCK A POTHOLE . SHORTLY AFTERWARDS HE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REPLACED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION,FRONT,CONTROL ARM,UPPER BALL JOINT), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. HE WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 12/15/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP MECHANIC STATED THAT HER UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD 0.10 MOVEMENT AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED. SHE NOTIFIED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 04V596000 FOR THE SUSPENSION. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL; THEREFORE, SHE WOULD LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF $357.64. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,725. UPDATED 5/20/08 *CN UPDATED 05/20/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE RECALL ON HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000. UPDATED 05/08/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/09/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE HAD THEM REPLACED. TWO YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO ONE SIDE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. SHE HAS NOT GOTTEN THEM REPLACED AND BELIEVES THERE TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BECAUSE BALL JOINTS LAST 100,000 MILES OR MORE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

I HEAR A POPPING/GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP UNDER WARRANTY 3 TIMES. TWICE THEY HAVE REPLACED PARTS BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE BALL JOINTS APPEAR TO BE GOING BAD. *JB

I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A THUMPING OR THROTTLE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES. IT OCCURS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED , BUT THIS NOISE STILL OCCURS. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY R&S STRAUSS MECHANIC THAT IT APPEARED TO BE THE BALL JOINT/ARM. HE HAS ENCOUNTERED MANY DURANGOS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISED TO SEEK DEALER FOR REPAIRS SINCE HE WA S AWARE OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. WANTED TO NOTIFY YOUR OFFICE AND OTHER DRIVERS IF EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT APPEARED THAT THIS DEFECT NEEDED TO BE RECALLED.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACIED EVERY SIX MONTHS!!!!! *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 58132 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL 04V596000 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING THE SAME FAILURE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE CV JOINT FAILED AGAIN. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 14600 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UNDER DRY CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH THE STEERING LOCKED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED RECALL (04V596000 FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT, AND WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR S,THEY ONLY LUBRICATED THE BALL JOINT, BUT DID NOT REPLACED IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE CRASH. *AK

COMPONENT: SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT DEFECT SUMMARY: ON MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY THEIR IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I CALL DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTORS COMPANY LLC TO ASK IF THEIR WAS A RECALL ON MY SUV. THEY SAID NO, BUT MY UPPER BALL JOINT IS DEFECTIVE. *NM

CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION. TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY. INSPECTION BY MECHANIC BY FINDS WORN UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO. JOINTS HAVE NO LUBRICATION AND HAVE CORROSION BECAUSE OF THIS. I FEAR THE EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MIGHT CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE. DODGE ALREADY HAS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BUT MY DURANGO WAS NOT INCLUDED. ALL DURANGOS WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INCLUDED. IT'S A SAFETY THING!!! *NM

RECENTLY TOOK MY DODGE DURANGO 2003 2WD TO A MECHANIC WHO SAYS I NEED AN NEW FRONT BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARM. *JB

I OWN A 2003 DODGE DURANGO, WITH 62,501 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO BAD BALL JOINTS. IF CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY HAVE PREMATURELY FAILING BALL JOINTS THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. NOW I WILL HAVE TO TRY AND COVER A $800 BILL MYSELF. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF COMPLETION MY 1ST TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER (CLEAR LAKE DODGE, HOUSTON, TEXAS) REPLACED THE TIRE FREE OF CHARGE. AT APPROXIMATELY 12K ON A TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. MY YOUNGEST SON SUFFERS FROM ASTHMA AND HAD AN ASTHMA ATTACK ON I-10 TO NEW ORLEANS. I CALMED HIM DOWN WITH NO MEDICATION (NEBULIZER REQUIRES ELECTRICITY). WHEN I RETURNED TO HOUSTON, I CONTACTED DISCOUNT TIRE WHICH WARRANTIES GOODYEAR TIRES AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD JUMPED A CURB CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY TIRES. I PURCHASED MY 3RD TIRE ALONG WITH ROAD HAZARD BECAUSE ALL REPRESENTATIVES BLAMED MY DRIVING HABITS ON ME, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 50K MILES AND ALL OF MY TIRES ARE WEARING. THE BELT IS SHOWING ON...

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER CHARGED HER FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT PARTS. *AK

INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER FRONT BALL JOINT IN MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BOTH DODGE AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO CORRECT PROBLEM STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADVISE HIM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE.*AK *BF *NM

BALL JOINT MALFUNCTION ON DODGE DURANGO SLT 4X4. MY DURANGO IS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL AS 600K OTHERS ARE HOWEVER THE NOISES, AND UNNATURAL MOVEMENTS OF THE FRONT END DURING CLOSE QUARTERS TURNING IS SUSPECT OF BEING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS ALSO NOT KEEPING ITS ALIGNMENT AND THE BRAKES HAVE SOFTENED RAPIDLY, I SUSPECT ALL ARE RELATED. NO LOSS OF CONTROL HAS OCCURRED BUT I'M CONCERNED AND I WANT TO REPORT MY VEHICLE AND PLAN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BY MY DEALER, WESTBORO DODGE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

WE NOTICED POPPING IN THE FRONT END TOOK DURANGO TO DEALER THEY REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY, FEW MONTHS LATER IT STARTED POPPING AGAIN ,WE TOOK IT BACK TO A DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND IT IS POPPING AGAIN PLUS THEY SENT US THE RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. I AM SCARED TO LET MY FAMILY RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE I BELIEVE IT HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIX TWO TIMES AND NOW THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME AND THERES NOT EVEN 30000 MILES ON IT. *JB

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000. DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS IN ORDER TO REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMELR CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. *JB

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB CONSUMER WAS TOLD LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TT

RECALL 04V596000, CONSUMER HAS A 2 WHEEL DRIVE DURANGO. THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS AS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK....AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED, BUT DEALER DID CHARGE D$300.00 FOR WARRANTY WORKON DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING. *AK

I HAVE HAD MY 2003 DURANGO BACK TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR A RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT END. I HAD READ THE REPORTS OF THE FAILURES AND SYMPTONS OF THE BALL JOINTS.*AK ALL 5 TIMES THE DEALER HAS NOT RE-PLACED THE BALL JOINTS, THE NOISE STILL EXSISTS, I EVEN TOOK ONE OF THE SERVICE GUYS OUT IN THE TRUCK, AND HE HEARD THE NOISE. HE EVEN COMMENTED, THAT HIS 2003 DAKOTA, HAD THE SAME NOISE, AND THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE HIS FRONT BALL JOINT. THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT.

THE REASON I AM FILING A COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE THE NHTSA HAS NOT UPDATED THEIR WEBSITE ACCORDING BASED ON A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY DODGE. THERE WAS IN ARTICLE ON MSN.COM TODAY THAT DESCRIBED A RECALL OF CERTAIN DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA MODELS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT/UPPER BALL JOINT. THE NHTSA WEBSITE LISTS 4 RELATED DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER ALL INVESTIGATIONS WERE OPENED AND CLOSED IN 2003 AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE LATEST ACTIONS BY DODGE. THIS WEBSITE SHOULD BE UPDATED SO PEOPLE WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND SPECIFIC MODELS OF RECALLS CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION.*JB

I OWN A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 41000 MILES. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE MY DRIVER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I HEARD NO SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT END PRIOR TO THIS EVENT THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD ME TO SUSPECT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST DAILY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENED BEING TOLD MY FRONT TIRE WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. IT COST OVER $500 TO FIX THIS. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *AK

OCCASIONAL DRIVING OF VEHICLE TRANSPORTING A TODDLER AND AN INFANT.*AK

1. 2003 DODGE DURANGO STARTED POPPING IN FRONT END WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN. ALSO HAD PROBLEM WITH REAR SQUEEKING AND VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO LOWER GEAR WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. ALSO WAS IDLING LOW.*AK 3. BOTH BALL JOINTS WORN OUT AT 20,626 MILES. LUBED BUSHINGS AND SPRING PADS IN REAR. COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A PASSING GEAR AND WAS TOLD TO JUST PUSH ON THE GAS AND HOPE THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW UP.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOTICED THAT OUR 2003 DODGE DURANGO WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. 10 MINUTES LATER, THE LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SEPARATED, THE UPPER BALL JOINT SNAPPED OFF, THE AXLE SEPARATED AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE MAKING A LOW SPEED RIGHT HAND TURN. THE DURANGO THEN CONTINUED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT AND INTO A PARKED CAR, TOTALING THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE DURANGO PUSHED THE PARKED CAR INTO A WALL. SO FAR, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE FAILURE, AND MY DODGE DEALER IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME ABOUT WARRANTING THE PART AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE. *NM

PREMATURE WEAR OF UPPER BALL JOINTS. REPLACED AT 41,000 MILES.*AK

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2003. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 15000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A RUBBING NOISE WHENEVER DRIVEN OVER ANY BUMP. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE UPPER BALL-JOINTS. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO ORDER THE WRONG PART. AFTER A WEEK THE CORRECT PART FINALLY GOT INSTALLED AND THE NOISE WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. DODGE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HAS LOST MY CONFIDENCE NOT TO MENTION MY BUSINESS.

I NOTICED NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO AND FOUND THAT I HAD MOVEMENT IN MY UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT, SO I POINTED THIS OUT DURING MY ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION AT THE DEALER. BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE WORN OUT DURING THE INSPECTION. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 28,000 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN A MIX OF HIGHWAY AND LOCAL DRIVING....NO OFF ROAD USE. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

CONSUMER TOO VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION REGARDING STATUS OF UPPER BALL JOINTS INVESTIGATION ON 2003 DURANGO. *MR *NM

MY COMPLAINT IS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. LESS THAN 13,000 MILES AND BALL JOINTS, ARM CONTROLS, BRAKES, SWAY ARMS ARE GOING OUT. LAST WEEK WAS THE 2ND TIME JOINTS WERE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THIS. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. I FEEL AS THOUGH VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ESPECIALLY WITH MY 11 YR. OLD DAUGHTER AND 2 YR. OLD SON. IN AND OUT OF DEALER SERVICE DEPT IS WEARING ME THIN. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE DURANGO FROM BLEECKER DODGE IN DUNN, NC. I HAVE THREE COMPLAINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON FILE: FIST COMPLAINT: MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE TERRIBLE NOISES THAT REQUIRED ME TO TAKE IT FOR SERVICE. THE SOUNDS WERE SCRAPING NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING COMPONENTS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. SECOND COMPLAINT: DURING THE COLD WEATHER MONTHS, I WAS WARMING MY VEHICLE AND HAD SCRAPED THE ICE FROM MY WINDSHIELD. THE DEFROST WAS ON. WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. EXACT DATE OF THE INCIDENT IS UNKNOWN TO ME BUT IT WAS DURING ONE OF OUR SNOWS. IT HAS LEFT ME WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I HAVE TAKEN NO STEPS AS OF YET TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THIRD COMPLAINT: EVEN MORE RECENTLY, MY "CHECK GUAGES" LIGHT CAME ON. MY VEHICLE...

I HAVE BEEN HEARING A WEIRD RUBBING NOISE ON THE FRONT RIGHT OF MY DODGE DURANGO. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN TO GET WORKED ON, I RAN OVER A SMALL POT HOLE. THE UPPER BALL BEARING JOINT BROKE. I WAS TOLD THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS DOING AN INVESTIGATION. CAN YOU HELP? OR CAN I HELP? *LA

DODGE DURANGO AXLE AND TIRE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE; I BELIEVE THE ISSUE HAD TO DO WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINT OF THE DODGE DURANGO.*AK

ON JANUARY 26, 2004, OUR 24 YEAR OLD SON, BRANT, WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 DODGE DURANGO ON I-85 NEAR COMMERCE, GEORGIA. TIME 2:00 AM.. ROAD CONDITIONS COLD & RAINY. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE RIGHT/FRONT TIRE AND MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY (BALL JOINTS.. EVERYTHING) CAME OFF THE CAR CAUSING HIM TO SKID INTO RIGHT SIDE GUARD RAIL. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ESTIMATED DAMAGE IN EXCESS OF $12,000. THE DURANGO IS 10 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 17,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATION REQUESTING A BUYBACK.. OR RETURN OF OUR MONEY LESS REASONABLE MILEAGE ALLOCATIONS. WE FEEL THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE AND NOW SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BEYOND REASONABLE REPAIR. CHRYSLER DENIED OUR CLAIM, REFUSED TO ISSUE COPIES OF REPORTS THEY USED FOR THEIR DENIAL, SIMPLY OPTING FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE ANY FURTHER. *AK

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 DODGE DURANGO ON 2/28/2004. IT RAN FINE FOR A FEW DAYS. THE FRONT END WAS NOT PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD. THIS ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT SO I THOUGHT IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT MY MECHANIC AS ALIGNMENTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DAY BEFORE I WAS TO TAKE IT TO HIM THE CBS NEWS SHOWED A STORY ON DODGE DURANGO'S AND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. I ASKED OUR MECHANIC TO CHECK THESE ALSO. HE FOUND THE LEFT SIDE WORN AND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS TO THE POINT THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP THAT IT WAS PURCHASED AT AND OF COURSE THEY HEAD MECHANIC STATED THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. AFTER MY HUSBAND MENTIONED THE NEWS STORY AND WHAT OUR MECHANIC FOUND, THEY STILL TRIED TO SAY IT MUST BE THE BEARINGS. THE...

PE 03-032/FRONT SUSPENSION/UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: AT ANY SPEED, CONSUMER INTERMITTENTLY HEARD A SEMI SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S MECHANIC WAS SCHEDULED TO GIVE THE VEHICLE A CHECK UP, BUT FELT FROM THE SYMPTOMS THAT IT WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, INCLUDING BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. ALSO, FRONT BRAKES OPERATED POORLY. *AK