Dodge Durango Complaints (1998)

965 consumer complaints on file.

#8005739March 15, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, STEERING:LINKAGES, STEERING
CONSUMER NOTICES A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED NO COOLING. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK METAL CHIPS AND SLUDGE WERE FOUND IN THE MOTOR AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS. THE BEARINGS FOR CYLINDER 1 AND 5 SPUN THE CRANK SHAFT, DEALER REPLACED THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005523March 12, 2002
CHILD SEAT, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMER FOUND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNDONE A FEW TIMES OWNING IT TO THEM BECOMING A LITTLE LOOSE AND THE CHILD SEAT TILTING OVER ON THE RELEASE BUTTON. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759194March 11, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I HAVE THE GEN3 SEATBELTS AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759222March 11, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
GEN THREE SEATBELTS ARE IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY NEED REPLACED TO GEN 4. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759138March 9, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NOTE: TWO OIL CHANGES WITHIN 2,000 MILES OF BREAKDOWN (HAVE RECEIPTS). TRAVELING ON BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0 AND ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD TAPPING NOISE. OIL PAN WAS REMOVED AND "A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE ENGINE" HAD CLOGGED THE OIL SCREEN CAUSING THE OIL PUMP FAILURE. AS A RESULT OF THE OIL PUMP FAILURE, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. BASED ON NTSA DATABASE AND DISCUSSIONS WITH AREA EXPERTS, THIS OIL PUMP FAILURE/ENGINE DAMAGE DEFECT CONDITION FOR THE 1998 DURANGO (5.2L) IS COMMON, YET FREQUENTLY UNREPORTED. NO ASSISTANCE FROM MANUFACTURER. WARRANTS DETAILED AGENCY SCRUTINY AND PRODUCT RECALL DUE TO DEFECT CONDITION. WILL BE PURSUING LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER COST OF OIL PUMP AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759039March 7, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEATBELT ARE DEFECTIVE AND PRONE TO UNLATCHING IMPROPERLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004736February 28, 2002
SEATS
WHILE PULLING VEHICLE OUT ONTO THE ROAD FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. SEAT ITSELF ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003687February 6, 2002
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AT FIRST CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES, THEN DISCOVERED IT WAS NOT THE BRAKES, BUT THE DRIVESHAFT, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER HAD BEEN HAVING A LOT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF REAR END LOCKED UP. *AK CHRYSLER WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIT WITH THE REPAIRS.*SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003314January 31, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ENGINE STALLED DUE TO A CONSTANT OIL LEAK.*AK THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THE ENGINE ALWAYS BURNED OIL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS CAME ON. THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE. WHEN PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE WOULD OCCUR THE DODGE MECHANICS ALWAYS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757151January 21, 2002
SEATS
THE LUMBAR SUPPORT LEVER WAS ACTIVATED BY MY HUSBAND AND WHEN ACTIVATED, IT STICKS OUT BEYOND THE DRIVER'S SEAT ABOUT 1/2 INCH. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, MY LOWER BACK HIT THE LEVER RESULTING IN TWO BULGED DISCS AND A TEAR IN THE L4-S1 REGION ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE SEVERITY OF THE INJURY HAS RESULTED IN APPROXIMATELY $10,000 OF MEDICAL BILLS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT A LUMBAR SUPPORT LEVER SHOULD NOT BE IN THE PATHWAY OF ONE'S BACK WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#757153January 21, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
THE PLASTIC PISTON IN THE CALIPERS ARE ENGAGED AGAINST THE BRAKE PADS AND HAVE WORN DOWN THE DISC(ROTOR) OVER TIME. I DO LONG DISTANCE DRIVING, NOT START AND STOP; HENCE, IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO MANIFEST ITSELF. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT BRAKES GRINDING A SECOND TIME ON NOVEMBER 27, 2000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756865January 15, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THIS IS THE 4TH SET OF BALL JOINTS THAT HAVE GONE BAD. WHEN DO THEY ADMIT A PROBELM EXISTS?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756661January 10, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. THIS WAS NOT NOTICED TILL A TIRE BLEW BECAUSE THE INNER EDGE OF THE TIRE HAD WORN OUT. A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASED, BUT I COULD NTO GET AN ALIGNMENT. TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS, I ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY EVER SEEN HIGHWAY MILES. BALLJOINT'S HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY. AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DURANGO OWNERS CLUB I KNOW THIS IS BECOMING A VERY COMMON OCCURANCE, EVEN ON NEWER VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756506January 7, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, THIS EARLY IS UNHEARD OF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756423January 4, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN I-71 AND THE CHECK GUAGES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO 0 CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CLOGGED OIL PUMP INTAKE SCREEN. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ALTHOUGH OIL WAS CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE OIL PAN WAS TAKEN OFF AND ENGINE COMPONENTS AND METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND. THE SERVICE ADVISOR HIMSELF TOLD US THAT HE COULD NOT SAY FOR SURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. HE ALSO MAINTAINED THAT IF WE HAD A CHRYSTLER INSPECTOR COME IN WE WOULD END UP PAYING FOR A NEW ENGINE. HERE WE ARE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A $30,000 THAT WE CANNOT DRIVE UNTIL WE COME UP WITH ALMOST $5000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8001589January 4, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING IN VERY COLD WEATHER, TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES IN 3 YEARS. DEALER DID NOT HAVE A REMEDY. CURRENTLY, WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, DEALER WANTED TO REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755045November 28, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE DEALER MAINTAINS IT IS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE WE MAINTAIN THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY CARED FOR AND THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754815November 23, 2001
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD WHINING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE DURANGO. AFTER VERIFYING THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 4WD WAS NOT ENGAGED, THE WHINING SOUND BECAME LOUDER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO A DEALER IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX (A SUBURB OF FORT WORTH). THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SURE THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND ALL WOULD BE FINE. AFTER SERVICING THE DIFFERENTIAL THE SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE "RING AND PINON SET, AND CUP AND CONES" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ( THIS IS THE RING AND PINON GEAR, THE PINON SEAL, AND THE SIDE BEARING THAT SUPPORT THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE). THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $1323.08. I REMINDED THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 47333 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE I BELIEVE THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO AND HE SUGGESTED I CALL DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. AFTER SPEAKING TO DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE THREE TIMES, THEY "REVIEWED" MY SITUATION. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY, DODGE OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR COST AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE". IN THE END, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $502.28. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $1004.56 AND WITH DODGE'S "GOOD WILL GESTURE" THE REPAIR COST ME OUT OF POCKET $502.28. HOWEVER, AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE I FEEL MORE STRONGLY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF THIS VECHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754611November 16, 2001
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
A LOUD HOWLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION WERE BAD. I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE THIS WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP DEFECT OBVIOUS BY THE LOW (22,000) MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THE DAY IT CAME OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF-ROAD. I RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. I STRONGLY DISAGREE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THIS SECTION WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY AN EXPERT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT INVOLVING THE RING AND PINION NOT BEING CAPABLE OF HANDLE THE FORCES IMPOSED BY THE DRIVETRAIN OF THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1500 - $2000. CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND ADMIT A DESIGN FLAW EXISTS. I WILL FIGHT THIS IN COURT IF I HAVE TO. DODGE, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR NOT FESSING UP TO THIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754447November 12, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HESITATES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR THE VEHICLE SURGES. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSON GIVES A CLUNK NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. WAS TOLD FROM DEALER THE MINIMUM REPAIR WOULD COST $1400-$1500 BUT COULD BE MORE. I OPTED FOR A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. I WAS SHOWN A COMPLETE SERVICE AND TECHNICAL BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR FOR DODGE VEHICLES. THE LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY SERVICE OWNER HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM A TRAINING SEMINAR ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS REALLY SOUNDED ODD, AS THE DEALER WHEN ASKED BY ME IF THERE WAS A CLASS PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSIONS DENIED ANY. THEN WHY WOULD THEY PRINT MANUALS AND TRAIN PERSONNEL FOR PROBLEMS THAT DO NOT NORMALLY OCCUR. THE LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY PERFORMED HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TESTING AND DETERMINED ALL PRESSURE PARAMETERS WERE BEING MET. THEN CHANGED ALL TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO A HIGHER VISCOSITY. SINCE THIS WAS DONE, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SHIFTING HESITATION OR PROBLEMS. THE DEALER WHEN PRESSURED WOULD ONLY OFFER 10% OFF THE REPAIR COSTS. DODGE REGIONAL REFUSED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED TO 4 INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN DODGES AND HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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