Dodge Durango Complaints (1998)

965 consumer complaints on file.

#10187033April 4, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE CHECK UP OF THE 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN 2006 THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD A CORRODED STRUT MOUNT SUSPENSION TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE ANOTHER MECHANIC ON 4/5/2007, WHO STATED THAT THE CORROSION HAD GOTTEN WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES DUE TO THIS CORROSION AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184822March 12, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
DRIVERS POWER SEAT IS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. THERE WAS NO EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. ONE DAY I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT WAS ROCKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER 1998 DODGE DURANGO OWNERS ARE ALSO AFFECTED. THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IS COSTING DURANGO OWNERS BETWEEN $500-$600 TO REPLACE. IF THIS SEAT ISSUE ISN'T ADDRESSED, IT CAN COST DODGE DURANGO OWNERS THEIR LIVES IF THESE "CHEAP" SEATS LET LOOSE DURING A COLLISION. I AM CALLING CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE TO REPORT PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177960January 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 98 DODGE DURANGO. VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR ENTIRE TIME WE OWNED IT. MAINTENANCE WAS DONE PROPERLY, AS MY HUSBAND IS A GENERATOR MECHANIC IN THE MILITARY AND KEEPS A VERY RIGID MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF OUR CARS. MID MAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST OIL PRESSURE, AFTER AND OIL CHANGE VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR MONTHS. THEN MID AUGUST IT STARTS AGAIN, AGAIN OIL CHANGES WERE DONE AT LEAST EVERY 6000 MILES BY CHRYSLER'S INSTRUCTIONS. BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET OFF OF THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND NOW WILL RUN BUT LOSSES OIL PRESSURE BEFORE WE GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND KNOCKING STARTS SOON AFTER. COMPRESSION IS LOST IN TWO HEAD GASKETS DUE TO THIS AND THE MECHANIC SAYS THE SLUDGE IS THE PROBLEM, THOUGH THE MECHANIC CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW OFTEN THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED. HE CAN ONLY EXPLAIN THAT AN OIL CHANGE DOES NOT DRAIN THE BUILD UP THAT IS ALREADY INSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THAT IT HAS JUST BEEN DEVELOPING OVER TIME BUT IS VERY ABNORMAL. CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOULD TAKE ACTION, I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM ONLINE AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177813January 4, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE REPLACING THE FRONT DISC BREAK PADS I OBSERVED THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CALIPER BOLT WAS NO TIGHTENING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I OBSERVED THAT THE THREADS IN THE KNUCKLE WERE STRIPPED COMPLETELY. THE PRICE TO FIX IT WITH A HELI COIL REPAIR WAS AROUND 250.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR OR 750.00 FOR A NEW STEERING KNUCKLE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177245December 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* - ON 3/13/06 THE CONTACT TOOK 1998 DODGE DURANGO TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING INTO FIRST GEAR. AT THAT TIME, COTTMAN REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. ON 3/31/06 THE CONTACT TOOK IT BACK TO COTTMAN FOR THE SAME REASON, AND COTTMAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD REBUILD THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE IT WAS MAKING A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE, AND COTTMAN TOLD HIM TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW DAYS CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR THE SAME SQUEAKING NOISE, SO COTTMAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. AT WHICH POINT THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE, HE TOOK VEHICLE TO AT PRO TRANSMISSION AND THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE DAMAGE WAS PROBABLY INTERNAL BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 6/16/06 CONTACT TOOK IT BACK TO COTTMAN, AND COTTMAN STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION; AFTER CONTACT PICKED IT UP HE CONTINUED TO HEAR THE SAME SQUEAKING NOISE, SO CONTACT BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO COTTMAN ON 12/11/06. COTTMAN ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS POURING FLUID FROM THE PUMP. CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO COTTMAN. *AK UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174460November 27, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BOTH BALL JOINTS LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER AND UPPER ARE BAD, HAVE NOT REPLACED AS OF YET WILL SOON. TRUCK HAS ONLY 82K ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173968November 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE SALES DEALER FOR SERVICE, WHO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SENT THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE KNOCKING CONTINUED EACH TIME AFTER 5 MORE VISITS TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP, SO THE SALES DEALER SENT THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE KNOCKING CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170917October 16, 2006
SUSPENSION
I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I HAVE REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS ONCE. AT A REGULAR TIRE ROTATION, I WAS TOLD THEY ARE WEARING OUT AGAIN. BASED UPON RESEARCH - THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH DURANGO MODELS FROM 1998 TO THE PRESENT. A RECALL OF THE DURANGO IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167828September 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I BOUGHT MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO FROM A SMALL USED CAR LOT. WHEN I GOT IT HOME AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY MY MECHANIC THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THAT WAS $1000+. AFTER FINDING OUT THAT THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM IN THE LATER MODELS BUT THAT THEY WERE BEING RECALLED, I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO SOMEONE'S ATTENTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167218September 1, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165850August 14, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR BALL JOINT REPAIRS ON A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINT RECALL AND BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS GOING EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE. THAT DID NOT OCCUR AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCE TO PAY FOR UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164193August 2, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DODGE DEALER THAT MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO NEEDS TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. THEY WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 70,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE. DODGE HAS REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY ON EITHER OCCASION. SINCE BALL JOINTS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO THINK THE FAILURE RATE ON THESE PARTS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I DO KNOW DODGE HAS ISSUED RECALLS ON LATER MODEL DURANGO'S FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT USED OFF ROAD AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. PLEASE HELP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163493July 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO FROM A SMALL CAR DEALERSHIP IN 2004. IT ONLY HAD 50K MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BEFORE A TRIP THAT MY TRUCK HAD SOME "PLAY". NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT WAS, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. I AM NOW TOLD THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1000 TO FIX IT AND THEN I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 5K MILES ON THEM. I AM LOOKING AT A 2K DOLLAR FIX! ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY WERE EXTREMELY UNSAFE! I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS OUR MAIN VEHICLE. HOW MANY LIVES ARE THEY GOING TO PUT IN DANGER FOR THE DURANGO OWNERS (1998-1999)? WE HAVE THE SAME BALL JOINT PROBLEMS AS THE 2000-2003 OWNERS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FORUMS AND HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS SO WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? I DO NOT HAVE $2000 DOLLARS TO PUT INTO A TRUCK THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING BUT MINOR THINGS WITH THE MILEAGE AND JUST NORMAL DRIVING. THIS IS UNSAFE AND IS PUTTING MANY LIVES IN DANGER. ARE THEY GOING TO WAIT TO GET MEDICAL BILLS AND FUNERAL EXPENSES WHEN AN ENTIRE FAMILY LOSES THEIR LIVES FROM THE TRUCK ROLLING? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ONES WHO KEEP DRIVING IT, UNAWARE WHAT THE "PLAY" IS? THEY WILL BE THE ONES POSSIBLE LOSING THEIR LIVES OR TAKING SOMEONE ELSE'S! I SEE ANOTHER CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE COMING ON!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163280July 24, 2006
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT SEAT BELT IN THE SECOND ROW OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLATCH ONCE IT WAS BUCKLED. THE BELT ON THE RIGHT FAILED TO LATCH AT ALL, AND THE METAL IN THE BUCKLE WAS EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161841July 7, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
AFTER PAYING $1500 TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON OUR RECENTLY PURCHASED DURANGO, I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT FOR DURANGOS. WHEN I INQUIRED WITH DEALER ABOUT A POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS RECALLED I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VEHICLE YEAR, IT ONLY APPLIED TO 2000-2003 MODEL YEARS. ALTHOUGH OUR 1998 MODEL ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES, DAIMLER CHRYSLER WASN'T WILLING TO REIMBURSE OR DO ANYTHING FOR US. I FOUND THIS VERY DISAPPOINTING CONSIDERING THIS IS THE FOURTH DODGE WE'VE OWNED AND CURRENTLY BOTH OUR VEHICLES ARE DODGE MAKES. WITH THE ENORMOUS NUMBER OF DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO EXPECT THE NHTSA TO DEMAND DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALL THE 1998 AND 1999 DURANGOS FOR BALL JOINT PROBLEMS AS WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161453July 5, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATOR THAT CONTROLS WINDOWS HAS HAD 8 FAILURES AND REPLACEMENTS IN AS MANY YEARS WITH MINIMAL USAGE. I HAVE NO CHILDREN AND LIVE IN ARIZONA SO WINDOWS ARE IN UP POSITION 80% OF THE TIME. NO REASON FOR FAILURES OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE PLACEMENT AND PARTS AS STATED BY DODGE SERVICE ADVISOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160272June 20, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED TO ONE SIDE AS I BRAKED I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH THE STEERING BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. I CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET FROM A 70 FOOT EMBANKMENT. I LAID DOWN UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF I COULD FIND AN APPARENT PROBLEM AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING TIE ROD END WAS HANGING DOWN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE THREADS ON THE INNER TIE ROD END AND ON THE STEERING DRAG LINK TO BE COMPLETELY BARE OF THREAD. I AM CURRENTLY PRICING THE COST OF A NEW TIE ROD END AND DRAG LINK WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. AFTER TALKING TO THE LOCAL TIRE STORE AND CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING QUITE OFTEN ON THIS MODEL AND COULD POSSIBLY BE FATAL IF THE DRIVER PANICS OR DOESN'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO HOLD THE WHEEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158528May 30, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TIRE REPLACEMENT AND ALIGNMENT THE DEALERSHIP OBSERVED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE TIRE REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES. SINCE PURCHASE, THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, SMOKE COMES FROM THE WHEEL WELL AREA. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153800March 27, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
AFTER SEEING A REPORT ABOUT FAILED BALL JOINTS IN DODGE DURANGOS, WE HAD OURS INSPECTED AND THEY ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD THEM REPLACED AND 4 MONTHS LATER THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153126March 19, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. I AM AWARE THAT CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED 2000-2004 DURANGOS FOR BALL JOINT/SUSPENSION DEFECTS. I HAVE THE SAME DEFECT/PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 DURANGO. ARE THERE GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR FROM CHRYSLER. I HAVE A QUOTE OF $2500.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AFTER SEARCHING MANY WEBSITES I SEE THAT MANY 1998 DURANGO OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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