1998 Dodge Durango transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

BOUGHT MY DURANGO NEW IN MAY 1998. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING IMPROPERLY IN JULY 2000. TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (31,418 MILES). THEY DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND PRONOUNCED IT DOA (PAN WAS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS). SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE WRITING ON THE WALL BUT I LOVED THIS VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO AN INSPECTION STATION FOR SAFETY & EMISSIONS TESTS IN MAY OF 2006. IT FAILED FOR BAD BALL JOINTS. I ASKED THE MANAGER WHY HIS MECHANICS SEEMED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FRONT END DURING INSPECTION AND HIS REPLY WAS IT WAS VERY COMMON TO FIND BAD BALL JOINTS ON APPROX. 50% OF ALL 1998-2000 DURANGOS. HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, BOTH SIDES, AT 74,064 MILES, TO THE TUNE OF $701 PLUS TAX. I THEN STARTED HEARING ABOUT OTHER DURANGO OWNERS WITH SIMILAR BALL JOINT WOES. I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED RESEARCHING. FOUND A SITE WHERE FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WITH THE SAME BALL JOINT PROBLEMS, SOME WITH ACCIDENTS, WERE TRYING TO GET NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING. I GUESS PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DIE FIRST BEFORE NHTSA WILL STEP IN AND TELL AN AUTO MANUFACTURER THEY NEED TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PRODUCTS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE 1998-2000 DURANGOS WERE BUILT ON THE DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP CHASSIS. A DAKOTA WEIGHS ABOUT 4,600 LBS. WHILE A DURANGO 4X4 WEIGHS IN AT 6,400 LBS. IT'S NO WONDER THE 1998-2000 DURANGO FRONT-ENDS WERE FALLING APART. SERIOUSLY, WHAT KIND OF IDIOT ENGINEERS DOES DODGE HAVE WORKING FOR THEM. SOMETIME LATER I HEARD THAT DODGE RUSHED THE DURANGO INTO PRODUCTION IN 1998 TO COMPETE FOR THE SUV MARKET BUCKS AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO ENGINEER A NEW CHASSIS SO THEY JUST MODIFIED THE DAKOTA CHASSIS WITHOUT BEEFING IT UP. WHEN PEOPLE STARTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BALL JOINTS AND SUCH, THEY BUILT A WHOLE NEW CHASSIS FOR DURANGOS IN 2001. I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS SITE TODAY WHILE RESEARCHING ANOTHER VEHICLE I'M THINKING ABOUT BUYING.

NHTSA complaint #10886041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND BEYOND 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10558139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MANUAL SHIFTER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR A TUNE UP AND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE AT ALL TIMES TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,109.

NHTSA complaint #10217264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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 -

NHTSA complaint #10177245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10173968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

HAD REAR REBUILT IN 2003 BY DEALER.BACK IN 12/15/05 REAR WENT AGAIN.TALKED TO MECHANIC HE SAID DODGE KNOWS ABOUT REARS BEING BAD.DUE TO TIGHT TOLERANCES IN GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10149072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PREMATURE WEAR ON UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. THE SEPARATION OF THESE COMPONENTS CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IN ADDITION TO THE BALL JOINTS, THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES FAIL PREMATURELY WHICH IN COMBINATION WITH THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM GREATLY INCREASES LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAUSES SLOW ACCELERATION WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10139535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DRIVING APPROX. 25 MPH ON ICY ROAD, TURNED RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND "IT WAS AS IF YOU THOWED THE VEHICLE INTO NUETRAL". CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10104501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DODGE DEALER REPORTED THAT BALL JOINTS ON 1998 DODGE DURANGO HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE QUOTE TO REPLACE EXCEEDED $2000 AND I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THE RECALL WAS PENDING. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 76,898. VIN IS [XXX]. I SEE THAT THE RECALL IS FOR 2000 THROUGH 2003 AND THAT WARRANTY ON 2000 THRU 2003 MODELS WAS EXTENDED TO 100,000 MILES FOR BALL JOINTS. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE? ISN'T THIS THE SAME SUSPENSION DESIGN AS THE 2000 MODEL? I ALSO REPLACED THE REAR AXLE IN 2003 FOLLOWING A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN REAR LOCKING UP AND SHEARING THE U-JOINT AND DROPPING THE DRIVE SHAFT WHILE DRIVING. REPLACEMENT COST EXCEEDED $3000 AND I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DURANGO'S AS WELL. *JB UPDATED 07/24/2012* JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10102679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH LEFT TURN STEERING PROBLEMS. SHOP GREASED THE CV JOINTS BUT NOW IS TELLING ME BECAUSE OF BAD DESIGN THAT IS THE SAME AS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH 2000-2003 I HAVE TO SPEND $1,150 ON NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10102750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN MARCH OF 1998. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS EXCELLENT UNTIL ABOUT 52,000 MILES. 1ST REPAIR, WATER PUMP. AT ABOUT 56,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT ABOUT 61,000 HEATER CORE, AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. AT 77,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD AGAIN. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO STIFFEN UP AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION. DURANGOS DO NOT HAVE RACK AND PINIONS, THEY HAVE GEAR BOXES. AT ABOUT 94,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT 106,000 TRASNMISSION REBUILD AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER THIS TIME AROUND ALONG WITH AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION GAUGE WHICH TELLS ME THE TEMP OF THE TRANS(PRICE WAS $125.00 FOR GAUGE AND WIRING). CALLED DODGE WAS LIKE TALKING TO MY DOG, THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I SWORE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT THE DAY I BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER IS THE DAY I EAT S**T!!! DODGE CARS AND TRUCKS SUCK, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CRAP AND I HAD TO SPEND MONEY $$$ OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR REPAIRS ALONE ALMOST $9,500.00, OUT OF WHICH CHRYSLER KEPT SAYING ITS NOT OUR PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHEN ITS THEIR PROBLEM, WHEN THEY SCREW WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T JUST JOE SCHMOE WALKING IN TO BUY A CAR. SOMEONE WITH A DEGREE IN LAW SO THAT THEY CAN ROYALLY GE SMACKED IN THE FACE AND HELP ALL THE OTHER UNFORTUNATE ONES WHO ARE STUCK WITH DODGE SUCKS (TRUCKS). WHOEVER WANTS TO BUY A DODGE, BE PREPARED FOR A RUDE AWAKENING. THEY ARE GOING TO RAPE YOU!

NHTSA complaint #10090677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN MARCH OF 1998. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS EXCELLENT UNTIL ABOUT 52,000 MILES. 1ST REPAIR, WATER PUMP. AT ABOUT 56,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT ABOUT 61,000 HEATER CORE, AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. AT 77,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD AGAIN. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO STIFFEN UP AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION. DURANGOS DO NOT HAVE RACK AND PINIONS, THEY HAVE GEAR BOXES. AT ABOUT 94,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT 106,000 TRASNMISSION REBUILD AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER THIS TIME AROUND ALONG WITH AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION GAUGE WHICH TELLS ME THE TEMP OF THE TRANS(PRICE WAS $125.00 FOR GAUGE AND WIRING). CALLED DODGE WAS LIKE TALKING TO MY DOG, THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I SWORE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT THE DAY I BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER IS THE DAY I EAT S**T!!! DODGE CARS AND TRUCKS SUCK, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CRAP AND I HAD TO SPEND MONEY $$$ OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR REPAIRS ALONE ALMOST $9,500.00, OUT OF WHICH CHRYSLER KEPT SAYING ITS NOT OUR PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHEN ITS THEIR PROBLEM, WHEN THEY SCREW WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T JUST JOE SCHMOE WALKING IN TO BUY A CAR. SOMEONE WITH A DEGREE IN LAW SO THAT THEY CAN ROYALLY GE SMACKED IN THE FACE AND HELP ALL THE OTHER UNFORTUNATE ONES WHO ARE STUCK WITH DODGE SUCKS (TRUCKS). WHOEVER WANTS TO BUY A DODGE, BE PREPARED FOR A RUDE AWAKENING. THEY ARE GOING TO RAPE YOU!

NHTSA complaint #10090677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PERTAINING TO A BURNED TRANSMISSION. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT 30000 MILES THEN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10081393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND DRIVE SHAFT, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY FAILED. THE SUV HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR; ALL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS COMPUTER/SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND NOW 15 MONTHS LATER, THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. I WANTED TO KNOW IF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE ONLY PEOPLE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HAVE BEEN THE LOW LEVEL EMPLOYEE. THEY WILL NOT, AND PROBABLY HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO, FORWARD THE CALL TO SOMEONE IN UPPER MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE COMMON.THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING.

NHTSA complaint #10079219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1998 DOGE DURANGO - 60000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999.

NHTSA complaint #10075155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

1. SEATBELTS, HOUSING REPEATEDLY FELL DOWN. NEVER REPLACED, SERVICE ONLY PULLED IT BACK UP AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES 2. ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL. NOW I HAVE ONE WINDOW THAT WILL GO DOWN. THE REST ARE STUCK IN THE UP POSIITON. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY IS UP. 3. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT AT 63,000. 3,000 PAST WARRANTY. 4. ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS ARE BAD. SERVICEMAN SAYS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL REPLACED. STILL WAITING ON A RECALL. 5. PASSENGER FRONT SEAT COVER CAME APART AT SEAMS. SERVICE SAID NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 6. HOOD LATCH DOES NOT RELEASE HOOD. MY VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND NOT BEING DRIVEN AT 80,000. I DO NOT HAVE AND WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT IN MY DRIVE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. IT SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART AROUND ME. SEEMS I HAVE HEARD STORIES ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS, WHEELS COMING OFF, ETC. NO ONE KILLED YET, BUT NO RECALL YET EITHER I SEE.

NHTSA complaint #10074504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

FRONT BRAKES (REPLACED 3X'S IN ONE YEAR) KEEP FAILING ON DODGE DURANGO CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT TO SHIFT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES 4 TIMES AND THE REAR TIRES TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JANUARY 2,2000. ALL TIRES WEAR AT AN ANGLE WITH SEVERAL BALD SPOTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES. I ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR FEBRUARY 2003. NOW THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT WORKING. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY 300.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR WHATEVER REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10070543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT A 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. THE VEHICLE HAD 59939 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR AS ONE SHOULD. ON 9/2/03 I TOOK THE AUTO INTO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS AS THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING DOWN INTO 1ST GEAR. IT COST ME $500.00 TO FIX THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AT THE SAME TIME THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSFER CASE WAS GOING OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE ESTIMATE-$1350. IN NOV OF 2003, I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET A LUBE JOB. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT ACCEPTING GREASE & THE UPPER BOOTS WERE ROTTED. THAT EVENTUALLY I WOULD NEED NEW BALL JOINTS BUT I STILL HAD TIME. IN DEC 2003, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THEN IF MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT WOULD NOT START, OR IT WOULD DIE AS I WAS BACKING OUT. IN JANUARY I HEARD METAL IN MY FRONT TIRES AS I WAS BRAKING. A NEW BRAKE JOB COST ME $350.00. THE END OF JANUARY, WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH 72,000 MILES, MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE FELL OFF. REASON: UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE OFF. EVERY MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, AS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BALL JOINTS DO THIS AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I THEN SAW NHTSA INTERVIEWED ON THE NEWS FOR THE VERY SAME REASON. DODGE DURANGOS AND THEIR BALL JOINTS WITH TIRES FALLING OFF. MY CAR LANDED IN A DITCH. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ONLY TRAVELLING AT 35 MPH. IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, AND WHO EVER MANUFACTURES THESE BALL JOINTS BETTER STAND UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS AUTO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT. AND COSTLY AT THAT!

NHTSA complaint #10062310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE AND NEARLY FELL OFF. THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED IT SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, PROBABLY A DEFECT. IT IS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO.

NHTSA complaint #10060352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN DRIVING. *AK THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL PIN FAILED AND SEIZED TO THE PINION SHAFT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10061399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION/UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. MECHANIC DETERMINED UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS OFF CENTER. WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE INDICATOR WAS BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAD ONE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND ANOTHER ONE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10057935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ON ITS OWN AND THE 4X4 SELECTOR WOULD SLIP AND MAKE AN AWFUL NOISE WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. ON 31 JANUARY 2004, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND LEFT MY 2-TODDLERS AND I STRANDED APPROXIMATELY 2-HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. IT IS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. IT IS IRONIC THAT AN OLDER GENTLEMEN HAD ASKED ME IF I HAD PROBLEMS A MONTH EARLIER WITH MY TRANSMISSION. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A COUPLE REPAIR SHOPS (EVEN A TECHNICIAN AT HILIKELLY DODGE IN DAPHNE, AL), ALL OF THEM STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRANSMISSIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10056317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO FRONT END WAS POPPING AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AT 51000 MILES. IT GOES INTO THE SHOP TO BE CHECKED DEC.23, WITH ALL THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END THIS MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED. MY WIFE AND I ARE CHEERLEDING SPONSERS AND TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE WITH THE GIRLS.

NHTSA complaint #10050751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DEFECTIVE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE RING AND PINION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. DODGE DURANGO 1998.

NHTSA complaint #10045996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

VEHICLE WAS MAKING HIGH PITCH SOUND WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. TRUCK ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT (APRIL 2003) USED. I WAS ASSURED BY WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED CAR DEALER (KOEPPEL OF NEW YORK) THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. 6 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE NEED TO HAVE THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BE REPLACED. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING FLUID AND REAR WAS CAUSING HIGH PITCH NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10045174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AT 38,627 MILES.EPLACED LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT AT 38,657 MILES.EPLACED UPPER CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINT AT 41,634 MILES.REPLACED RIGHT FRONT AXLE AND LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT AT 45,946 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10043720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY WHEELS WERE GETTING READY TO FALL OFF AND THE TRUCK WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN AUGUST OF 2003. I BARELY HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES ON IT ARE TERRIBLE. WHEN IT IS RAINING I HYDROPLANE JUST ABOUT EVER TIME I PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW BROKEN. IT STAYS AT ZERO MOST OF THE TIME BUT WILL OCCASIONALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHEN IT LOCKS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHENEVER I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND GO OVER 60 MPH THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10038973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. TOOK TO DODGE DEALERSHIP. NEEDS COMPLETE REAR END REBUILD. $1300-$1500 ESTIMATE. ONLY 63K MILES. APPARENTLY IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT BY DODGE.

NHTSA complaint #10038937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

MY 1998 DURANGO DRIVE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO METAL FLAKING OFF FROM CORROSION. CAR HAS ONLY 53000 MILES AND IS PARKED ON BLACKTOP DRIVEWAY AND IS NOT USED FOR PLOWING OR OFF-ROAD ACTIVITY. USED FOR TRAVEL IN NORTHEAST WINTER CLIMATE.

NHTSA complaint #10038776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.