2003 Dodge Durango steering problems

STEERING

THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS A UNIVERSAL JOINT WHICH CLICKS WHENEVER MAKING A TURN AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BIND AND THEN RELEASE SUDDENLY WHICH CAUSES A DEGREE OF CONFUSION AND IF NOT REPAIRED COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT THROUGH THE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROLL OR THE VEHICLE BY SEPARATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS CLICKING, BINDING AND SUDDEN RELEASE WITH A DEGREE OF CONFUSION HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS INCLUDING WHILE SITTING STILL!

NHTSA complaint #11080873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FELL OFF. 1260.00.

NHTSA complaint #10597482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED, CAUSING INCREASED EFFORT IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,832.

NHTSA complaint #10564160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DRIVING HOME FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO NEW YORK, I-95, LEGAL SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH, TRUCK SHUT OFF DISPLAYING "NO BUS" IN ODOMETER SCREEN. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, THANK GOD, AND TURNED IGNITION OFF FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THAN RESTARTED TRUCK. THANKFULLY IT STARTED UP AND I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED ON MY WAY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES MORE WHILE ON MY TRIP TO NEW YORK. DRIVING LOCALLY DIDN'T ENCOUNTER ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. HAVE SCANNER AT HOME AS I'M A AUTO REPAIRMAN AT A NOVICE LEVEL, AND WAS SURPRISED THAT NOT ONE CODE WAS STORED IN THE COMPUTER. NONE OF THE FORUMS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY INSIGHT AS TO WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM AS NONE OF THE RECOMMENDED CHECKS PRODUCED ANY BAD TESTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIX BY THE CHRYSLER CORP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10536134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I WAS HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER THAT TOLD US THE ENTIRE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. APPARENTLY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE AXLES THAT MAKE THE PINIONED, DIFFERENTIALS AND AXLES TO GO BAD. PAID 3500.00 FOR THE REPAIRS TO TURN AROUND AND HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN JUST OVER A YEAR LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10522622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROGRESSION OF INACCURATE STEERING, POOR TURNING AND SUSPENSION PERFORMANCE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE NOTICING A "CLUNKING" IN THE RIGHT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT END. NOTED PRIMARILY WHEN TURNING. STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO NOTED TO BE ROTATED OFF CENTER TO THE CLOCKWISE POSITION. BRAKING IS ALSO POOR AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL TO PASSENGER SIDE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, VEHICLE IS NOTED TO FEEL UNSTABLE AND IS VIBRATING WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10482550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS SEVERELY LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AROUND A BEND OR REVERSING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 5 MPH. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,375.

NHTSA complaint #10470117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD TWISTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FAILURE POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #10347240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT STARTED COMING APART AT JUST 47,000 MILES. I WAS LUCKY TO CATCH IT AS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE WHOLE WHEEL COMING OFF THE VEHICLE AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF AT SPEED. TYPICALLY BALL JOINTS WEAR BEFORE THEY FAIL AND THAT IS USUALLY ONLY AFTER A HUNDRED OR A FEW HUNDREDS THOUSAND MILES. TO HAVE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT AT JUST 47,000 MILES IS ALARMING. I DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND A SILENT RECALL OF 2000-2003 DURANGO'S FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED DODGE ABOUT THE REPAIR BUT THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS A 2003, MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY VEHICLE IS THE SAME YEAR AND SAME EXTRAORDINARY AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10262417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AT 73,000 MILES. UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE STEERING WOULD FAIL WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES!! PAID $900 TO HAVE REPAIRED. THIS WAS 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW THEY ARE SAYING OUR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE FAILING AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE BACK IN 2004. EVEN THOUGH THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT OUR WHEEL WOULD FALL OFF IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT FIXED. THAT SHOULD FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF THE RECALL FOR THE WHEEL HUB.

NHTSA complaint #10253076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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

NHTSA complaint #10226633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO BEGAN TO HAVE A THUMPING NOISE. I COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT IT WAS OR EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, FRIDAY AUGUST 4,2006 I LOST BRAKING ON THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE AXLE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SKIDDED AND STOPPED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. HAD THIS OCURRED WHILE I WAS IN THE MOUNTAINS (WHICH I AM QUITE A BIT) OR ON THE INTERSTATE (WHICH I AM ON EVERY DAY) MYSELF OR OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED. I COULD HAVE STRUCK A CHILD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THIS HAPPENED AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10164679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

FRONT SUSPENSION - DRIVE TRAIN - LOCKS - AXLE - POWER STEERING PUMP VEHICLE HAS HAD CONSISTENT FRONT END GRINDING NOISE SINCE 30,000 KM'S. BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, FRONT AXLE SPYDER GEARS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PREVIOUS 1998 DURANGO HAD SAME PROBLEM - FIX WAS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. 2003 DURANGO - DEALER SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. NOISE AND GRINDING ONLY HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEED TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT. FROM STOP TO LIGHT ACCELERATION TO HARD LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, NEW NOISE FROM REAR AXLE - LIMITED SLIP UNIT NOW GETTING LOUDER. AXLE OIL AND LIMITED SLIP ADDITIVE HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH FACTORY CHRYSLER OIL ADDITIVE. INDICATIVE OF SAME PROBLEM WITH 1998 DURANGO THAT I HAD, WHEN REAR AXLE PINION BEARING WAS HEAVILY SCORED. IN THAT INCIDENT THE SAME MAINTENANCE WAS DONE, BUT REPAIR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3,000 KM'S AND CHRYSLER ONLY PAID 50% OF REPAIR OF $700.00. OIL CHANGES ON COMPLETE DRIVETRAIN WAS $590.00 (4X4 WITH SKID PLATES). THIS APPEARS TO BE A METAL FATIGUE PROBLEM IN COMBINATION WITH ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS THAT ARE TOO WIDE IN TOLERANCES, WHICH ALLOWS FAILURE OF COMPONENTS TO COMPOUND PROBLEMS AND CREATE LONGER TERM DAMAGING RESULTS. EVER SINCE DODGE TRUCKS WENT TO MAINTENANCE FREE FRONT AXLE BEARINGS (YOU CAN'T PACK BEARINGS WITH GREASE), POOR LIMITED SLIP TOLERANCES IN REAR AXLE, AND TRANSFER CASE THAT'S ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED, THE DRIVETRAIN AND FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE EXCESSIVE LOADS AND POOR QUALITY COMPONENTS. BOTH DURANGOS THAT I'VE OWNED HAVE HAD 5 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS (CONSTANT PULLING TO THE LEFT) AND NO OFF ROAD DRIVING. STRICTLY HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. I PURCHASED FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 2003 DURANGO WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. SO FAR, OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES HAVE BEEN MINIMAL, BUT DURANGO SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME IN THE SHOP AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT TO HAVE SERVICED CONSTANTLY. NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH WARRANTY PARTS OR DEALER NOT DOING WARRANTY RECALL WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10137978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

VIBRATION IN FRONT END OF SUV. THE VIBRATION OCCURS WHEN DRIVING. DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL ALSO VIBRATES WHEN BRAKING I AM A SERVICE MGR. FOR FARM DEALERSHIP AND DEAL WITH COMPLAINT EVERYDAY THIS IS NOT NORMAL PROBLEM WITH SUV BUT ONE THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FROM THE DAY THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT AND NOW DODGE AND THE DEALER DO NOT WONT TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIME GOING TO DIFFERENT DEALER THIS ALSO HAD NEW TIRE INSTALLED AT DEALERS REQUEST AT MY COST AND HAD THE TIRE BALANCED THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS APP 15,000 MILES ON NOW IT IS 2003 DURANGO.

NHTSA complaint #10107553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

DURANGO BALL JOINT FAILURE TWICE. REPLACED BALL JOINT, STEERING RACK WITH TIE ROD END. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10101568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN.*MR BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK CONTROL MODULE AND THE MASTER CYLINDER.

NHTSA complaint #10074023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. BOTH FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP UPON IMPACT. *AK THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BOUNCE IN THE FRONT END. AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PARK, THE FRONT TIRE TURNED INWARD. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE BOLT ON THE TIE ROD SNAPPED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10038049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.