While driving 40 MPH the front wheel bearings failed. As a result the vehicle became uncontrollable and the driver had to pull to the side of the road. Please provide any additional information.
1998 Dodge Durango suspension complaints
Page 9 of 19: complaints 221 to 250 of 540, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1998 dodge durango, have had to have the ball joints replaced twice now.
Both ball joints of the durago have been deemed unsafe after 60,000 miles.
1998 durango with less then 60000 both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle has been well cared for never off road and not used to tow anything heavy.
I heard about the problems with the dodge durangos upper ball joints, so I had the dealer inspect them on my 1998 that has 60,000 miles on it. They reported excessive wear to the ball joints. Therefore, I had no choice but to replace them for about $500.00 out of my pocket. Im glad that I was not one of the many that I heard about who have lost a whole wheel assembly while driving.
While driving consumer noticed that vehicle was swaying from side to side with difficulty of maintaining the vehicle on the road. Vehicle was serviced, and the technician determined that lower ball joints were worn out.
We noticed problems with uneven front tire wear on our 1998 dodge durango. Local repair shop determined that upper ball joints are shot and need replaced. Received quote of $800 to replace upper and lower ball joints. Ball joint problem caused tires to wear out prematurely and uneven, steel belts almost showing on inside of one tire.
The upper ball joints wore out prematurely.
While driving 50 MPH a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the front left tire. Then, vehicle stalled. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that left front upper ball joint. Failed.
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 the federal safety agency 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!
I started noticing a popping sound on left turns and when it was inspected at a local mechanic, I was informed of a lower ball joint problem coupled with deterioration of the spindle or a arm. I really like the durango and was even contemplating a pacifica. If daimler chrysler doesn't do any better service to its customers by repairing their faulty equipment, perhaps the big bucks they want for their product could be placed into another auto manufacturer.
While driving 55 MPH, a knocking noise was heard coming from driver side wheel. Driver was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic replaced both upper and lower ball joints due to worn out parts.
Premature wear on passenger side front upper and lower ball joints.
In june, 2003 I took my durango into the shop for some routine servicing. The mechanic inspected the front of the vehicle and noticed considerable wear to the upper and lower ball joints on the front end. He recommended immediate replacement of these parts. Thankfully, I had these parts replaced in july before a serious accident occurred. However, these repairs were done outside of the warranty period and at considerable cost to myself. I don't use this vehicle very often, so at the time of the repair it only had 37,000 miles on it but I had owned it for 4 years. I believe diamler/chrysler is producing defective parts on these vehicles and it should be their responsibility to pay for the replacement of these parts.
I bought a used 1998 dodge durango with 24,000 miles in feb 14th 2003. This was a dodge certified used car. I also purchased an extra warranty package for $900.00. After 60 days I had a clunking noise in the front end. I called the dodge garage from which I had purchased the vehicle and they had it towed. They called me back and said I had a big problem. This is what happened the right front axel, ball joint upper arm assembly had broke apart causing extensive damage with a total of $1700.00 my responsability. They said dodge would not cover it because it was a four wheel drive. They said my extended dodge warranty would not cover the front suspension on the four wheel drive. Now I read that many vehicles have had the same problem. Remind you this vehicle only had 24,000 miles on it and they told me that they wore out!!!!!!!!!! At my expense.
Took 1998 durango for wheel rotation and alignment. Vehicle only has 72k000miles. Technician had to replace lower ball joints, which had caused excessive tire wear.
Ball joints worn out prematurely.
Lower and upper ball joints failed. Consumer was concerned that the front end will collapse while driving.
While driving over bumpy road consumer heard a noise. After vehicle was serviced consumer was informed that the ball joints needed replacement.
While driving at any speed vehicle shook violently. Eventually,the consumer pulled the front tire off, and noticed that upper ball joints failed and needed replacement.
When vehicle was going through state inspection technician determined that upper and lower ball joints were loose. The ball joints needed replacement.
Since I purchased my durango in 1998 from the dealer I have had it in for numerous repairs and complained at least three times about a noise I heard near the rf wheel. They have told me it was a steering adjustment etc. I have paid for numerous repairs and still the noise is there. It is the ball joint,I have 80,000 miles on my vehicle and the noise was present since 256 mi. I have all my dealer service records and I will be happy to provide them which document my noise complaints and mileage. I was just advised by a mechanic it was the ball joint and about your investigation. No vehicle should have a problem like this at 256 miles unless it is a defective part. The same noise is present, I have no less than five witnesses also who have heard the noise and asked me about it yet the mechanics denied being able to replicate it.
The vehicle was taken to dealer for routine general maintenance, and the mechanic determined that all four ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak there was banging when the consumer would go over bumps. This was due to loose ball joints.
Consumer complained about ball joints and tie rod problems. While pulling out of the driveway front right wheel came off the vehicle.
While at repair shop for front alignment mechanic determined that front upper and lower ball joints were worn out, and had to be replaced.
Upper ball joints wear out prematurely. Consumer is concerned that the front end will collapse while driving.
I own a 1998 dodge durango slt with 75000 miles. The vehicle was pulling strong to the right. I took it into a repair shop in our town of 28000 people. They indicated that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The repair shop indicated that this was the 4th durango they have had with this problem in the past couple months. The repair was $975. In addition, my employer has 25 durangos in their fleet and have discovered the same defective ball joints. There needs to be a recall on these durangos and reimbursement for the cost of repairs.
I own a dodge durango 1998 and I saw that you are doing an investigation of the durango's. I recently took my durango to a tire specialist to get an alignment done the vehicle has been pulling for some time now. They informed me that the ball joints and the 2 outer and 1 inner tie rods are bad and need to be replaced. If I take the vehicle to the dealership its going to be about a 900 procedure where if I take it to someone else it will be a 700 procedure but in order to be re-imbursed if a recall does come out I was told that I have to take it to the dealer. I am a pregnant woman and I have a 1 year old child. I am really worried that something that other mothers have experienced will also happen to me and my family. I am the one that drives this vehicle day in and day out. Since we bought the durango in 2002 we have had to replace tires, brakes, water pump, radiatior, now the AC is not blowing cold or even cool air and we need the ball joints and tie rods replaced. You have my word that I will never buy another dodge. I know this is being investigated and I wanted to let you know that this is a severe problem and I hope they do something soon before people die.
Upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice. Also control arms, upper arms on booth sides were replaced twice since ownership of the vehicle.*ak replacement of tie rods were also made on vehicle.
I have a 98 dodge durango and saw recently about ball joint failures, I have had ball joints replaced once (40000) and now need them replaced again (74000 miles). I was fortunate enough to have heard of other people with ball joint problems on their durango's that I have them checked on a regular basis. I was told at more then one automotive shop about a problem with the ball joints on durango's, including a dodge dealership. I believe more people have a problem than is realized, only they dont know they have a problem. Why let them find the hard way? I have seen reports of wheels falling off. Is there a certain number of people that have to be injured before dodge is forced into a recall. One can only hope that is not so.
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