I have a 2001 dodge durango r/t that has had severe problems with the front end. I know that the upper ball joints have been replaced at least three times. Two of which are from my local dealer and I just received a notice that they want it done again. I also know that my lower ball joints are shot and is definitely a complication of the upper ball joint problems due to the fact that they are on the same pivot point. Also my upper and lower control arm bushings are seizing up and causing not only a substantial amount of noise but a severe amount of wheel hop while at high rates of speed on the highway. While cornering and hitting the expansion joint of a bridge or other highway bump the truck seems to want to bounce from lane to lane. I also had a drivers side front shock break in half while on the highway last week. I contacted daimler chrysler about these problems and they didn't seem the bit least worried about it. I asked if there was any consumer complaint program or any follow up procedure that I could be involved with and he was quick to say no. He also instructed me that I could do one of two things, I could have the ball joints changed for the fourth time or get ride of the vehicle. I asked him if this was dodges since on the whole problem by off loading the vehicle onto another unsuspecting person and he didn't say anything. He just repeated himself. I am a aircraft mechanic by trade and I can tell you right now that the faa and the ntsb would have grounded every aircraft that was affected in a situation like this. I don't know why there is such a double standard with the automobile industry. I drive around my family in this vehicle to include my 5 month old son and it scares me to death just reading the stories online that other people have been involved with. I hope it hasn't happened but what is it going to take to get this resolved with dodge, (multiple deaths with this $30,000 lemon) thank you mike audas.
2001 Dodge Durango suspension complaints
Page 3 of 10: complaints 41 to 70 of 265, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Dt: the consumer was complaining that after recall #04v596000 was fixed. The vehicle had to be realigned. Consumer was upset that he had to pay for alignment. The manufacturer should have paid for this, and it should be included in the recall expenses. The recall was on the upper ball joints on both sides of the front suspension. The owner had the recall fixed on 7-27-05. The consumer did not have enough money to pay the extra charge. He will have this fixed and go back to a mechanic for another realigned. The consumer was going to do this at a later date. Called the manufacturer, and they said that the realignment wasn't something that they were concering. They were only concerned with the recall.
Dt: consumer states: she has a dodge durango that was recalled for the ball joints. The recall number was not available. She received the recall letter around 1-05. The dealer does not have the parts. He name was put on a waiting list in 1-05 for the parts. She still has not heard anything. She has contacted the dealer again and they tell her the part has not come in yet. They could not offer her a loaner to use until the parts were in.
The consumer was involved in two frontal collisions. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The cause had not been determined at this time. *ak the first incident occured on a slight snow covered road. The consumer lost control of the vehicle which resulted in front and side damage and the vehicle was backed against the concrete barrier. The second incident occured while the vehicle was in motion and the consumer lost control whenthe vehicle was driven over a small ice patch. The consumer had run into a light pole and completely damaged the middle front of the vehicle. The consumer was informed of recall# 04v596000, which may have been the cause of both incidents.
While the vehicle was being sericed for the upper ball joints on the federal safety agency recall, the lower ball joints were were defective.
Dealer flatly refused to service the vehicle for upper ball joints the federal safety agency recall 04v396000, since consumer did not purchase the vehicle there, and the parts were available only for their customers.
While driving a loud clanking noise came from the rear of the vehicle. Driver took vehicle to dealer, and mechanic determined that left and right rear lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.
A recall for the upper ball joints was issued. However, the dealer stated the part was on national back order. Consumer has been waiting since december 2004.
Brought vehicle to dealer for upper ball joint recall and was informed that the lower ball joints were also bad. Dealer said they could replace them at a considerable cost to vehicle owner. Obviously equally as defective as the upper ball joints and should also be covered by a recall.
I have a 2001 dodge durango that has prematue wearing of tie rods and bushings. I tried contacting my dealership and they will not cover this because of 60,000miles. I started noticeing problems at 7,000 miles when my tires started to wear premature. I took the car back to the dealer and they just realined the vehicle. I am on my third set of tires already. Brakes plus won't realign the car because everything is so worn out. Please advise me, I have to fix this and nobody will cover the costs. What do I do.???
The vehicle vibrated and pulled to the left when driving 50-60 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop. The mechanic informed the consumer that the front wheel bearing needed to be replaced. *jb the consumer stated that the whole left hub assembly needed to be replaced. The consumer was told that the whole front tire almost fell off due to a faulty wheel bearing.
The lower ball joints wear out prematurely. Dealer has already replaced the upper ball joints under the recall that was issued.
A recall for the upper ball joints was issued, however, dealer stated that the parts were not available this had been going on for two months. *ak recall campaign; the consumer stated that she has had lifetime brakes installed on her vehicle twice. 4wd shaft was replaced twice.
Dodge durango 2001 upper ball joints and air bag defect. Vehicle involved in an accident. *bf the consumer received the ball joint recall notice after the ball joint failed resulting in an accident. The front end of the consumer's vehicle crashing into a concrete protection barrier. The driver's air bag did not deploy and as a result he hit his head against the windshield. The consumer contacted the dealer about the ball joint recall but was told that the part was not available. The day of the consumer's appoint to have the ball joint replaced the consumer lost control of the vehicle and hit a light pole. Once again the air bags did not deploy which caused the driver to hit her chest on the steering wheel and head against the windshield.
After taking the vehicle into the dealer, the consumer was told the ball joints were not defective and did not need to be replaced. After taking the vehicle into another dealer, they found the defect and replaced the ball joints. The federal safety agency ball joint recall 04v596000.
During a routine inspection, the dealership informed the consumer of the loose upper/lower ball joints. The dealership did not resolve the problem. Please provide more information.
While the upper ball joints were being replaced under a manufacturer's recall dealer informed the consumer that both lower ball joints needed to be replaced.
No parts were available for recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. Hanover, dodge, 717‑637‑1101.
We received a recall notice concerning the front end problems on the dodge durango but it does not include the 2 wheel drive after 100,000 miles. We are 11,000 outside this notice but have not been able to drive our vehicle due to this problem. There are no restrictions on the 4x4. This seems pretty biased on the part of the dodge corporation. Why the descrepencyi?????????
The hubs also became defective once the ball joints were defective. This should be brought to the manufacturer's attention.*ak recall campaign . The federal safety agency campaign id number : 04v596000 front:control arm:upper ball joint.
Once the ball joints become defective the hub assembly becomes defective. Consumer had to replace the hub assembly. *ak recall campaign . The federal safety agency campaign id number : 04v596000 front:control arm:upper ball joint.
The federal safety agency campaign 04v596000/ball joint wear. Owner received notification from the manufacturer on january 5, 2005 on the upper ball joint recall. Owner has contacted the dealer and the manufacturer asking why was it taking so long to get the parts for the recall. Owner was put on a waiting list for three weeks. Ak the dealer told the consumer that they can not meet the demands of all the recalls.
The federal safety agency recall campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. This vehicle was included in the recall, but when taken to dealer for inspection it was found that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced, otherwise the wheels could fall off.
The federal safety agency recall 04v596000; concerning upper ball joint wear. The dealer refused to honor the recall without an explanation. *ak *sc
Consumer received recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. However, consumer has been waiting for sometime, almost one month, and was being told there were no parts.
The front end wobbled/shimmied while driving. The mechanic indicated that the front wheels were completely loose because the upper ball joints were worn out. A recall was issued on this make/model and year, however, this vehicle was not included in the recall.
Not sure exactly when the last failure was because I don't travel "all" the time... But when I do... Sometimes the emergency flashers come on by themselves and cannot be turned off. This is not good while traveling down the interstate highways. The flasher switch does not work any longer and the flashers cannot be turned off. I hear clicking noises under the dash and have even tried pullling fuses... You cannot turn the emergency flashers off. My destination is about 250 miles away and when this does happens, they may continue to flash all night long resulting in the battery being dead the next day. I have a feeling this happens even when I don't travel because sometimes when I want to go somewhere the battery is dead and the truck has been sitting in my garage all night.this is obviously an electrical problem that could eventually result in a fire or death...*ak the dealer "maxwell dodge" in austin texas is "special" and does not have to adhere to any "laws". They do not want to fix the upper ball joints on my 2001 durango either unless I can leave it there "until they get around to it". They won't make an "appointment" for the 2 hour repair needed and insist that I bring it there and leave it until they ready to give it back. What a scam! I hope that you will review this matter and correct these issues with the unethical dealers that manufacturers continue to allow distribution and support of thier products.. Thanks, [xxx] 2001 dodge durango r/t 4x4 5.9 liter VIN: [xxx]. *ak updated 07/24/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Consumer received a recall notice for the ball joints on the dodge durango. However, consumer has contacted the dealer a total of three times, and they have yet to repair the vehicle due to lack of parts.
The federal safety agency campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. This vehicle was included in the recall, but when taken to the dealer for repairs results showed that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced as well. Dealer will repair at consumer's expense.*ak the consumer has attempted to contact the manufacturer for four days but only gets an answering machine.
During a recent state inspection on my 2001 dodge durango it was found that one of my upper and both lower ball joints were worn extensively and that the vehicle failed inspection.*ak I was scheduled for a recall replacement for the uppers as per the recal, however after contacting dodge, I was told that the lower ball joint damage are unrelated to the recall. I feel that the failure and defect in the upper ball joints are the proximate cause of the lower ball joint failure, and that the recall should be modified to include both the upper and lower ball joints.
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