This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While changing the brakes on the vehicle, the contact noticed that the upper ball joints were loose. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). The vehicle has not yet been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 39,000. Updated 01/14/09. Updated 01/21/09.
The ball joints failed on my 1999 Dodge Durango with the same clunking noise that the ball joints failed on the 2000 - 2003 Dodge Durango's. your NHTSA campaign number: 04V596000 clearly states this problem. Since you didn't include the 1999 Dodge Durango's in the recall I replaced the ball joints myself. Using the appropriate steps I replaced the bad squeaky, clunking ball joints with new moog ball joints. After about 3 months the front end of my Durango sounded as if it were going to fall off. I took my car to mieneke in spring, Texas to get it evaluated. The manager at this outlet informed me that the ball joints had wallowed out the holes on the upper control arm where the bolts go through ball joint and the upper control arm. He then charged me $1400 to replace the upper control arms on the right and left side and install new ball joints. My Dodge Durango began making noise again about 2 months later. The exact same problem. I called him back and let him know the problem was happening again. He said he would do some research and get back in touch with me. A day or two later he called me and informed me there was a service bulletin out that said you should not replace just the ball joint but you should replace the whole upper control arm that has a new ball joint riveted on to it. He said the metal on the control arm is to weak an malleable. How in the world can Dodge get away with using such cheap metal and parts and why don't all of the parts houses and repair shops know about this problem? only Dodge makes a replacement upper control arm with an attached ball joint for the 2 wheel drive Durango. It cost approximately $400 for each side.
For my 1999 Dodge Durango the ball joints need to be replaced costing $800. I see that Dodge recalled the 2000 - 2003 Durango's for this issue, or at least the upper ball joints. I don't understand why 1998 and 1999 were not recalled as well. Especially since this is a safety issue that could cause loss of vehicle control at high speeds.
My 1999 Dodge Durango has been making strange creaking noises for some time. Every time I have taken it in for service, I've been told everything is okay. Just recently those creaking noises became worse. This time when I took the car in for service I found out it was a problem with the ball joint. It was recommended that I have it fixed as soon as possible. It cost $635 to fix.
We bought our Durango used in Feb 06. Feb 20th took it to dealership because front brakes were locking up ( replaced pads and had rotors resurfaced - $381). On Sep. 9,06 took it in because the front end was vibrating terribly and was told that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. At that time, the vehicle had 95,328 mi. We had over $891.83 in repairs and alignment and had to turn around and have the tires replaced because of excessive wear due to the defective ball joints ( another $800+).
- Taylors, SC, USA
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The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While driving 25 mph, the contact heard a clunking and creaking noise coming from the front end. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that there was nothing wrong. In 2002, the contact took the vehicle to a specialty alignment shop and they refused to align the vehicle because the upper and lower front control arms were worn out. The contact returned to the dealer and they replaced the upper control arm on the passenger side. However, he continues to hear the clunking and creaking sound. The current mileage was 51,800 and failure mileage was 114. The upper ball joint was bad and the 4-wheel drive stayed engaged. The engine pinged a lot. Updated 11/06/07.
Upper and lower ball joints repaired twice, two sets of front tires because of uneven wear due to ball joints, in two years time. Truck isn't driven any longer, first time ball joints went out lost control of the truck and hit a ditch, these trucks are dangerous and need to be taken off road period. Currently looking for an attorney.
I am here to complain about the ball joints on our 1999 Dodge Durango! I just found out on Monday that we have to replace them again. This will be the second time. First time was in 2004 w/ 65K miles on the vehicle. Now 3 years and 30K miles later I have to do it again!! first time cost me around 400 dollars and this time it will be around 325 B/C my friend works at the local shop! this can be very dangerous if the person driving it don't know anything about cars. I have see numerous pictures on the internet of wrecks caused by the failure of the upper and lower ball joints!! we have a 1 yr old and it scares us to know this happens all the time to the 98 and 99 Durango's. the way you can tell these are going bad is when you hit a bump you notice a vibration in the front suspension area continue after you hit the bump. They recalled the ones from 2000-up but not these. There should be a class action lawsuit!!!!! its ridiculous that foreign vehicles are made better than american!! there is no reason for this. Vehicles are expensive enough let alone changing the ball joints every 30K miles!!!!!! our next vehicles will be foreign!!! I hope my comment goes somewhere other than in and out of ears/eyes. I emailed Dodge on Monday and have yet to hear back!! probably won't!! thanks for your time and website!!!!!!!!!
1999 Dodge Durango ball joint problem at 67,000 miles, my Durango needs balls joints. It looks like they had a recall on 2000 and up but it looks like the problem existed in 1999 also. I would like to see this model year recalled also.
ABS light & brake warning lights come on intermittently while driving, when lights were on brakes were touchy. And forget trying to slow or stop when it's raining. Front driver side control arms, ball joints, and bushings replaced. Upper and lower A-arm bushings have been replaced several times due to noise in front end. Dodge dealer could not diagnose this noise or any problem when we took it to them. After two days of it sitting at the dealer we mysteriously had a badly leaking water pump. When we decided not to have the dealer complete the repair they made us pay them a diagnostic fee of $78! two sets of brand new brakes squeaked annoyingly after repeated attempts at lubrication and cleaning, rotors now need replacing. Rear passenger, & front driver power window motors replaced, twice for the rear one. Bad brakes & bad suspension did not mix well when you're a mother of four very active kids. Sometimes I was scared to drive. The cost has become ridiculous and at times unreasonable.
I had been experiencing vibration throughout vehicle while driving so I took to our mechanic. Had to replace all four ball joints and U-joint and get an alignment. I now have a lot of play in the steering, and am constantly correcting it just to go straight. Had looked at again and they could not find any problems. I found out that the ball joints had been recalled for years 2000-2003, but why not 1999??
- the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango with a current and failure odometer reading of 96000 miles. The contact's vehicle experienced the same problems as mentioned in recall 04V596000 concerning suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint. The contact called the local dealer, but they said that this vehicle was not covered because it was made at a different plant.
My wife and I purchased a new 1999 Dodge Durango in June of 1999. Within the first 20,000 miles, we both noticed a "clicking" noise from the front end of the vehicle, along with vehicle shimmy. The vehicle was properly diagnosed with faulty ball joints. We the upper ball joints replaced. Within another 20,000 miles, the same problem again. Again we had them replaced. Now we are on our third set of ball joints in our Dodge Durango. The vehicle now has only 67,000 miles on it. (02-28-2007) I know that there is a recall notice for model years 2000-2004 with the same problem. May this problem also exist in the 1999 model?
Over the last three years of operating the vehicle (2005-2007): 1. fire in the front wheel assembly after 1.5 hours of 4-wheel drive - 1100$ replace 2. speed sensor failure ($500 work) 3. engine failure on the highway @80 mph - $7000 replace and other costs, lucky survived 4. joint balls replace (about 400$) 5. ac failure ($960 repair) 6. now parked - transmission/engine joint oil leak, estimated $1200 repair.
Ball joints went bad after 38,000 miles. Brought front end problems to the dealers attention prior to it going out of warranty. Chrysler told me too bad, the truck was out of warranty. I was eventually able to have them replace all four and share the cost, my share $500 plus. They denied there was any issue on the Durango models. After 30,000 more miles they are bad again. Chrysler recalled 2000 and up models, mine is a "99". I purchased it new. They should have recalled all production years.
- the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. The mechanic stated that they were unable to authorize an alignment on the vehicle until the upper and lower ball joints had been replaced. The contact had no warning that there was a recall on the upper and lower ball joints. According to the repair shop this failure occurs frequently with Dodge Durango's. the contact is aware of the safety risk involved while driving the vehicle. The dealer also replaced the inner tie rod ends. The consumer provided the invoice for service performed on vehicle. Updated 05/21/07
- the contact has a 1999 Dodge Durango and complained about two ball joint failures. At 50013 miles contact had to take the vehicle to his local dealership who replaced the lower right ball joint. At 92000 contact took vehicle to zrubek's for a front end alignment and the repair shop stated to the contact that they had to replace the two upper ball joints, and two inner tie rods. Updated 1/29/2007 -
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Carleplace, NY, USA