At 38000 miles consumer replaced passenger and driver side upper and lower ball joints. At 84000 miles technician indicated needed to be replace all four ball joints.

- Cynthiana, KY, USA

Ball jointS. upon routine maintenance and reports of failures on the Dodge DurangoS I recently check the front suspension on my personal vehicle to find three of the four ball joints with extensive wear. One to the point where separation is possible. Being in the repair and maintenance industry for over 25 years I find DodgeS response to this matter not to be completely correct. Dodge claims a front end noise should be heard and that separation will only occur with sharp hard turns is not always the case. They claim the design of the control arms make it almost impossible to separate would only hold true if spring pressure was applied on the upper control arm, which it has none. They claim that water washes the lubricant out of the joint. If the joint had been produced properly water should not be able to enter the joint, if the joint was able to be lubricated it would reduce this problem, as wear is from lack of lubricant more than water. I feel like the cost of repairs to these vehicles should not be the consumers, but the manufactures responsibilityS as it is apparent they have the problem and is holding the blind eye to it. Once the joints are replaced they will be available.

- Herrin, IL, USA

While driving a popping noise was heard coming from the front. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.

- Great Falls, VA, USA

While driving consumer heard a popping noise coming from the rear, and vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. Consumer noticed that the passenger front tire felt off. Vehicle was towed home. The front passenger upper ball joint broke.

- Brookfield, CT, USA

Heard sqeaking in the front end for the past year. Brought in vehicle to dealer today 5/12/04 for new tires and brakes. When cart was hoisted on lift fron right tire fell off due to ball joint seperation and failure. Dealer staed front left was also bad

- Homewood, IL, USA

Shaking when driving at all speeds. Took vehicle into dealership. Upper and lower ball joints bad, loose tie rod ends, sway bar busings gone bad. Paid to have dealership fix vehicle due to no recall issued.

- Otis Orchards, WA, USA

I was making a left hand turn across 2 lanes of traffic into a parking lot. There was a small dip at the entrance and then the area leveled off. I was going about 10mph and as my front end came out of the dip, the front right side of my vehicle collapsed. I was towed to the dealer. After the damage survey was complete, I was told the ball joint had failed. There was extensive damage to the wheel, axel, brakes and ball joint. The ball joints were previously inspected in Jan 2004. I was told by the dealer that they were fine.

- Woodinville, WA, USA

-rattling noise started on the front of vehical. -upper ball joints where found by a machanic -new upper ball joints where replace on both left and right of vehical after 65,000 at a cost of over $450.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

I watched the show on cbs about Dodge Durango's having a problem with the front ball joints in their vehicles and to date they have had 79 "incidents" relating to the front end/ball joints and Chrysler has not put out a recall for the vehicle. I have been stationed in guantanamo bay, cuba for the last three years and I finally got a chance to take my 2000 Durango in for some much needed work since arriving back in the states. I told them I had noise coming from the front end of my vehicle. We have heard this noise for about six months and then I saw the show in cbs about three weeks after arriving back in the states. Low and behold, you can add our vehicle to the list of problems. We had to have all our front ball joints replaced along with other front end work. Thank goodness I got the extended warranty, or I would have paid over $1,000 for something Chrysler should be recalling. We really enjoy our Durango, but we will think twice about buying another Dodge when they don't care about the safety of there customers.

- Aiea, HI, USA

Ball joints have failed and vehicle handles erratically. Does not maintain a strait line while driving.

- N. Manchester, IN, USA

While driving at 20 mph, the consumer stopped at a stop sign. The consumer made a left turn and the right front wheel separated from the axle. A mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

- Lyman, SC, USA

Upper ball joints failed on vechile.

- Calumet City, IL, USA

Upon examining the tires to find cause of pull while driving noticed excessive wear on the inner tread of the right front tire. When looking under the vehicle, noticed the upper right ball joint nearly collapsed. Took to dealer and they confirmed, needs replacing as it is prematurely worn. Vehicle has just 50,000 miles and none of the miles are off road. They are highway and back/forth to work miles only.

- Brainerd, MN, USA

Had to replace the upper ball joint on my 2000 Dodge Durango. Was informed that the wheels were about to seperate from the veicle, which put me, my husband and two children in sever danger. I have the parts of the defective product that was given back to me when the veicle was serviced.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

Consumer questioned why the upper ball joints on the Durango were not being recalled, when he himself had to replace his own.

- Unknown, DC, USA

During a vehicle inspection, the inspector found that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out. The upper and lower ball joints were replaced.

- Middletown, PA, USA

2000 Dodge Durango VIN#YF159461 is in for brake repairs. The dealer manhattan Dodge 711 eleventh ave NY NY 10019 212-765-6633 claims I need a new master cylinder. They claim that my ball joints on both sides front need to be replaced. I have heard about the investigation. As I am choosing to replace them for my personal safety, I will collect the old ones if the NHTSA would like them, please let me know.

- New York, NY, USA

Took my 2000 Dodge Durango into shop to check front suspension due to cracking noise and grinding in wheels. Was told that the ball joints were bad and would have to be replaced. The vehicle has 34,000 miles on it these ball joints should not need replacing at 34,000 miles. The mechanic stated there is a defect in Dodge ball joints on the Durangos and that it is not safe to drive as is. It is just a matter of time before someone is killed by these defective ball joints.

- Aiken, SC, USA

While driving the vehicle's steering box broke without warning. As a result the vehicle lost control ending up in a ditch. No report of airbag deployment or injuries.

- Canada, 00, USA

Ball joints failed at 80000 miles on my 2000 4X4 Dodge Durango. Noticed the steering was exceptionally loose, so I followed Chrysler's service procedure for checking ball joints. Dial indicator showed.287 inch of play on the right side, .220 inch on the left side. I replaced both using moog ball joints.

- South Yarmouth, MA, USA