CarComplaints.com Notes: The second generation Durango was introduced in 2004 and instantly came under fire for, well, catching on fire.
From 2004-2006 electrical overloading in the driver's side instrument panel caused numerous reports of interior fires. The interior infernos became so commonplace that Chrysler eventually issued a recall.
The problems didn't stop there, however. Owners of the recalled vehicles complained about being treated unfairly and given take-it-or-leave-it low ball settlement offers. "They offered me $2000 under NADA retail as a settlement," said one owner, "and have been rude and hostile to deal with." Nothing says awesome service like treating your customers rudely after their cars have already caught on fire.
I have a rattle in the left front suspension on my 2005 Durango. I took the vehicle to my dealership Des Moines Chrysler last year and they had 2 different technicians test drive my vehicle and they could find nothing. I have an extended warranty thru CostGuard, but, since Des Moines Chrysler couldn't find anything I was charged diagnosis time. Now the rattling noise is getting more noticeable and I took the vehicle back to my dealer. They now say it needs front sway bar links and my CostGuard warranty won't cover them because they consider them regular wear items. They wanted to charge me $333.00 to replace them. How do you figure that sway bar links are a regular wear item? Maybe because Chrysler produces junk that can't even make it to 50,000 miles. I purchased my Durango with 19,000 miles on it and it is now at 45,000 miles. The following items have been replaced under my extended warranty: blower motor, shift cable, egr valve, transmission cooler lines. These weren't entirely free because my extended warranty has a $100 deductible each time something goes wrong with this lemon. I have had to pay to replace the rear brake pads and rotors, a battery, and now it needs front sway bar links. All with under 50,000 miles. And on top of that the rear hatch is rusting and Chrysler refuses to pay for the repair since it's not rusted thru, yet I might add. We've only put 26,000 miles on the vehicle since we bought it and they are the most frustrating, expensive 26,000 miles of any vehicle I have owned.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have a rattle in the left front suspension on my 2005 Durango. I took the vehicle to my dealership Des Moines Chrysler last year and they had 2 different technicians test drive my vehicle and they could find nothing. I have an extended warranty thru CostGuard, but, since Des Moines Chrysler couldn't find anything I was charged diagnosis time. Now the rattling noise is getting more noticeable and I took the vehicle back to my dealer. They now say it needs front sway bar links and my CostGuard warranty won't cover them because they consider them regular wear items. They wanted to charge me $333.00 to replace them. How do you figure that sway bar links are a regular wear item? Maybe because Chrysler produces junk that can't even make it to 50,000 miles. I purchased my Durango with 19,000 miles on it and it is now at 45,000 miles. The following items have been replaced under my extended warranty: blower motor, shift cable, egr valve, transmission cooler lines. These weren't entirely free because my extended warranty has a $100 deductible each time something goes wrong with this lemon. I have had to pay to replace the rear brake pads and rotors, a battery, and now it needs front sway bar links. All with under 50,000 miles. And on top of that the rear hatch is rusting and Chrysler refuses to pay for the repair since it's not rusted thru, yet I might add. We've only put 26,000 miles on the vehicle since we bought it and they are the most frustrating, expensive 26,000 miles of any vehicle I have owned.
- Dan G., Carlisle, IA, US