2004 Dodge Durango Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DORMAN DODGE (724 S HARRIS ST, SANDERSVILLE, GA 31082, (478) 552-5111) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD FRACTURED PREMATURELY. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD FRACTURED IN THE MIDDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. UPDATED 05/17/17*LJ *CN

APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS AGO NOTED SEVERE RUST THROUGH BEGINNING ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ROCKER PANELS AND REAR QUARTER PANELS/WHEEL WELLS. ESTIMATE AT THAT TIME FOR FULL REPAIR WAS OVER $4000 DUE TO EXTENT OF RUST. RUST AFFECTS ROCKER PANELS, DRIVER COMPARTMENT FLOOR AT DOOR ENTRY POINTS AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER QUARTER PANELS. DEALERSHIP BODY SHOT PERSONNEL NOTED THAT 'THESE DURANGO'S AND DAKOTAS ALL RUST OUT BAD - AND IT HAPPENS FAST'. VERY TELLING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FULLY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP AND HAS BEEN GARAGED CONTINUALLY. WE DO LIVE IN THE 'RUST-BELT' AREA - BUT WE ARE IN NO WAY PLEASED WITH THE CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE. TO DATE - THE RUST IS EXPANDING TO MOST LOWER BODY PARTS EXPOSED TO WEATHER AND THE SPEED AT WHICH ITS - LITERALLY - DISINTEGRATING IS RIDICULOUS. THE REPAIR NOW WILL COST NEARLY $6000 AND WE SIMPLY DO NOT FEEL IT IS WORTH DOING. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT (REFERRING TO THE DEALERSHIP DODGE REPRESENTATIVE'S COMMENTS AS WELL AS OBSERVING OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES IN OUR REGION. SHAMEFUL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND SPUN AROUND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A NOISE WHICH CAME FROM THE TIRE AREA AND WAS DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE GEARS LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE AROUND AND DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,780.

PROBLEM WITH "FRONT SUSPENSION/BALL JOINTS" 2004 DODGE DURANGO: HAD EXCESSIVE FREEPLAY IN LOWER BALL JOINTS. LEFT MORE THAN THE RIGHT. BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACE WITH CHRYSLER/DODGE PARTS ON 9/28/07 AT 60,577 MILES. THE REPAIR COSTS $544.69. AT 65,202 MILES I STATED EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING AND FLOORBOARD UNDER THE DRIVERS FEET. A METAL ON METAL CLUNKING SOUND STARTS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A 1/2-HOUR (WHEN HOT) AND IS ONLY HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. HAD TWO SHOPS LOOK AT IT BUT THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE NOISE. NOW AT 65,738 MILES, THE NOISE IS GETTING LOUD AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. WILL THE TIRE COME OFF OR WILL THE ABILITY TO STEER BE GO OUT COMPLETELY AT SOME POINT? *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE SUSPENSION. THE TIE ROD AND SPINDLE BOTH FRACTURED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY FALL TO THE RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN BACK, WHICH INJURED THE LEFT HAND OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 01/26/07. *JB

I JUST ENTERED A SHOPPING PLAZA DRIVING APROX 10 MILES PER HOUR AND THE 2004 DODGE DURANGO'S TIE ROD, SPINDLE AND BALL JOINT BROKE OFF. *JB

A 2004 DODGE DURANGO 4 X4 , ON AN INCLINE AFTER A HORSE SHOE CURVE, HAD A FRONT END FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE WHEEL AND BEARING HOUSING COLLAPSING UNDER THE DURANGO. THE VEHICLE DROPPED INTO A HILLSIDE BEFORE GRINDING TO A STOP. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATES THE STEERING WHEELS PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER CAN'T FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ALSO, CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

I WAS RETURNING FROM A LUNCHEON WITH AN ESTIMATING FIRE MARSHALL FOR WEST VIRGINIA AND A NICHOLAS COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF. WHEN DRIVING HOME TO BRAXTON COUNTY I SUDDENLY FELT A SUDDEN JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THEN BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I STRUCK A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE THEN ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES, ENTRAPPING ME INSIDE AND UPSIDE DOWN. IT WAS NOTED LATER THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BROKEN LOOSE. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO BRAXTON COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS EXAMINED AND KEPT OVER NIGHT FOR OBSERVATION. I SUSTAINED NO BROKEN BONES, BUT SUFFERED SEVERAL CONTUSIONS WHICH CAUSED SEVER PAIN. DEALER WAS TOLD THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, BUT WAS ONLY INTERESTED WHEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WOULD BE HERE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. IT IS A 2004 DODGE. DURANGE MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 2003. I AM VERY UPSET AT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS IN TO THE GARAGE ON DECEMBER 17TH FOR A RECALL ON THE POSITIVE BATERY CABLE TO BE FIXED DUE TO RUBBING ON THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. I RESPONDED TO THE RECALL NOTICE THE VERY DAY I RECEIVED IT. I ASK THE MECHANIC TO PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE HOIST, AND AT LEAST LOOK AT THE FRONT END COMPONETS, BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A 2004 MODEL, AND IT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL CONCERNING THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY WERE VERY BUSY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOU TIME IN THIS MATTER, AND I HOPE IT WILL PREVENT SOMEONE ELSE FROM HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE I DID, AND SAVE THEM THE PAIN AND SUFFERING I AM, OR THE POSSIBLITY OF BEING KILLED. I INVESTIGATED AUTOMOBILE FATALITIES OFTEN IN WEST VIRGINIA. I DON'T WANT MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE TO BE A STATISTIC.*AK

ON SEPT OF 2004 I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE AIR ON THE TIRE WAS GOING DOWN I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND HAD TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON I WANT TO GET THE TIRE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TREADS WAS SHOWING AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED AT THAT TIME WE LOOK AT THE OTHER TIRE ON THE NEW 2004 DURANGO UNDER 6000 MILLS, ONE OF THE OTHER TIRE WAS PEELING, WE WENT TO GOOD YEAR PER THERE CARE DEALER ADVISE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME, AND WAS GIVEN A # TO CALL GOOD YEAR, I DID GO ON THE WEB SITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND WAS GIVEN THIS INFORMATION. FROM: GOODYEAR_CR@GOODYEAR.COM ON 10/11/2004 04:46 PM SENT BY: GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY CONSUMER RELATIONS 728 1144 EAST MARKET STREET AKRON, OH 44316 VOICE #: 800.321.2136 FAX #: 330.796.6829, MARIA, IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE DEFECTIVE TIRES I WOULD SUGGEST GOING TO THE NEAREST GOODYER DEALER. A FEW IN YOUR AREA ARE. *

THIS REPRESENTS THE 5TH TIME MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO HAS GONE BACK TO MARTIN DODGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE MAKES A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR AS IT GOES DOWN THE ROAD. THE REAR IS ALSO LOOSE OVER NORMAL ROADWAY CONDITIONS. ON THE FIRST REPAIR, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED REAR SHOCKS, SWAY BAR, & TIGHTENED THE REAR. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THEY REPLACED A STRIPPED BOLT IN THE REAR. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THEY REPLACED THE BOLT'S HOUSING & THE BOLT AGAIN. ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT, THEY TIGHTENED & LUBED THE ENTIRE REAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER'S REMARKS ON THE LATEST INVOICE IS THAT HE IS GOING TO TALK TO CHRYSLER CORPORATION ABOUT THIS CONTINUED PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER RELAYED TO MY WIFE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL IS BEING RUBBED TOGETHER SOMEWHERE IN THE REAR. HE ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS DURANGO MODELS, & THAT CHRYSLER FIXED SAME BY INSERTING PLASTIC SPACERS OF SOME KIND. THE SERVICE MANAGER & MY WIFE TEST DROVE THE DURANGO AFTER TODAY'S FOURTH REPAIR ATTEMPT. THE POPPING & SWAY WAS AS GREAT AS IT EVER WAS. I WILL BE REPRESENTED BY DAVID J. GORBERG, ESQ. WITH REGARD TO A NJ LEMON LAW CLAIM. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY NHTSA REGARDING MY 4 PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS.*AK

TODAY REPRESENTS THE FOURTH TIME THAT MY NEW DURANGO GOES BACK TO MY DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS A DISTINCT "POPPING" NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEN DRIVING. THERE'S ALSO EXCESSIVE BOUNCE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS EXCESSIVE BOUNCE SHOULD BECOME A FULL RECALL, AS IT IS UNSAFE. ON THE FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT, MARTIN DODGE CHANGED THE REAR SHOCKS, SWAY BAR, & "TIGHTENED" THE REAR. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THEY REPLACED A STRIPPED BOLT IN THE REAR. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THEY REPLACED THE HOUSING THAT HELD THIS BOLT IN PLACE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE THIRD REPAIR ATTEMPT, MY WIFE & I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL GO BACK TO MARTIN DODGE FOR A FOURTH REPAIR ATTEMPT. I WILL ALSO CONTACT A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY TODAY TO SEEK REMEDY. *LA

MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO WENT BACK TO MARTIN DODGE FOR EXCESSIVE BOUNCE IN THE REAR END ALONG WITH A CONTINUED POPPING NOISE DURING SAID BOUNCE. MARTIN DODGE ADVISED ME THAT THE "BELL CRANK BUSHING" WAS STRIPPED & WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR SHOP FOR 3 DAYS INITIALLY, & 4 DAYS THE SECOND TIME. I WAS ADVISED THAT NEW SHOCKS & SWAY BAR WERE ORDERED TO BE INSTALLED. AS PER THE INVOICE OF JUNE 11, 2004, SAME WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE PART IS LISTED AT $81.55. THE LABOR IS LISTED AT $13.00. $13.00 LABOR FOR A VEHICLE IN THE SHOP 4 DAYS?????? I FIRST DROVE THE VEHICLE TODAY, JUNE 13, 2004. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WILL BE BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW MORNING. THE BOUNCE IS SIMPLY NOT SAFE. THE POPPING NOISE IS ANNOYING. HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING SAME. ALSO, THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION WHY THERE WOULD BE A STRIPPED BOLT ON A NEW VEHICLE. WHAT CAUSED THIS "BELL CRANK BUSHING" TO BECOME STRIPPED?*AK

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2004 DODGE DURANGO SLT WITH THE HEMI ENGINE. WHEN I ACCELERATE OR COME TO STOPS, THERE WILL BE A "POPPING" NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. THIS OCCURS DAILY WITHOUT FAIL. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELLING OVER ROADWAYS, AT NORMAL SPEED, THERE IS EXCESSIVE BOUNCE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR ALONG WITH THIS POPPING NOISE/SENSATION. I WILL BE BRINGING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TODAY FOR THIS REPAIR. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM IS ASSOCIATED WITH THREE OTHER NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS INVOLVING THE POWER TRAIN: AXLE ASSEMBLY, THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHING SQUAWK, OR THE EXHAUST DRONE. *AK