Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Dodge Durango submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 1,102 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 1,102, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STALLS OUT, I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS, MY SWAY BAR OR CHAIN HAS BUSTED, SEAT BELT FOR DRIVER WILL NOT RETRACT, RUST AND EROSION HAS BEEN SO BAD THAT I ACTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY, AND I HAVE NO HEAT.
NUT CAME OFF LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF VEHICLE. WHEN PICKING UP PIECES, I NOTICED THAT THERE IS NO COTTER KEY TO KEEP THE NUT FROM BACKING OFF. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS.
THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER IT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM DISENGAGING THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE THE VEHICLE'S TIRES IN THE FRONT RUB AGAINST THE WHEEL WELLS CAUSING UNEVEN TREAD WEAR THE VEHICLE IS DEEMED UNSAFE ALSO DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT IN THE TIE RODS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ARE LOOSE CAUSING A OVER COMPENSATION AND UNDER COMPENSATION FOR STEERING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FATALITY ULTIMATELY DUE TO A BAD LANE CHANGE FORCING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ENDING UP ULTIMATELY IN FATALITY.
ONCE I WAS DRIVING FOR 5-10 MINS THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN. ALSO THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES NOISE. WHEN IM STOPPING IN A RED LIGHT MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD. *TR
THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT VERY QUICKLY, WE REPLACED THE TIRES AND WITHIN A YEAR THEY WORE OUT AGAIN. ALIGNMENT HAS NOT HELPED. WE TOOK IT IN AND FOUND OUT THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD. $1000 REPAIR. *TR
RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN GREAT SHAPE INSIDE AND OUT, RUNS GREAT..THE DEALER DID THE STATE INSPECTION ON IT AND REPLACED BOTH SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE RIGHT FRONT HUB/WHEEL BEARING.NOW 3 WEEKS LATER UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOIN ON ONE SIDE NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN..THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM AND AM DUMB FOUNDED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. I JUST BOUGHT IT SO DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR PRIOR OWNERS. *TR
FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *KB
I BOUGHT MY DURANGO IN MARCH OF 2011 FROM A DEALERSHIP WITH NO WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS HOW BAD THE SUSPENSION IS ON THIS TRUCK, AROUND AUGUST I WAS DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD COMPLETLY BROKE, THANKFULLY I WASN'T GOING FAST SO I HAD CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. SO WHEN I FIXED THE TIE ROD I DID BOTH BECAUSE I DIDN'T WAN'T THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN SO WHILE GETTING THE TIE ROD FIXED THE LOWER PASSENGER BALL JOINT FALLS OFF SO I WOUND UP DOING A PAIR OF THOSE ALSO, SO WHEN I GET THE GREASE FITTINGS GREASED, THE MECHANIC TELLS ME I NEED SWAY BAR LINKS REALLY BAD SO I DO THOSE ALSO. SO ALL THESE PROBLEMS, AND I HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY NOTE FOR THIS PIECE OF CRAP AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. NOW IT'S JANUARY 2012 AND I GO FOR A OIL CHANGE AND MECHANIC TELLS ME MY BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS ARE SHOT. I ASK HIM HOW CAN THAT BE THEY BEEN REPLACED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO, HE SAID MY SHOCKS ARE TERRIBLE. THIS HAS BEEN BEYOND FRUSTRATING AND I HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS TRUCK. I WAS READING AND I SAW ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM IN THIS TRUCK, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE WAS INFORMED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS SEIZED AND FAILED TO MOVE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.
THE PIN THAT GOES INTO THE SPINDLE ON THE 1999 DODGE DURANGO SEEMS TO HAVE SOME HUGE PROBLEM, WHICH CAN CAUSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO ITS' DRIVERS. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF OWNERS' COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. WE TOOK OURS LUCKILY IN TO GET A BRAKE JOB BEFORE MY BRAKE FELL OFF AND COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO WRECK. THE PIN WAS EASILY PULLED OUT AND THE THREADING WAS GONE. NO NEARBY JUNKYARDS HAVE A SPINDLE FOR MY 4X4 1999 DODGE DURANGO, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT AS SOON AS THEY GET THEM IN, SOMEONE COMES TO GET IT. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. HOW DOES A PIN FALL OUT. WE WILL HAVE TO GET NEW SPINDLES AND TO BUY THEM FROM THE DEALERSHIP IT IS $600 EACH. ALL BECAUSE A FAULTY PIN. *TR
1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT / 4WD / 8 CYL 5.9L - VEHICLE MILEAGE 53,712 AS OF 08/31/10; THE FOLLOWING OEM COMPONENTS / PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE / BROKEN / WORN PREMATURELY CAUSING OTHER PARTS / COMPONENTS / SYSTEMS TO FAIL, BRAKE & SHOULD BE RECALLED, SERVICED, REPLACED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER, LLC AT THEIR EXPENSE (NO WONDER THEY NEEDED BAILOUT $): 4) UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS UNDERSIZED IN MFG. CAUSING EARLY FAILURE & POSSIBLE ACCIDENT; *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT. WHILE DRIVING 10-30 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND SHIFTED OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO THIRD GEAR AND THE RPMS INCREASED UP TO 34000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWENTY MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 132,520. ALSO, THE BALL JOINT WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/07/10
I BOUGHT MY 99 DURANGO 3 MONTHS AGO & THE BALL JOINTS ARE POPPING & SOMETHING IN THE REAR IS SQUEAKING LIKE AN OLD MATTRESS & THE BRAKES ALREADY NEED REPLACED & THE AC DOESN'T WORK. MY CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN REGARDING ACCIDENTS FROM THE BALL JOINTS BREAKING & NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER. IF THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH VEHICLES THAT HAVE LOW MILEAGE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL & DODGE PAY FOR THE REPAIRS WHEN PEOPLES LIVES ARE IN DANGER. DO YOU REALLY WANT ANOTHER TOYOTA ISSUE? *TR
CONTROL ARMS UPPER DEFECTIVE ON DODGE DURANGO 4X4 MAKES LOUD POPPING SOUND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS LEFT AND RIGHT AND REPLACE ALL BALL JOINTS DUE TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE SHREDDING AND SHEARING. *TR
STEERING PROBLEMS RELATED TO LINKAGE AFFECTED BY BRAKE RESIVOIR LEAKAGE ONTO LINKAGE TO THE GEAR BOX. FLUID ATE RUBBER OFF OF THE "JOINTS" THAT LOOK TO BE LIKE THAT OF A "U-JOINT." THE FIRST TIME WAS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING AN "OVERSTEER" SITUATION AND THE UNDERLYING CONDITION WAS NOT EXPLAINED OR REPAIRED. THE LINKAGE WAS REPLACED. ONE YEAR OR SO LATER THE DURANGO BEGAN TO REPEAT THE ABOVE SITUATION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF OVER 65 MILES PER HOUR. AGAIN THE LINKAGE WAS REPLACED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER {NOT INCLUDING THE RESIVOIR} WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE DUE TO THE AGE OF MY VEHICLE {OR LACK OF WARRANTY}. THE PROBLEM STILL EXSISTS BECAUSE I HAVE NO JOB TO PAY FOR REPAIRS OR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED LINKAGE X2 AND MASTER CYLINDER FOR THIS SITUATION, ALSO HAD AXEL HUBS {SEALED UNITS} FAIL DUE TO DRY BEARING, BOTH SIDES FRONT. OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS BOTH FAILED DUE TO DRY BEARINGS IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS. THIS ALSO CAUSED A DANGEROUS CONDITION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WOBBLE AND OVERSTEERING CONDITIONS. PRIOR TO THESE PROBLEMS THE REAR SWAY BAR LINKS HAD DISINTEGRATED AND WERE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE NO OFF ROAD 4X4 ACTION FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED IT. THANK YOU !!
HAD UNEVEN WEAR AFTER I HAD PUT NEW TIRES ON WITH A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. BOTH FRONT WHEELS ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE SO I HAD IT EVALUATED BY A DEALERSHIP WHICH I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED NEW BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS AT A PRICE OF $2,200.00. AFTER HAVING THIS FIXED I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD NEED NEW A ARMS FOR ANOTHER $1,800.00. THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN WORTH FIXING. *TR
MY '99 DODGE DURANGO IS SITTING ON IT'S 3RD SET OF BALL JOINTS, AND I AM TOLD IT NEEDS ANOTHER. I'VE REPEATED BEEN TOLD "YOU'RE LUCKY YOUR WHOLE WHEEL DIDN'T COME OFF WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING". THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I AM TIRED OF FIXING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER! I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AT VARIOUS SITES FROM OTHER CONSUMERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM! WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE? HOW MANY PEOPLE/FAMILIES/CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS AUTO GIANT IS FORCED TO DO THE ETHICAL AND HONORABLE ACTION OF PROPERLY REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM? I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS THEM; THEY CREATED THE PROBLEM. ALMOST ALL AUTO GIANTS ARE RECEIVING BAIL OUT MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT...MILLION...THEY NEED TO USE SOME OF IT FOR A GOOD PURPOSE. *TR
1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT ( 5.9 ) REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR THE 2ND TIME. 70,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR
SUSPENSION:FRONT HUB. *TR
THE DURANGO WHICH IS A 1999 MODEL RECENTLY BROKE 100,000 MILES, AFTER IT HIT THAT 100.00 MILE MARK I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING HAD AT LEAST 1/2 IN. OF PLAY. I TOOK THE DURANGO IN TO A TIRE PLACE TO HAVE MY TIRES REPLACED AND THEY TOLD MY THAT THE TIE RODS WERE BAD. THAT WAS AROUND CHRISTMAS. NOT TOO LONG AGO I REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE TRUCK COSTING ME ALMOST $400.00!! THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT I WAS ABOUT A WEEKS WORTH OF DRIVING AWAY FROM BEING PUT IN A DITCH BECAUSE MY TIE RODS WERE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION. I HAVE TO GO TO WORK SO THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I CAME ACROSS A BLOG TALKING ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE 2000-2003 MODEL DURANGOS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT MY DURANGO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM ON MY ONLY VEHICLE THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED UNSAFE. *TR
I HAVE 99 DODGE DURANGO I HAVE HAD IT SINCE 2004 THEN I HAVE HAD TO PUT OVER 3,000 INTO THE FRONT END. I HAVE HAD THE BALL JOINTS (UPPER AND LOWER) REPLACED. MY BALL JOINTS BROKE THE FIRST TIME AND MY CAR ALMOST CRASHED INTO A TREE. I WAS JUST DOING 60 DOWN A HIGHWAY. I TURNED AND GOT ABOUT 200 FEET INTO A DRIVEWAY AND MY TIRE JUST FELL OFF AND MY WHOLE CAR HIT THE GROUND. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS 99-2002 DURANGO HAS THIS PROBLEM. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING 60 AND THIS HAPPENED THEN... I WOULD NOT BE HERE TYPING THIS. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL, IT MAKES THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE. I JUST HAD MY BALL JOINT REPLACED AGAIN, NOT TO MENTION I HAD TO BUY BRAND NEW TIRES BECAUSE THE BAD BALL JOINT RUBBED MY BRAND NEW TIRES DOWN. THIS IS A MANUFACTURES MESS UP. THERE IS NO WAY THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. *TR
1999 DODGE DURANGO-SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER DUE TO OVERHEATING-COMMON PROBLEM I HEAR. NOW THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND NEED REPLACED OR MY TIRES COULD FALL OFF? LOTS OF INFORMATION THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM AND VERY VERY DANGEROUS. OTHER YEARS OF DERANGE HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF BALL JOINTS BEING BAD. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET AND AM HOPING NOT TO. CAN'T AFFORD ALL THESE REPAIRS FOR THINGS THAT SEEM TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL*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. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB
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 $1400.00 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. *TR
AFTER REPLACING HUB ASSEMBLY AT LES SCHWAB BRAKES DIDN'T WORK RIGHT WHEN STEPPING DOWN ON BRAKE IT WOULD MAKE A SOUND AS IF THEY WERE NOT CATCHING PULLING CAR FORWARD BRAKING ONLY DEPRESSED HALF WAY AFTER A FEW SECONDS BRAKE WOULD LET GO ALL THE DOWN AND THEN WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL I RETORTED TO LES SCHWAB THEY CHECKED BRAKES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG THE SAID MAY BE SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING TO SUSPENSION BUT IT SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IT WOULD CONTINUE OFF AND ON FOR A FEW WEEKS TWO DAYS AFTER THANKSGIVING RETURNING FROM SHOPPING SUN WAS JUST GOING DOWN WHEN BRAKING FOR A CAR I FRONT MY BRAKES GAVE OUT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME DEPLOYING AIR BAGS TO BOTH SIDES AS WE WERE PUSHING CAR OUT OF ROAD THERE WAS O SKID MARKS AT ALL. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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