Problems with 1999 Dodge Durango STEERING

Vehicle front end made a clunking noise and felt loose when driving on rough roads which was determined to be caused by cracked and loose ball joints. dodge dealer repaired same but refused to cover under warranty or recall. dealer also replaced l & r inner tie rod ends and steering gear, which they said were damaged by wheel play due to the bad ball joints. old parts were kept by dealer, availability at this time is unknown.

Loud popping of front end when turning .vibrates through steering wheel.not able to get alignment because of bad tie rod ends,has not failed yet but do not trust vehicle with family as passengers.heard of possible recall on tie rod ends for dodge.vehicle is 1999 durango . *ak

When driving at any speed steering wheel pulled to the left/right. this caused a distraction to the consumer. dealership was notified., but did not resolve the problem.*ak

While driving there was a popping noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer in which they found that the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn out. *ak the cover under the hood was ripened, the black guard under the front of the vehicle was hanging, the coolant resevoir was leaking, the power steering fluid leaked, the a/c was not cooling due to an open wire from the low push switch, and the fuel gauge did not read properly. *sc

1999 dodge durango. multiple problems with vehicle. 6,000 miles freeze plug; 48,691 tie rod end outer, serpentine belt; 63,851 transmission speed sensor; 66,002 miles ball joints front upper; 68,175 miles ball joints lower.*ak consumer paid out-of-pocket for each incident. i had extended insurance that was paid for when truck was bought, but was not given any information about it. never recieved any info from fedelity insurance about extended insurance. during investigation, by myself, to report incidents to daimler chrysler discovered on bill of sale that extended insurance had been paid for. contacted daimler chrysler and fidelity insurance. daimler chrysler reimbursed for parts of tie rods & upper ball joints; they refused to pay for anything else and claimed it was due to consumer's failure to maintain vehicle. fidelity insurance would only refund up to a year from initial report of 08/04/04. refused to reimburse for anything before. submitted all documentation to fidelity, but have yet to recieve any reimbursement. final incident on 09/04/04 has not yet been addressed by daimler chrysler nor fidelity insurance. truck has had multiple incidents of needing service -- all of which should not have to be replaced under 68,000 miles. dodge refuses to take responsabilty of defective parts and vehicle. i have read multiple incident on-line of other durango owners and mine is minor compaired to some. everyone has had to replace ball joint, but multiple people have had to replace transmittions a number of time. i am stuck with a defective vehicle that if not gotten rid of will cost me thousands of dollars. my truck is paid off as of 10/2004, extended insurance is up at 72,000 miles. i am unable to afford buying another car that is appropriate to my family situation.

While driving 20 mph the front driver side tie rod broke without warning. as a result the driver lost control off the vehicle momentarily, however was able to gain control and pulled off the road. *jb in addition to the broken tie rod all four ball joints were excessively worn and had to be replaced. the consumer contacted the manufacturer customer service line and was told that the problems his vehicle was having was not currently recall. the consumer was also told that his repair cost could not be reimbursed because they were made at a non dodge dealer. *nm

Shaking and shimmy in the front end when driving on roads front end would shake uncontrollably,need to replace both side of upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends all was worn out at 80000 miles also transmission wouldn't shift,speed sensor bad on transmission,old parts available certified mech did replacement and had to have it re-aligned. *jb

No crash. i am writing to let you know that only because of an honest dodge mechanic that i happened to meet i was warned to have my ball joints and tie rods examined on my 1999 dodge durango. i had no notice that there was anything wrong with them. my durango had approximately 52k miles on it. nearly all highway miles, no offroading. i had to replace these at a cost of nearly $2,000. i investigated at the time and found out that i was lucky that my tire had not fallen off. i am submitting this to you because i was told that there is an existing investigation ongoing on this subject and i wanted you to be aware of another case. thank you!*ak

We pulled into a parking spot and the car felt like it had run over something (although there was nothing there). the tie rod had come un-done and all control over steering on the left side was lost. had we been anywhere other than in a parking space, the results could have been fatal. we had it towed and are having the part replaced. they are also replacing the same part on the right side. ak

I want to add my complaint against dodge for the ongoing investigation into the possible recall of the 1999 dodge durango for failure of front-end tie rods and ball joints. my understanding is that the nhtsa has an ongoing investigation into the failure of these parts on this model year durango. just last week at 55k original owner miles i had to replace the ball joints and tie rods. *ak

Consumer complained about a steering problem. vehicle was taken to the dealership, who indicated that both ball joints and tie rods were defective and needed to be replaced.*ak

1999 dodge durango with about 75,000 miles. i noticed that the tires started to vibrate the steering column and i took it to a service center. they found 2 bad upper ball joints and two bad tie rod ends. one of the ball joints was about ready to fall apart. i had them replace all bad components and realign the front end. also i had to replace the front brakes (2nd) time since i have had this vehicle and may have to replace the rotors as well as they may be worn thin. *ak

1999 dodge durango had worn ball joints and steering end links. was making a popping sound evertime i turned left or right squeeked when i went over bumps. *ak

Inner and outer tie rods both sides need to be replaced. upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced. tires prematurely worn due to front end falling apart. "dodge dealer says vehicle could loose control or wheel fall off if not replaced. dodge dealer also said should be a factory recall due to safety and number of complaints but said too expensive to move on without being ordered to correct issues." $1,951.00 not including cost of tires. *jb

While braking/turning consumer heard a loud popping noise, and steering pulled to the right. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

My 1999 dodge durango has been diagnosed with failed ball joints and tie rods. after investigating, i have found that this is a pervasive issue with these vehicles and should be rectified with a recall. this is a dangerous situation and has, from the descriptions i have read, come close to causing serious harm. *jb

Upper and lower ball joints failed. *ak the consumer was also the tie rods were bad. *jb

Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership to be inspected, and mechanic determined that upper ball joints and tie rods were wearing out prematurely. *ak

Noise coming from front suspension,tires wearing incorrectly. during a realignment it was disovered that the top ball joints and inner tie rods were very badly worn at 36,000 miles. replaced the top balls joints,inner tie rods,alignment and tires. $1200 repair charges for a fairly new vehicle. alls joints do not were out that quickly. design issue or bad parts,i'd like to know which.*ak

While turning at 15 mph consumer heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the front frame. *ak the following parts were replaced on the vehicle: upper/lower ball joints, tie rods, and bushings. *mr

Ball joints and steering knuckle replaced at a cost of $1200 + with only 58000 miles on it at that time. now the oil pressure is fluctuating wildly which could be an indication of premature engine failure. vehicle now has approx 72000 miles on it now. *jb

Vehicle was taken to the dealer for service of the brakes. mechanic determined that upper and lower ball joints and tie rod had to be replaced. *ak *mr

The subject vehicle purchased used when approximately one (1) year old, a 1999 dodge durango, 4-wheel drive 5.2l engine, has a failed power steering gear box. the symptom of failure is best characterized as an over boost. when the vehicle is parked on ice, or is jacked, engine running and the steering is turned with moderate force 2 to three inches in circumferential rotation the steering wheel will continue to turn for up to three quarters of a revolution without further input. the defect is more pronounced to the left, than the right. shortly before vehicle reached the end of warranty mileage (36k miles) vehicle was taken for service to a local dodge dealership (penske chrysler jeep dodge 4505 west 96th street, indianapolis, in 46268 phone: 317-872-6200). among the requested work items was the slight resistance (or pop) just right of center when turning to the left. in late 2003, after the reports of ball joint failures on dodge durango's i elected to closely inspect the ball joints and found some wear. the wear was not to the dodge durango manual limit, but i was uncomfortable with the wear, and the wear pattern evident on the front tires. all four (4) ball joints replaced with moog parts just prior to christmas 2003. when the vehicle was taken to the local firestone for alignment (firestone tire & service centers 8583 michigan rd, indianapolis, in 46268 317-876-3983) i was advised the steering gear was suspect of being failed due to the "slow roll" condition noted above. dodge dealership qureied as too part availability. my wife was told the steering gear was on back order. that the replacement part would be a new part number, and that there would be a minimum two (2) week wait. the nhtsa is encouraged to investigate steering gear box failures on dodge durango / dakota vehicles and correlate all steering related reports to ensure a systemic design or quality control defect is not evident on these vehicles.*ak

While applying the brakes a vibration was felt throughout the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for analysis. *nm *sc

Vehicle continuously pulled to the right while driving. dealership was unable to perform a front alignment due to premature wear of the upper ball joints. also, steering column was defective. *ak

A block after i changed from full-time 4 wheel drive to 2 wheel drive, i heard a loud pop in the area of the front right wheel and it started pulling hard to the right as a result of the front right tire dragging. i took it directly to the dealer (mark roberts motors). they took 2 to 3 days trying to figure out why the front end was binding up but not when it was on the lift. i mentioned i heard reports about problems with the ball joints and the next day they told me that both the upper and lower ball joints on the driver and passenger sides needed to be replaced as well as the driver side tie rod. the repairs and alignment cost $1026 and appear to have resolved the problem. the mileage at that time was 63551.

We own a 1999 dodge durango.... wheel, brake rotor and steering knuckle separated from the vehicle.... ball joint separation seems to have been the problem... apparently, this is a continuing issue with these vehicles. *la

Ball joint and tie-rod failure on 1999 durango with 50,000 miles. *nlm

The steering box on my 1999 durango failed. i am advised that dodge is having major problems with steering boxes on these vehicles. my mechanic advises that there are thousands of durangos with bad steering boxes and new one will not be available to april 2004. if this is so this is a major safety issue which the ntsb should look into and if necessary a recall should be forced.*ak

Consumer stated that three out of the four ball joints on the vehicle were defective.*ak all four control arms and tie rods were replaced. *ph

While driving 45 mph, the driver side tire separated from the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop. the mechanic informed the consumer that the upper/lower ball joints and the tie rod needed to be replaced. *jb

My 1999 dodge durango has a major front end steering problem. we have taken it the dealership for repairs on numerous times. each time the fix something and then they tell us it needs additional work also. the repairs bill just keep stacking up. i am trying to find out if anything the dealership repairs will be worth my time and money. my durango can only be driven by me, due to the steering problem as i know what i can and can't do when i am driving. it is a very dangerous problem and i will not let my other family members drive it until it gets fixed. please let me know what to tell the dealership to do to fix the problem and will this be a factory recall or warranty repair. i know i am not the only one out there that as this severe front end steering problem. *nm

Failure of left inner tie rod with emergency repair in 1999 dodge durango. *ak

At 66,510 miles both upper control arms and both inner tire rods had to be replaced. the front brakes were replaced approximately 4 months ago and they too had to be replaced.*ak

While driving steering wheel was loose. upon inspection of the vehicle mechanic determined that the passenger's side upper ball joint was loose, and the tire could fall off at anytime. also, mechanic indicated that both the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced, but the parts were on a nation wide back order.*ak after parts were replaced, consumer again experienced steering becoming loose. also, repair was made on transmission pan gasket due to a bolt stripped out of the pan. *la

Required premature replacement of the upper ball joints. lower ball joints, inner tie rod, stabilizer bar and bushings at 54,000 miles. car made a squeaking noise in the front end when on bumps and was the result of premature wearing of these parts. *la

My 1999 dodge durango after 50,000 miles must have all the ball joint and tie rods replaced. they could break any time and need to be replaced. *la

Our dodge durango had to have new upper ball joints replaced along with new tie rods in order to have the front end aligned properly. these parts were defective on this vehicle since it was bought new by us in oct. 1998.*ak

Excessive wear over a short period of time at approximately 30,000 miles. front structure of the vehicle was replaced. also, control arm/upper and lower ball joints, and tie rod were replaced due to corrosion. there were no major injuries nor fatalities to report at this time. *ak

Brought vehicle in for routine service and was informed that all 4 ball joints (upper and lower) had dangerously excessive play and needed to be replaced immediately. i was informed that the ball joints (and tie rods) were in such poor condition that the vehicle was not safe to be driven even a short distance.

Without any warning, and on 3 separate occasions my 1999 dodge 4x4, durango completely shutdown while driving. after the first incident, w/the abs and engine light on the vehicle was taken to a dodge dealer for service. it was found that a speed sensor needed replacing, this was done. approximately 4 days later while driving on new york ave. in washington dc, the durango again completely shut down, on this occasion and subsequent ones, no warning lights were shown, no evidence was given that vehicle was about to shut down. on the last occasion sept 17, 2003 it again shutdown while driving approximately 45 mph on leesburg pike in falls church va. unlike the other 2 occasions this time it would not restart, although the engine attempted to turnover. it had to be towed, where it is currently undergoing another diagnosic, currently i am awaiting a call from the service technician. additionally the car has 87,256 miles and 3 years old, the back windows are not working due to a failed power housing unit for the windows. the approximate cost is $500 for repairs.

I have had my 1999 durango for four years. i have seen a failure of my front-end ball joint. is this problem for 1999 as wide-spread as the 2000-2004 models?*ak

Purchased my 1999 dodge durango in july 1999. this vehicle has always been serviced at the local dodge dealership in little rock at the service intervals that chrysler recommends in their service manual. i started having problems with my durango at 51,492 miles with the check engine light coming on. i immediately took it in for service. the service dept. told me that the vehicle's computer said i had a blown head gasket along with #7 injector being bad. so a new platinum gasket, #7 injector and injector service was done at a cost to me of $814.72. at 52,085 miles the check engine light came on again. again into the dodge service dept. only to find out that now the engine computer is bad (pcm213) and will be replaced under dodge's 80,000 mile warranty. my thinking at this point was that if the computer was giving out false information at 51,492 miles then perhaps my $814.72 bill for a new platinum gasket wasn't justified. of course, the service dept. assured me that these repairs were indeed necessary at the time. at 53,628 miles i grew concerned about upper/lower ball joints being bad on my durango after watching a cbs news report. as i was planning a cross country trip for the holidays, i had the service dept. evaluate the balls joints before i left, and sure enough, my durango needed upper and lower ball joints and a right tie rod. because this problem can be so dangerous i was instructed not to drive the vehicle and had to take alternate transportation on my trip. new parts were ordered and the dodge service dept. replaced the upper and lower ball joints on both sides and a right tie rod arm at a cost to me of $952.10 plus a $57.82 diagnostic test to tell us these parts were bad in the first place. i feel that my vehicle is unreliable and not one that i can depend on in the future. these are safety defects that chrysler should have fixed at no cost to me. i cannot afford to repair this vehicle anymore. *la

I bought my dod durango in 99 with 18,000 miles from poway dodge (san diego, ca). i took it to the dealer in third month after buying it as it was almost about to roll over when turning in a turn. the dealer said this was okay, not to worry. so i kept on driving then it started annoying clicking noise that had been getting worse for over a year but the dodge in carlsbad had not been able to diagnose it. when i brought it in most recently, they were emphatic that it was my ball joint and that my life had been on the line for months! but no one ever noticed every time i brought it in for diagnosis. the dealer i use to go now sold the dealership in poway and thats why now no one wants to be responsible for it. the clicking noise still continues and is getting worse. it is in the rear of the truck and is described like a gear slipping upon dead stop and start not to mention even slow drive now. they told me they hear clear as a bell but cant diagnose w/o literally taking the entire rear of the truck apart and always tell me that it is safe to drive. i drive it with my kids in it. i would like to file a complaint against chrysler and against my dealer poway dodge for negligence.*ak

My engine blew last summer due to low oil pressure. the service mechanic knew it was bad and did not tell me about it until it blew. it cost me $6000.00 for a new engine. now my sterring is rocky and virbrating and clicky when i turn. *ak

While changing the tire, the dealer informed the consumer the front upper ball joints were worn out and needed to be replaced. *ak the right tie rod was found worn out as well. *scc *jb

Upper and lower ball joints worn out, tie rod end loose needs replaced to align front end. i have already paid close to $1100.00 to have this problem fixed. arnell chrysler told me there is no recall on this problem. my truck has only 42242 miles on it and never been off road. help with this problem!!!*ak

Premature wear out of dodge durango front suspension components including both front lower ball joints, left front inner tie rod, and right front upper ball joint. *la

Re: 1999 dodge durango front suspension i just had to replace all four ball joints, and both tie rod ends on this vehicle at 59,000 miles of light on road usage. i have run previous vehicles to over 200,000 miles without any front work required. i consider this to be a defect in design.*ak

1999 dodge durango. just replaced ball joints and inner tie rod ends due to excessive wear in only 65000 miles. a potentially dangerous situation for not only myself but my newborn and 3 year old in the car with me. apparently there is a tsb out on this but chrysler needs to concider a recall.*ak