Problems with 2001 Dodge Durango SEATS

While i love my 2001 dodge durango rt, there are a couple of serious problems / safety issues the vehicle has. number one is the passenger front seat is very loose and rocks back and forth during acceleration and braking which could cause severe injuries if the vehicle was in a wreck, whiplash etc. in doing my research the average fix that the dealers will do costs between 600-800.00 which is to replace the motor assembly. there are links on various forum for instructions to fix yourself for about 40.00 orovoodmg a better fix that the dealers will not provide, but it is complicated and very labor intensive. my number one concern is to be safe and have safe passengers! to be able to bring this into dodge and get this permanently fixed at no cost to me. there are untold amounts of dodge durango owners out there with this same issue, which dodge currently will not recall. the other two issues are incredibly defective ball joints. since dodge recalled these trucks for the ball joints many including mine previous to me buying it, we're brought in for recall repair in 2006. please note the suspension components company called "moog" fixed this dodge engineering problem for this year make and model with their own specially designed ball joint. as far as the brakes go this a very heavy suv, in which if one needs to stop quickly and the brakes fail or skid the wheels due to lock up this again like the seats is a very important safety issue that dodge needs to correct. i have faith that dodge will take care of more consumer issues than ford ever will.

I purchased this vehicle new december 2000. when driving approximately 30mph the driver and passenger seats move up and down motion, when car stops, the seats come at rest. the passenger seat is worse than drivers side. the air bag warning light dings & illuminates and then go back off..

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. while driving approximately 20 mph, the front driver side power seat independently shifted forward in a rocking motion whenever coming to a complete stop. the seat would reset to the correct position after resuming normal operation. the vehicle was not repaired. in addition, the air bag warning light illuminated and the air bag clock spring was replaced. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

The power front seats after time come loose in the 20001 durango and move back and forth on the tracks. seems like they are moving more and more every day. i read so many other complaints on this web site. another problem which is common is the wiring burning up connected to the resistor pack on the blower motor. i read stories about how people have to replace the blower motor, resistor pack and plug at the end of the harness. the manufacture should have used thicker wire to handle the current draw for the motor that is installed in the vehicle in the first place. i have been using the original motor for 2 years now i just don't have any speed control now, but the motor is fine. the resistor pack is also fine just need to replace one or all of the wire that are burnt up. *tr

When turning into a church parking lot for a wedding. the durango was struck from behind (at about 40 mph) and the driver seat broke and i was laid back unable to reach the brake pedal or steering wheel. the durango traveled approx 20 feet before hitting a parked jeep. the passenger and i both received injuries and currently under care. dodge needs to do a recall on the faulty parts in the driver electric seats that are causing the rocking back and forth causing the mounting brackets to fail and brake. i have seen not posts of deaths occurring but it is just a matter of time before it does. we were very lucky. *tr

2001 durango passenger seat just started sliding freely back and forth on the track. the vehicle has electric seats. definately a safety concern and it appears that there is a flaw in the design from the posts i have been reading. *tr

The power seats, will not lock in place, and slide back and forth in the track, when starting to drive or stopping. *tr

My front passenger seat is not engaging on the seat track, it slides forward & back with the motion of the vehicle. i am concerned for the safety of my kids, or anyone for that matter, riding in the front seat even though they are 12 & 16!!!! they can easily slam into the dash board with their legs or worse with any speed. i have researched and read about many other dodge durango owners experiencing the same exact issue. this is a huge saefty issue!!! please help! *tt

I have a 2001 dodge durango. both front seats are loose and have just about caused an accident on a couple of occasions because everytime i brake, the seats shift forward. based on what i've seen online with complaints and forums, this is extremely common with dodge seats. why won't they do a recall on something that is so widespread and is a major safety issue? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. the contact stated that while driving at different speeds, both driver and passenger seats were not stationary and would move out of place. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic testing. the technician stated the electric motor needed to be replaced for both seats. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 165,000.

Multiple replacement needed of upper & lower ball joints, sway bar, currently experiencing front end bed spring noise - sounds like junk, told the front lower ball joint is lose again. also the heating elements in the front driver;s seat went out -cost to repair over 700.00! vehicle is a 2001 dodge durango 4 x 4. only 86,000 miles original owner. this vehicle meticulously maintained and serviced, but despite that constantly having front suspension repairs and brakes. *tr

When stopping the seats jolts forward. when going the seats jolts backwards. *tr

Both the driver and passenger seats have become loose - sliding forward and backward when accelerating and braking. this problem has been occurring for over a year and is constant - the seats are no longer firmly attached to the vehicle. this is an extremely common failure on these vehicles caused by defective or sub-standard parts used in the seat structure. *tr

My drivers bucket seat rocks back and forth due to a broken bracket or rail. i have seen several mentions of the exact same condition of other 1999 to 2001 dodge durango owners and chrysler denies hearing of other instances of this exact same condition. i hope all the other people that have posted this exact same problem on the internet are reporting to you as well because this seems to be a very common occurrence. the service centers are asking for $600 to $900 to fix this. *tr

The passenger seat slides up and down on the track. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. the middle row driver and passenger side seat belt harness is malfunctioning. the latch opens on its own when those seats are occupied. the dealer stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. the current mileage was 100,946 and failure mileage was 99,000. updated 10-08-08 *bf updated 10/08/08. *jb

Purchased used from dodge dealer. front electric seats (driver and passenger) rock with every movement. checked recalls list and manufacturer has never addressed this problem. i didn't know that other owners had this problem until reading complaints. current mileage 117,000. did not notify mfr. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. while driving 50 mph, the driver side front window would not roll up. the mechanic stated that the window was off track and he replaced the tracking. the failure has occurred three times. the contact stated that the driver side front seat would not lock when the vehicle stopped. the dealer stated that the driver's seat tracking failed. as of september 11, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. the vin, engine size, and number of cylinders were unavailable. the failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 108,000.

The power drivers seat shifts in position when accelerating from a stop or when a rapid deceleration is required to stop short. the power seat does not move along the seat tracks, but shifts front to rear or laterally while in the same position on the seat tracks. after researching the problem i have found this has come to be known at the durango "rocking chair" problem. it is quite disconcerting when it happens and causes the driver to momentarily lose concentration while driving. this is a safety hazard. i believe this to be a design and/or manufacturing defect that will only get worse with time, inevitably resulting in a collision. *tr

Jan. 28, 2004 driving home from work in my 2001 dodge durango when my front seat was smoking and caught on fire. a short circuit on the connector under seat same thing that the 2001 dodge rams were recalled for.*ak

Passenger seats and driver seat on 2 2001 dodge durango do not hold on rails they have play and slide back and forth each time you accelerate or brake. its a safety hazard .it slams your knees into the dash board. complained several times to dodge corp filed complaint case#17864244. *tr

Seats have play slide back and forth. they don't hold in place. they slide on rails. *tr

While at a stop light another vehicle hit consumer in the rear, both passenger's side and driver's side seatbacks fell backwards. since the incident passenger's side seat does not work properly, seat won't come all the way up. *ak there were 2 injuries.*jb

I own a 2001 dodge durango with power seats. this is the second time this issue has occurred. the first time was repaired under warranty before the part completely failed. the second time the part completely failed and is currently being repaired under warranty. the drivers power seat bracket has metal rod running from left to right under seat thigh area. this metal rod is used to lift and adjust the seat height. there are metal washers attached to servo motors that fatigue and wear out. at first seat begins rocking slightly backward on acceleration. eventually washer(s) fail causing metal rod to move freely without any stabilization. if drivers side power seat is lowered all the way to the floor and all the way back the seat appears stable. if drivers side power seat is raised and adjusted for smaller driver and the washer has broken, the seat falls backward severely and has the potential for causing a severe accident. i'm a member of the durango owners club (http://www.durangoclub.com/ceilidh/ceilidh.html) and several members are encountering issues with the seats rocking back and forth over time. to date, we are the only ones in your club reporting that the seat actually breaks and falls backwards. *la

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. the contact stated that the front driver and passenger seats independently moved forward and backward while driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer (dependable dodge, located at 21415 rosco blvd, canoga park, ca 91304) where the vehicle was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. the dealer stated that the seat track assembly was deteriorated. the vehicle was not repaired because the part was not available. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 8.

Middle fold down seat was not properly locked. when driver applied brakes, seat came loose and hit driver in head. driver went to doctor and was informed he had a concussion. also contacted manufacturer, and informed him that an investigation will occur.*ak

The "tumble forward" second row seat leaves a sharp edged floor anchor exposed when the seat is tumbled forward for access to the third row seat. so far, both my son and i have received deep lacerations from this floor anchor. if an occupant were to come in contact with this component in an accident, it could easily cause serious injuries especially to the feet. *ak

Optional third seat does not have a latch system to secure seatback. thus, leaving third seat unstable in an impact. consumer felt it would cause harm to a child. *ak