While driving 70 mph a loud knocking noise was heard coming from underneath the hood. Driver applied the brakes and pedal went to the floor. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. Then, vehicle stalled. Consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to do so. Consumer had vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that engine needed to be replaced due to sludge built up.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

Oil consumption was in excess after oil change. Changed oil and checked it after approximately 400 miles and found it was a quart low. Watched it close and it was consuming oil fast. Took it to dealer and was told the intake manifold seal/gasket would need to be replaced. Called a mechanic and he told me that this was a common occurrence with the Durango, he did one every couple of months! even the dealer mechanics says they saw this quiet often. One mechanic told me that the seals were made out of a paper like material but now used metal type so the problem will not recur! this is a know defect in this engine. There are several complaints of this nature when I searched on line. The cost is $675 + tax. I feel I should be helped with this know engineering defect. This is a very costly repair!

- Issaquah, WA, USA

While driving about 70 mph I heard a loud noise coming from under my 1999 Durango, I took the vehicle to a local Firestone, they discovered that the drive shaft had fell from it's housing, so I then took the vehicle to a transmission shop, cottman. The shop informed me of the following, the yoke and the bolt that retained the drive shaft in the transfer case had broken off some how, due to this occurrence, the transfer case was damaged, because all of the oil leaked out. Also in 2003, had to have the ball joints replace and, also the engine head because the vehicle was burning to much oil and damage the heads.

- Eatontown, NJ, USA

Plenum gasket failure which led to oil flow restriction that caused serious engine damage.

- Erie, CO, USA

While driving 35 mph engine failed without warning. Dealer stated sludge built up in the engine compartment.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

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 for a new engine. Now my sterring is rocky and virbrating and clicky when I turn.

- Lagrange, NC, USA

Dodge Durango 5.2L V-8 engine motor blew up after 54K miles. Complete motor failure required motor replacement.

- Port Washington, WI, USA

Purchsed a 1999 Dodge Durango in fall of 1998. When truck was two years old, oil pressure guage went to zero repeatedly. I immediately took it to dealership. Was told the oil pump needed to be replaced. I had the work done. Over the course of two years the guage would intermittenly go to zero. Had oil pump checked. It was deemed to be okay. Shop could not duplicate problem. During the last 6 mo.S problem continued more often. Took to shop. I was told it was an electrical problem with the oil pressure guage. On one occasion, truck abruptly quit while I was going down a hill. Kind of a scary experience! the shop replaced a fuel pump. On Feb. 28.2004, truck's oil pressure guage went to zero, a loud noise was heard, and truck, S engine quit.(while I was traveling at 60 mph.) engine is history. My truck now has no trade-in value. After reading about identicle complaints on this web site, and Consumer Affairs' web site, it is obvious to me that Dodge has a problem. I believe that this problem could even result in injury or death. I know that I will never purchase another Dodge and will tell everyone I know about my experience I have had for three years with this truck. Thank you.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

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.

- Sunderland, , MA, USA

I purchased my 1999 Durango in March 2001. In Dec 2003 I had to get the driveshaft rebuilt. The velocity joint had worn out. Then in Jan '04 I was traveling about 65mph on an interstate just outside of town. My check engine light came on. I started to here a knocking sound along with feeling like there was a cylinder down. I got my truck towed back home and replaced the disributor cap since the points were worn. Didn't take care of the problem. Towed my truck to my mechanic. After checking several items he determined that cylinder 1 and 8 were not firing. He also checked the oil. It had gunk in it and told me that the manifold gasket and/or plenum gasket had failed and the oil looked like it was mixed with antifreeze. I then had checked to see if anyone else had experienced problems of this kind. I was suppressed to find out that there was 30 to 40 similar complaints like mine on your website alone where the engine had failed with the oil gunking up. I have not had the oil pump checked but since reading the complaints, assume that this had some cause to the problem. My truck only has 72000 miles on it. I agree that the 5.2 engine that Dodge had put in the Durango is junk as well as everyone else. It is a shame that Dodge does not stand up behind the engines it builds. If you have this many people with problems, then it is time to do something about it. I am going to trade this off as soon as my mechanic can get it running. I will back up the next person that happens to buy my "now" piece of junk when they have to take it back to Dodge. I will not buy another Dodge product!!!

- Des Moines, IA, USA

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.

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

We have several complaints about our 1999 Dodge Durango. We have had the PCM go in 2003, luckily my wife did research and found out there was a recall and it was covered. The front suspension ball joints are blown and now our dealership has informed us that we need to spend $5100 to repair the engine due to the oil pump is blown. The engine will seize if my wife attempts to drive the Durango. There just seems to be a common thread here since most of the complaints I have read about are the same complaints we have.

- Dover, DE, USA

Purchased Durango in May 02, and performed regular maintenance on it.on 11/20/02 my family and I were on our way to Michigan and the check gauges light came on and the oil pressure dropped to 0, the motor started to knock.we were on the Ohio turnpike, (with 5 children),and had to find a place to pull over before the engine would blow.this was odd with only 46300 miles on the motor.luckily we were next to an exit, we pulled over and called the Chrysler garage, they said do not drive the vehicle any further your oil pump is more than likely bad.the garage told us that there had been sludge build up in the motor which clogged the pickup tube which made pump fail, all do to lack of maintenance.the oil pump was replaced and got the vehicle back on 1/9/03 at the price of $350.90.the vehicle stil had a tapping sound coming from engine and the mechanic told me it was the lifters and it would go away.in October 2003, my sister and I were packing the car to go to my aunts funeral 250 miles from home, I started the car to go, we heard a knocking noise from the engine and the check gauges light came on and the oil pressure gauge dropped to 0, so we called the garage again.they said to bring it in they will replace the oil pump again. The vehicle had 55626 miles on it at the time, and they told us that there was still a problem with sludge in the motor from lack of maintenance.they told us they flush the motor with clean oil over and over for two days to remove any sludge, fixed my car free of charge and this time I had it back in a week.January 18,03 at 11:00 pm I was picking up my husband from work and the check gauges light came on again and oil pressure gauge was at zero.the garage said to bring it in and they would once again change the oil pump, free of charge, but still continue to tell me that there is still probably sludge in the motor, due to lack of amintenance and that they may not have gotten all it.the mileage now stands at 58300. 300 miles away from the next oil change.

- Wellsville, OH, USA

Oil pressure drop on Dodge Durango leading to engine failure. Many people having the same problem due to engine sludge. Even with regular oil changes the engine eventually fails. Dodge has sold bad engines and is now trying to cover it up.

- Arlington, TX, USA

At 50,625 miles oil pressure on my 1999 Dodge Durango droped to zero. Had oil pump replaced and dealer found "sludge" in oil pan. Now 1 1/2 years later 68,000 miles pressure dropping again after only 17,000 miles! going to call dealer tomorrow and ask for advice, however, from what I've read I'm sure I'll be told it is my fault. I change oil every 3 to 4 thousand miles and have recipts to prove it. Also, engine cuts out unexpectedly?

- South Point, OH, USA

Several issues. 1) electrical failure in switch box causing all vehicle lights to turn off when switching to brights during night-time driving. ) cracked heads (both) somewhere between 30,000 & 70,000 miles. 3) ball joints need replacing - no parts available to complete the job in a reasonable time.

- Arcata, CA, USA

While driving 60 mph on the Florida turnpike in miami, the check engine light came on, the oil presure gauge dropped to zero and all power to car was lost. No steering, braking or control of any nature over the vehicle was possilbe. This I may add occurred while heading for a toll booth.while still coasting I tried to restart the engine in an attempt to regain power to the steering and brakes, the engine would not restart. I tried to apply brakes but could not depress the brake pedal it was as if I were pushing on a concrete wall. After going through the toll booth I tried to steer the car to the right shoulder, I could only move the steering wheel about 1/2 inch, luckily this was enough to allow the car to gradually make it to the shoulder. I coasted to a stop about 1/4 mile or more past the toll booth. Fortunately traffic was light as it was a Sunday afternoon and I made it to the shoulder without incident. I tried to restart the car again and it would not crank. I did have electrical power to the lights and emergency flashers. I raised the hood and checked the oil level, it was fine, the motor was not excesively hot, in fact the temperature gauge never went above normal operating range. The car is at my mechanics now being checked for possible problems. I did not take to the dealer as I do not trust their honesty nor work, after all they built this inferior death trap called a Durango. I truly beleive this car is unsafe, no car should loose complete steerage and stopping ability under any conditions. I was traveling at 60mph in a heavily congested city without the ability to steer or brake a 2 ton hunk of steel. How lucky was I and other motorists on the road to be alive and uninjured?

- Miami, FL, USA

The vehicle's oil does not distribute properly. As a result sludge builds up in the engine and causes the engine to fail. Please provide additional information.

- Greenville, NC, USA

Engine lost oil pressure first at 39933 miles while the car was still under warranty. The dealership changed the oil pump and advised us of sludge build up in the engine. The same problem at 63025 miles along with a transmission overhaul. The dealership at which we purchased the truck replaced the oil pump again, advised of sludge build up and overhauled the transmission under warranty. They also checked on the cost of a new engine but Chrysler would not cover it, so they simply replaced the oil pump. Same problem for the 3rd time at 73825 miles, less than 12 months and 12000 miles later. The service department at the dealership admits that replacing the oil pump will not help. They need to clean the sludge out for it to run better but even this will not solve the problem. Unless the entire engine is taken apart and soaked clean or Chrysler supplies a new engine, we will always have this problem. Regular oil changes were completed on this vehicle. After the first oil pump the dealer advised that I using synthetic oil, which was done. After the 2nd oil pump was replaced the dealer said that the synthetic oil would not make any difference.

- Greenville, NC, USA

My 99 Durango has a defective engine! my oil pressure gauge dropped to zero while driving on the expressway so I pulled off and let the motor cool down and checked the oil. After letting the engine cool off for a while I preceded home. After about 10 miles back on the road the check gauges light came on, the oil pressure had dropped to zero again, and I could feel the truck slowing down without letting off the gas. I pulled off the next exit and the motor knocking like someone was slamming a hammer on the heads. The dealer said to have it towed in so they could look at it. After 2 days the dealer called me back and said I needed a new long block. I and asked how a motor with only 50,000 miles on it could need a new block. The dealer's response was the engine had some sludge in the oil and in his opinion thought it was due to lack of maintenance. It took everything I had to keep from going off on this guy for accusing me of not maintaining my $30,000 truck! I do the oil changes, air filter, and fluid level maintenance myself because I don't trust some of these guys that work at these dealers. It's my $30,000 that's why I do my own maintenance! I called Chrysler's 800 help line and explained what happened to the guy who took my call. He listened, but sounded very un-interested as he asked a few questions, put me on hold as he called the dealer where my vehicle was. After 15-20 minutes he came back on the line and said he was sorry, but there was nothing he, nor Chrysler could do to help me because the dealer told him that he thought it was due to lack of maintenance. My wife called Chrysler later and she explained the story to the lady that took her call. Her response to my wife was this: "if you can produce receipts for all the maintenance maybe we will change our minds." My wife told the lady I do all the maintenance, no other service shop, and she told my wife that owners that do their own oil changes are not Dodge certified mechanics.

- Madison Heights, MI, USA