1998 Dodge Durango upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

- Castle Dale, UT, USA

I saw on an nbc special that consumers who purchase the Dodge Durango or Dakota had the ball joints of their vehicles just fail on them. I took my vehicle to have my ball joints checked ( I have the work order) and sure enough all the ball joints were bad. I had them replaced( that was about 18months ago) and again the joints have deteriorated. My car has less that 80K miles on it. It is has never been driven under extreme conditions. There could possibly be a defect in the design- the ball joints I had installed came with a life-time warranty. They have to be replaced again. My concern that if we did not inspect the suspension, we would never have known this problem even existed. Consumers should at least be informed of the risks of their vehicle possibly failing because of the problem with the joints.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

1998 Dodge Durango ball joints & control arm upper and lower they were first replaced in 2000 then in 2004 and now need to be replaced in 2005 continuously fails safety inspection VIN no. [xxx] updated 07/19/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Weymouth, MA, USA

My Dodge Durango started making a clunking noise in the front suspension upon turning or going over rough pavement. I took the car into the shop and there was a failure of both the upper ball joints as well as the tie-rod ends, nearly separated. Per the garage, unusual for a 7 year old car with 66,000 miles. They need to be replaced before the catastrophic failure occurs. Replacement will include both upper and lower ball joints on left and right side and 4 tie rods. Old parts are available. Total cost of repair $1,100.

- Prairie Village, KS, USA

Failed inspection due to lower ball joints needed to be replaced for the second time. 35,661 miles to date 17,819 miles on when upper and lower ball joints were replaced the first time. Rothrock motors where I purchased it would not give me any satisfaction so I went to brown daub Dodge. They replaced them the first time. (07/31/01). This time on 07/28/05 I called rothrock left a message and no one ever called me back so I called brown daub and they set up an appointment to look at them. They could not replace them this time and I was charged $546.41 and told to contact Chrysler to recoup my money. I will have to replace the upper ball joints next year for inspection, they barely passed.

- Northampton, PA, USA

Contact stated both lower ball joints were replaced twice on vehicle. Also, both front tires had to be replaced twice. The service dealer stated the tires needed replacement due to the failure of the ball joints. The first replacement occurred when the vehicle's mileage was at 27,280. The second replacement occurred at 43,908 miles. Consumer stated front end was making a squeaking noise and was driving differently. Consumer contacted manufacturer, and was sending the service receipts. There was a recall on different model year for this specific component, but consumer's vehicle was not included in the recall campaign due to VIN. Consumer did not have the complete address for the dealership where the vehicle was purchased. Repair receipts attached for ball joints. Windshield sprayer sprays one side. Connector repalced. Front brake pads and rotors machined.

- Arlington, VA, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Durango. Vehicle has defective front ball joints. The vehicle was very unstable each time the brakes were applied. The mechanic encouraged him to let NHTSA know about this problem. The problem has gotten worse.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

Contact owned a 1998, Dodge, Durango. There was recall O4V596000 concerning the upper ball joint. This recall was only for 2000-2003 models. Contact also had a problem with lower ball joints.

- De La Shandelle, AZ, USA

Contact had to get the upper ball joints replaced with only 67,000 miles. On it. Dealer said they were not responsible, and not enough complaints were received on that particular year to warrant a recall.

- Mankato, MN, USA

Owner complained about several vehicle problems.. on all four windows the regulator has had to be replaced more than once. Driver's side having to be replaced the most. Also, lower ball joints / left upper ball joint, and steering column has been replaced twice in less than one year time. Currently the upper right ball joint had to be replaced. These has been ongoing issues with this vehicle since consumer owned it. Consumer dealt with dealership and manufacturer, but Chrysler refused to help since there was no recall. Chrysler was very rude and hung up on the consumer.

- Sugar Hill, GA, USA

The consumer owns a 1998 Dodge Durango. He states that his upper ball joints are about to break because his wheels are leaning.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Upper ball joint failure / axle seal leaks

- Franklin, TN, USA

Perhaps this is not the properly mechanism for my inquiry; if so, I apologize. I am the owner of a 1998 Dodge Durango, on which I have had to replace the (expensive!) upper ball joints twice! my question to the NHTSA is simply, "why were the 1998 and 1999 model years excluded from the ball joint safety notice you issued previously (#04V596000)" my experience tells me that the ball joint design on my 1998 model year Durango is also defective -- why is it not covered under the recall"

- Tinton Falls, NJ, USA

A premature wearout and near seperation of the front ball joints. Upper and lower joints had to be replaced at 35,000 miles. These are the same ball joints involved in 2000-2002 vehicles. I have no clue why model year 1998 was not included.

- Savannah, GA, USA

(1)both front ball joints were making popping noises everytime we drove over a bump or jolt in the road. (2)the both were bad and needed replacing, thankfully before they created an accident. (3)both ball joints were replaced and the vehicle realigned.

- Livingston, WI, USA

Upper ball joint on our 1998 Durango are bad. This is a very well know issue for the Durangos. Has already been a recalled, which included 2000 and above Durangos. The recall should be extended to cover 1998 and 1999 Durangos. This issue can cause wrecks and even deaths. Please help keep people safe.

- Port St Lucie, FL, USA

Both front wheel bearings and front axle have been replaced. The upper and lower ball joints are shot and will be replaced.

- Freeland, MI, USA

1998-1999 Dodge Durango owners are you mad !! I am ! why were we left out of the daimler-chrystler ball joint recall ? according to my mechanic it is the same part as used in the 2000-2005. Mine are rusted through and were almost broken. When I took my SUV to the shop. Now it is going to cost me $1000 to fix it. Don't we deserve the same rights of consumer protection as the 2000-2005 owners. I called the terry wiseman's deealship of robinson, Illinois. At first the service dept. Put me on hold for 15 mins. I hung up and called again and gave the receptionist my phone number, info, and ask for them to call me with an estimate. I recieved no call. I called again the next day the receptionist put me through to barry in the service department. He took my info. About 9:00 am called back at 11:00 am to ask if it was a 4X4 that was three days ago still no estimate or phone call. So I got an estimate from my mechanic. Please check out these sites and complain about the refusal to repair are 1998-1999 Dodge Durango ball joints: www.lawyerandsettlements.com/case/daimler2 www.DaimlerChrysler.com or email: Durangolitigation@millerfaucher.com let them know we want to be reemburse for the cost of repairing daimler-Chrysler's mistake !!

- Palestine, IL, USA

I won a 1998 Dodge Durango 4X4. I recently had to replace the brakes on my Durango. I had one of the pads on the passenger side break loose from the shoe. I had to replace the rotors as well. Costing me $435. The mechanic doing the work wanted to know if I had replaced the rear brakes recently. I informed him that I had not. The front and rear were replace at the same time maybe a year earlier. He said there was next to no wear on my rear brakes. Sincfe having my brakes replaced there is this awful grinding sound in the front of the vehicle. I took it back to the mechaninc and he said all 4 ball joints, upper and lower, needed to be replaced at a cost of $1400. Parts and labor. I know Dodge recalled the 2000-2003, but this is rediculous. I have not read alot of complaints about the 2000-2003, I've read more about the 98-99. Also my brakes have failed to engage twice and they locked up on me once on dry pavement.

- Orange Park, FL, USA

Consumer left front tire locked while driving the vehicle. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, and it was discovered that upper ball joints were defective, and were being repaired.

- Glen Rock, NJ, USA