Both lower ball joints need to be replaced. Vehicle had very low mileage for this kind of problem. Warranty expired. Consumer was advised the upper ball joints show some wear but not a repairable stage. Vehicle began pulling to the right for no reason. Vehicle was taken to a mechanic whom stated the ball joints were so bad an alignment couldn't be done. The consumer took the vehicle to his mechanic for a second opinion. His mechanic confirmed the same thing. Consumer was informed that the ball joints were redesigned because of this reason. To make sure the redesigned parts were used, the consumer took vehicle to the dealer.

- Roxboro, NC, USA

Upper and lower ball joints worn out, tie rod end loose needs replaced to align front end. I have already paid close to $1100 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!!!

- Portage, IN, USA

My 1999 Dodge Durango has been identified as having defective ball joints. When I contacted Chrysler, they told me to take it to a Dodge dealer for verification but would not ensure replacement. My dealer has the parts in stock for replacement. The dates cannot be certified as exact, just within a couple of days.

- Meyersdale, PA, USA

Premature wear of ball joints.

- Newington, CT, USA

While the technician was servicing the vehicle, he noticed that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

- Derry, NH, USA

The front vall joints are shot. The right uper and lower andf the left lower need to be replaced with under 40,000 mile driving only on roads. I feel that this is premature and that Dodge should do a recall since it is a potentialy dangerous problem.

- Cinnaminson, NJ, USA

1999 Dodge Durango, balljoints are out at only 70000 miles.my service person told me that it was bad!it could of caused me to have a wreck!what if I had my kids with me and they went out at 70M.P.H!does someone half to be killed first!maybe if someone looks at this maybe they can save someones life.

- Glasgow, MO, USA

At 70mph, on I-75 in Michigan '99 Durango transfer case blew apart causing vehicle to jump with smoke pouring out the back of the vehicle. Was barely able to get vehicle under control and off to side of road. Mechanic stated front driveshaft cracked thus maybe causing transfer case cv joint to go blowing apart transfer case. Another vehicle experienced a flat tire at high speed due to running over pieces of transfer case. Have spent over $4000 dollars in repairs to Durango in 3 years including (front driveshaft, transfer case, water pump, PCM, upper & lower ball joints, upper control arms, sway bar bushings, front rotors, brakes, etc. Only 78,000 on the vehcile when transfer case blew up. Can I file a claim for lemon law regarding ball joints. Uppers need replaced again.

- West Bloomfield, MI, USA

Information relevan to NHTSA action number: PE03032 Dodge durando ball joints 0/01/02 failed pa safety inspection due to worn lower ball joints (both right and left) at local independent inspection station. 1999 durando, 26483 miles 10/04/02 Dodge dealer indicated ball joints were acceptable - "allowable play is.060"; right front is.039; left front is.042" and supplied a copy of bullitin no: 02-04-98. No repairs were made. 10/08/02 passed pa safety inspection at local independent inspection using bullitin no: 02-04-98. Car has extended warranty which would cover ball joint replacement by dealer.

- Chalfont, PA, USA

The ball joints failed at 50000 miles. The dealer was notified. The consumer was told that the alignment wouldn't stay due to the upper and lower being 1/2 inches off. There was a clunking noise when placed in reverse and the passenger side front window was inoperative.

- Ossian, IN, USA

PE 03-032. Front suspension upper ball joint failure. Two sets of upper ball joints were replaced due to premature wear. When the vehicle was at the dealer for the first repair, they replaced the lower control arm and not the lower ball joint. This was covered under warranty. After the second failure, both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then out of warranty. Mepco refused to cover the work under warranty because they felt the upper joints were excessively worn. They believe they were bad before the warranty was purchased.

- Tewksbury, MA, USA

Ball joints need to be replaced.

- Lincoln, CA, USA

Premature deterioration of front end components resulting in a $1300 repair bill at 70,000 miles. Vehicle became unsafe to drive.

- Saco, ME, USA

My 1999 Dodge Durango has had to have upper & lower ball joints replaced. Mechanic informed us that if an evasive move to brake & swerve to avoid an accident, the front end of the Durango would drop to the ground. "ball joints holding on by a thread" says my mechanic and not built strong enough for the vehicle.

- Ithaca, NY, USA

In March of this year (2003) my upper ball joints and lower ball joints all had to be replaced. I kept taking it back to the dealership (a total of 3 times), since it had not reached the 36,000/3yr end of warranty with the complaint that I kept hearing a popping sound when making sharp turns. They claimed not to be able to duplicate the problem. I then took my vehicle to clear lake auto service and they immediately told me it was worn upper/lower ball joints. By then my 36,000/3yr had expired. Luckily, I had purchased an extended warranty and that expensive repair was covered. I was told the joints should not have worn out that quickly, but at any rate it was a problem that should have been found when I took it to the dealership.

- Webster, TX, USA

My 1999 Dodge Durango 4WD with 50,000 miles that has not been driven off-road, and maintained exclusively by the oem dealership, is presently at the Dodge dealership replacing the lower ball joints and front wheel bearings and this is, in my opinion, a safety issue and a manfacturing defect since this is premature wear.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

Premature failure of upper & lower ball joints.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Consumer was hearing "knocking" noise from vehicle when driving or making turns. Dealer diagnosed excessive wear of the front and rear upper and lower ball joints and replaced them.

- Lombard, IL, USA

I purchased new tires and asked the tire dealer to check the alignment on my 1999 Dodge Durango and they told me they could not do it due to the fact the front end ball joints and control arms were bad and had to be replaced with only 52,000 miles. Chrysler said at the time this was unheard of and saw no reason for premature failure. They would not cover this under factory warranty. They made me pay for this with my Chrysler extended warranty, charging me $50 deductible and I had to pay for a front end alignment that was not required except for the changing of the parts. This should not be required on a vehicle with this age and mileage. Cars run for years and over one hundred thousand miles and do not have this problem. This needs to be looked into further. Luckily, this was caught before there was an incident while driving the vehicle on vacation in the mountains a few weeks later.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

Front lower ball joints are worn out, and have to be replaced.

- Bel Air, MD, USA