125 problems related to front suspension upper ball joint have been reported for the 1998 Dodge Durango. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
1998 Dodge Durango. 27500 miles. Yes 27500 miles. Upper ball joints both sides shot $321. 00 to repair. Right side was extremely bad.
Tires never lasted more than 20k miles since purchasing the car new. Front end shimmy and wander on the highway even after twice yearly alignments. To be repaired soon. I can save old parts.
: the contact stated the steering wheel had a lot of play at various speeds. The dealership determined the upper ball joint needed to be replaced.
Consumer would like reimbursement for ball joint repairs on a 1998 Dodge Durango. The consumer was aware of Dodge Durango ball joint recall and believes that the manufacturer was going expand the scope of the recall to include his vehicle. That did not occur and the consumer was force to pay for upper ball joint replacement.
Upper ball joint failure. Ball joints replaced.
Took vehicle in for inspection. Entire front end failed! tires were getting ready to fall off! tires less than 1 year old worn completely bold because of the front end. Was told that the 2000 was recalled for the exact same problem! but my 1998 is not in on recall. . . And it is the exact same problem!!@!!!!!!!.
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.
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.
Upper ball joint failure / axle seal leaks.
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?.
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.
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.
Ball joint failure on 1998 Dodge Durango. These trucks have recalls for 1999 and 2000. My vehicle only had 62,000 when 3 of the 4 ball joints had to be replaced because of water that had leaked into the joints. My reference number for the complaint that I filed with Dodge is # 13277677.
The consumeris experiencing problems with the ball joints. The consumer is having to replace then every 10,000 mi. Also, the tie rod ends also vibrate and the owner had to replace them, as well. Provide further details.
While driving 35 mph front driver's side wheel fell off. Dealer stated the upper ball joints failed. Driver was able to regain control, and pulled off the road.
Noticed suspension noise in front. Dealer identified damaged upper ball joints and replaced them both.
No injuries yet, but the ball joints went bad 3 years after purchase in 1998. Have complained many times and recall has been issued starting for 2000 models, however, mine is 1998.
Consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the front. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that both driver's side and passenger's side upper ball joints needed to be replaced. Consumer informed the dealer that this problem occurred more than once, and had not been resolved.
Consumer complained about a steering problem. She went to get the car inspected, and a steering problem was determined due to the ball joints.
I bought a new set of tires at a local tire store, and was informed by the front end alighnment mechanic that I had (3) ball joints that were bad. The upper right side was at the point of seperation at any time. He suggested I take it to the Dodge dealership, which I did and they said that all (4) balljoints were bad. I asked if it was a recall, they said it was under investigation the cost to repair was to be $ 825. 00, and to hold the bill for possible reimburment. I could not afford for them to do the repairs, I went back to the tire store and had the repairs made by them. See now that the 1998 up Durangos are in question, mine is a 1998 year model. I expect to be repaid the $$$ spent for these repairs. Thank you, larry isley.
Upper ball joints were making grinding noise when the vehicle turned at low speeds causing the tires to shake. Dealer repaired vehicle twice, but consumer will wait for repairs for the third time.
Vehicle experienced problems with the upper ball joints. The wheels appeared to be coming off. Owner had the vehicle looked at by an independent mechanic shop, and it was diagnosed as defective ball joints.
The ball joints on my 1998 Durango have needed repair for quite a while. I have 97000 miles on it, but the problem occurred around 60000 miles.
The NHTSA recently advised daimlerchrysler to issue a recall on 2000-2003 Dodge Durangos and dakotas concerning the ball joint(s) separating, resulting in the wheel falling off. Please consider expanding this suggested recall to include earlier models. I own a 1998 Durango that had the exact same problem, although I caught it before something horrible happened. To say that the ball joints were bad would be the understatement of the year - I have worked on vehicles for years, pickup trucks in particular. I have never seen anything like this - the ball joint fell out of the housing.
A recall (04v596000) for the upper ball joints has been issued for Dodge Durango models 2000 -2003, however the consumer has the 1998 model and is experiencing the same defect. Please provide additional information.
I had been hearing a loud noise when driving my 1998 Dodge Durango. When I took it in for service to change the oil & rotate the tires, which I do every 3000 miles, I asked the technicians at quinn motors, rt. 17, gloucester, va to check out the noise. They called & said that the front ball joints, tie rods etc would have to be replaced. The service manager, ken, told me that this was a saftey issure and severe injury could result if I kept driving the car & the problem was not fixed. I am now paying $1630. 00 for repairs of defective ball joints (& related components) on a 1998 vehicle with 122,000 miles on it. I understand that there have been other complaints from other Durango owners who have had wheels come off and related ball joint problems. There was also a service bulletin #020498 issued by daimlerchrysler corp. On may 29, 1998 refering to suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint, with a NHTSA item #601680. If there is a recall on this defective ball joint issue since the dealer told me injury could occur & that this was a safety issue, then I would like to be notified.
Vehicle was taken for a routine general maintenance, and the mechanic noticed that left upper ball joints wore out prematurely.
During routine inspection dealership informed the consumer that front ball joints were loose. The problem was not resolved.
Driving car approximatley 15 mph down residential road car pulled hard to the right ran off road and hit a street sign then a telephone pole car was totaled and the adjuster stated that the upper ball joint in the steering mechanism failed.
When I had my 1998 Dodge Durango inspected this past summer they informed me that my wheels were about to come off in the front of my truck. They told me that to pass the inspection and for also due to the fact that the wheels would probably fall off within a month, that I have my front upper ball joints replaced. I waited until now to file this complaint because the Dodge dealership that a recall was in the process for the ball joints. I was pleased to hear about the recall from Dodge, however enraged when I heard that they are only for 2000-04 models, how it makes any sence besides trying to be cost effective is beyond me. The ball joints as I was told by the Dodge dealership and by my local mechanic are the exact same in my 98 Dodge Durango as they are in the 2000 models.
Consumer stated vehicle experienced the same problem as mentioned in the recall regarding the ball joints. Consumer contacted Dodge three to five months ago. However she was told the recall was for the 2000-2003 1/2 models.
Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that both upper ball joints failed. Consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints.
While driving at any speed, the vehicle vibrates uncontrollably. The driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the upper ball joint needed to be replaced. The upper ball joint repair has not rid the vehicle of the front end shake. Neither the dealer nor an independent shop have been able to identify the cause of the shaking.
I own an 1998 Durango that required all the ball joints to be replaced at relatively low mileage. The mechanic felt they were ready to collapse. According to Chrysler the ball joints are the same design as those currently being recalled on later models. Why aren't 98 and 99 model year Durangos being recalled?.
While driving at high speeds vehicle shook, causing the driver to slow down. Consumer contacted dealership, and mechanic determined that the upper ball joints wore out prematurely.