Steering Tie Rod Assembly problems of the 2000 Dodge Durango

I was pulling out of my circular driveway steering left and the wheel base wouldn't turn. So I backed up and continue to go around the curve, once I reached about 200 ft off my driveway, my car come to a complete stop on it's own. I backed into my driveway dragging my passenger side front wheel sideways. Once I got out to check what was going on, my tie rod end had become completely stripped off the rack and pinion. After further inspections, somehow the groves on the rack and pinion had wore down so much it allowed the tie rod to strip and release. I was so glad I hadn't been driving with my children on the highway, this would have caused my vehicle to flip and probably kill us. I know have to replace my rack and pinion and tie rod and just replacing the ball joints on this vehicle not a couple months ago. I am very frightened to drive it now in fear this will happen again.

Ball joints wore out leading to stress and subsequent break of tie rod, ball joints were replaced due to recall, tie rod repaired at owners expense, was told one did not relate to the other .

While getting an oil change mechanic informed the consumer that both lower ball joints and the tie rod needed to be replaced.

September 12, I went to back out of a parking lot and the tie rod end came unhooked from the rack and pinion steering. The threads on the bolts were stripped out. When the repair shop went to loosen the other tie rod it disintegrated. They commented that we were real lucky it had come apart. They also indicated that the vehicle didn't have enough mile to warrant the needed repairs.

On may 1, 2004 I went to a midas shop in the cincinnati, ohio area due to a bad left pull on the front of my Durango. The vehicle has approximately 69,500 miles. My intention was to get an alignment. The technician notified me that my right front upper ball joint was shot and the right inside tie rod was shot. In calling for the repair parts, the technician notified me that the part would have to come from Dodge. I checked with another mechanic that I use and the problems were verified. This mechanic contacted a local Dodge dealer and was told that the whole front rack would have to be replaced. The estimated cost was $500 in materials. I expect expensive labor charges to be necessary due to the required time to replace this system. This is a financial burden and has caused me to wait to get the necessary repair. Based on the information in odi #10061274 and ea03023, I am concerned about the effect on my vehicle and future safety concerns. The mechanic is currently searching for the part. Also, since it is worthless to get an alignment with these parts bad, I am wearing out expensive tires waiting for this repair.

Mechanic determined that upper ball joints wore out prematurely. Also, wheel bearings and the inner/outer tie rods needed to be replaced.

The consumer ran over a pothole while traveling approximately 10 mph. The right front tie rod "busted" causing the entire steering system to fail. The consumer lost control of vehicle and narrowly avoided a collision. The consumer pulled out from a stop sign, turned right and hit a pothole with the right front tire, which left the consumer half in the road of oncoming traffic. The vehicle didn't move. When the consumer inspected the vehicle she saw that the tie rod had fallen off and punctured the right rim and caused the tire to go flat.

This complaint is related to the Dodge Durango front suspension upper ball joints and control arms wearing out prematurely. At 28,433 miles I experienced front suspension problems. The local Chrysler dealership could not find anything wrong. At 38,801 miles "they" were able to pinpoint the problem and replaced the front and rear sway bar bushings and inner and outer tie rods. At 45,390 miles the problem reocurred and the tie rods, upper ball joints and control arms were replaced again! after reading the related article on your website, I wanted to express my concern and encourage you to further your investigation.

Consumer lost all steering, the vehicle was towed to the mechanic and indicated the front track bar and tie rod broke. When the tie rods broke, the left the front wheels were without the ability to steer and was unable to slow or stop. The entire rack assembly was replaced. Scc.

While driving inner tie rod that goes into steering mechanism was stripped, causing passenger's side tire to turn outward to right of vehicle. Please give any further details.