Steering Linkages Problems of Dodge Durango

Leading up to failure: rainy days failure: when driving down wet city roads and pavement is puddled, water is splashed onto the undercarriage, I lose power steering. At first, I thought the Durango had lost power, but realized it was the steering I lost. The steering belt screams loudly afterwards as well. You have no warning when this will happen, but you can expect it on rainy days. I perceive this as a problem because if you are turning out onto a busy street, then lose your power steering, it poses a danger to myself and other motorists. We all know how difficult it is to steer without power steering. When we phoned the maintenance shop where we bought it, they were not concerned, quickly dismissed me and told me that it would have to do it for them as well, otherwise there was nothing that could be done. We have since ditched the Durango and bought a different vehicle from a different dealership. I am picking a random date for the incident date, since this happens anytime it rains. For number of failures - it's any time it rains and the belt gets wet. They should protect the belt better somehow! and this Durango was a 4x4 - you would think it could handle anything, on-road or off-road!.

See all problems of the 2005 Dodge Durango 🔎.

The front end of my 2003 Dodge Durango began to have a thumping noise. I could not identify what it was or exactly where it was coming from. On my way home from work, Friday August 4,2006 I lost braking on the vehicle and the left front wheel became detached from the axle. I lost control of the vehicle, skidded and stopped in a residential neighborhood. Had this ocurred while I was in the mountains (which I am quite a bit) or on the interstate (which I am on every day) myself or others may have been killed. I could have struck a child in the neighborhood where this happened as well.

See all problems of the 2003 Dodge Durango 🔎.

I was attempting to make a left turn to enter a parking ramp at work when unexpectedly I was unable to control my vehicle, as a result I collided with a concrete wall. I had some digital pictures taken as the police would not come to file a report on private propery. The vehicle sustained major damage and I'm convinced this is related to a poor design/weak parts used in the steering linkage/suspension system.

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge Durango 🔎.

The subject vehicle purchased used when approximately one (1) year old, a 1999 Dodge Durango, 4-wheel drive 5. 2l engine, has a failed power steering gear box. The symptom of failure is best characterized as an over boost. When the vehicle is parked on ice, or is jacked, engine running and the steering is turned with moderate force 2 to three inches in circumferential rotation the steering wheel will continue to turn for up to three quarters of a revolution without further input. The defect is more pronounced to the left, than the right. Shortly before vehicle reached the end of warranty mileage (36k miles) vehicle was taken for service to a local Dodge dealership (penske Chrysler Jeep Dodge 4505 west 96th street, indianapolis, in 46268 phone: 317-872-6200). Among the requested work items was the slight resistance (or pop) just right of center when turning to the left. In late 2003, after the reports of ball joint failures on Dodge Durango's I elected to closely inspect the ball joints and found some wear. The wear was not to the Dodge Durango manual limit, but I was uncomfortable with the wear, and the wear pattern evident on the front tires. All four (4) ball joints replaced with moog parts just prior to christmas 2003. When the vehicle was taken to the local firestone for alignment (firestone tire & service centers 8583 michigan rd, indianapolis, in 46268 317-876-3983) I was advised the steering gear was suspect of being failed due to the "slow roll" condition noted above. Dodge dealership qureied as too part availability. My wife was told the steering gear was on back order. That the replacement part would be a new part number, and that there would be a minimum two (2) week wait. The NHTSA is encouraged to investigate steering gear box failures on Dodge Durango / dakota vehicles and correlate all steering related reports to ensure a systemic design or quality control defect is not evident on these vehicles.

See all problems of the 1999 Dodge Durango 🔎.

I have a 98 Dodge Durango that has to have the entire front end linkages replaced. All ball joints, tierods, linkages etc. Entire front was loose. Saw newsreport of this problem and took truck in for free inspection. Now, $2000 later I have my truck back. Dodge claims no responsibility. Its just news and no recall is done. This is unacceptable and this appears to be a national problem and this defect should be recalled and reimbursed for expenses.

See all problems of the 1998 Dodge Durango 🔎.

Driving at freeway speed when upper ball joint failed and passenger side front wheel assembly broke off. Driver was unable to control. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned end over end. All three passengers were ejected, one fatality two severe injuries.

See all problems of the 2000 Dodge Durango 🔎.

My car suspension has been horrifying since the day I got it new. One day I was in my garage going no more than 5-8 miles an hour and the wheel fell off and caused tons of damages to the car. It went through insurance and insurance should get reimbursed through Chrysler,as this is a defect. I was without transportation for over 30 days. It cost me over $1000 because of that on top of the deductible. My company leases the car and we want out of the lease as the suspension is acting up again. Dodge dealership has done everything to make a charade of this and not admit any wrong. The incident date below is approximate.

While driving, the left tie rod end separated from the steeing knucle, it was determined that the nut securing the tie rod end was missing.

See all problems of the 2002 Dodge Durango 🔎.

I was on my way to work one morning and was just down the road from my home when all of a sudden, my steering wheel just started spinning around in my hands, a bolt about 3-4 inches had worked it's way out of the linkage. I applied my brakes, but the truck was coming down a hill and I ended up at the bottom of a 20 foot culvert. Luckily the vehicle didn't roll, or I probably wouldn't be here today. We had work done on it 6 months after we leased it (Dec, 1999) and were told they had to remove the steering column to fix the heater--after the accident, they had no recollection of doing any such work and even tried to tell me that we had not leased the vehicle from them, they never had that VIN# in their system. My insurance company investigated it and told me that over time, the vibration made the bolt fall out of the vehicle.

Grinding noises and uncontrollable pulls to the right made the vehicle hard to control, especially when travelling on the highway - this causes an extreme safety problem. Brought the Durango to auto mechanic, he told us the left front tie rod needed replacement. Replaced tie rod end and found out left front wheel bearing is gone and is subject to seizure at any time. If this is not a safety hazard, I don't know what is because this front end suspension problem has the propensity to cause the vehicle to rollover when travelling on the highway or to tip on its side when driving upon back, city or suburban streets.

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

Current problem: ball joints and tie rods need to be replaced, although I complained several times about feeling there was a problem with the arms or something in that area, nothing was ever looked at because they could not produce same bump I felt, so they repeatedly told me there was no problem. When I took my Durango for new tires on may 1, 2001; the tire place robertson tire in tulsa, said the ball joints all needed to be replaced and the left front brake was toast. Since I did not put my concerns of the arms or ball joints in writing I have no proof that I had mentioned it to them the several times before when they performed other work on my vehicle. Also, we had numerous problems with the abs brakes. We had to take it to the dealer 5 times before the problem was corrected, also I was told my brakes were fine on febrary 23, 2001 only to find out on may 2 they were not fine. The engine is using oil, which the dealer said is a gasket problem. The 4 wheel drive stays in 4 wheel drive even after taking it out. The left front window power window had to be replace early on because it was defective. Transmission seems to start in 2 at times but then goes away. East tulsa Dodge has fixed most of our past problems because it was still under factory warrenty. The ball joints and tyrods are not even under our extended warrenty we purchased. After reading your customer complaints, I am very concerned with the drive shaft problem, the air bag and seat belt problems and engine stalling problem.

Front rt & lt (upper & lower) ball joints & tie rod needed replacement causing improper alignment & excessive & uneven wear on the tires. . . . We have purchased new tires 3 times due to this problem! in April of 2001, we find that we need replacement of the lt upper ball joint and Chrysler will not do anything as they say we have too many miles! almost entire mileage is open road driving & vehicle is well maintained. A vehicle that is 3 years old should not need ball joints repaired/replaced let alone 2 times in less than 10 months!!!.

I was proceeding on a straight road on a bright, sunny day at about 45mph. I went to turn the steering wheel slightly and noticed that the tires did not respond. I turned the wheel again and there was no response. I immediately hit the brakes and the vehicle pulled to the right hand side of the road, stopping in the gravel on the shoulder. I called the Chrysler 800 service number and explained the situation to a representative. A wrecker arrived 30 minutes later and the driver turned white as a ghost when he spun the steering wheel in circles without any response. He indicated he was thinking about buying a Durango but not anymore. Evidently a 3-4 inch bolt had come loose from the steering column somewhere under the dashboard and this is the only thing linking the steering wheel to the front wheels. If this is the case, this represents a fatal design flaw in the Durango, and there should be an immediate recall. My son and I are very fortunate to be alive. Having worked for Ford for 10 years, I'm sure Chrysler is aware of this defect, but has estimated they will pay out less in wrongful death suits than the cost of a recall. I am outraged that a vehicle with this type of design flaw could be manufactured.