2001 Dodge Durango Complaint Log

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO SLT. GREAT CAR BUT VERY DANGEROUS AND REMARKABLY OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE FRONT ROTORS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 30,000 MILES ON OR DURANGO AND I 'M GETTING READY TO PUT THE THIRD SET OF ROTORS ON THE FRONT END. THE FIRST CHANGED SET WAS PUT ON AFTER ONLY 9200 MILES. OF COURSE AT THE DEALERSHIP YOU GET THE BLAH, BLAH ABOUT HOW IT IS A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. WHICH I AGREE IT IS;HOWEVER, IT IS NOT NORMAL TODAY OR YESTERDAY FOR ANY ROTOR ON ANY VEHICLE TO WARP SO BADLY AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES OF USE. ROTORS WARP FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP-> THAT IS A FACT. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH THROUGH VARIOUS DODGE DEALERSHIPS. OF THE FIVE RESPECTIVE DEALERSHIPS CONTACTED ALL FIVE AGREED THAT THE ROTORS ARE UNDERSIZED AND ARE PRE-MATURELY WEARING ON ALL DODGE DURANGOS, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT. WHEN I CHANGED THE ROTORS AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES I WAS FAIRLY SURPRISED TO SEE ALMOST NO WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. REGARDLESS OF THIS SMALL AMOUNT OF WEAR I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT PADS WITH NEW HIGH END CERAMIC PADS WHICH HELP WITH REDUCING HEAT BY HELPING DISSIPATE HEAT THROUGH THE CERAMIC MEDIA. AT 17,000 MILES WARPED ROTORS ON THE FRONT END AGAIN, CERAMIC PADS LOOKED GREAT. I DO NOT PULL A BOAT/ RV OR ANYTHING ELSE ON MY VEHICLE. I LIVE IN FLAT CORN COUNTRY NOT COLORADO WITH EXCESSIVE MOUNTAINS THAT WOULD PUT STRAIN ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES ARE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PART ON ANY VEHICLE, AND WHEN THEY ARE UNDERSIZED AND DON'T DISSIPATE HEAT CORRECTLY THEY WILL WARP EVERYTIME. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS NOT ISOLATED AND IS PREVALENT WITH EVERY 2001 DURANGO. I HOPE I'M NOT WASTING MY FINGERS TIME AND THAT THIS HAS SOME IMPACT ON DODGE, SO THAT THEY MAY RIGHT THIS WRONG AND GET RECALL PERFORMED BEFORE SOMEONE OR MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND INJURED FROM THIS CONDITION. *JB

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER'S DOOR AND FORCED INTO A UNITY POLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TT DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *TT

INTERMITTENTLY, RADIO WILL GO OUT, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK DEALER FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD AND HAD IT REPLACED. *SLC

THE FRONT AXLE OF THIS DODGE DURANGO HAS EXCESSIVE NOISE, ABOUT 50 DECIBELS WHEN DRIVEN OVER THE SPEED OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE ENTIRE FRONT AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BY MELTON SALES OF CLAREMORE, OK. THE NOISE CAME BACK IN TWO DAYS. I HAVE A SCHEDULED REPAIR FOR 11/11/02 FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT. THE TOTAL DOWN TIME FOR THIS REPAIR IS 4 WEEKS, AS PARTS AND LABOR TAKE LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR A $36000 VEHICLE. DODGE WILL LOSE MY BUSINESS AFTER THE REPAIR IS FINISHED. DT

WHEN WINDOWS ARE DOWN VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE VERY HEAVILY. CONSUMER HAD TO SLOWDOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

A ROD IS KNOCKING AT 25000 MILES AND THERE IS "OIL SLUDGE".....WE HAVE KEPT UP MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS SUCH AS MINE WITH THE "OIL SLUDGE."

FRONT WHEEL FELL (FROM THE BALL JOINTS TO THE TIRE) OFF OUR 2001 DODGE DURANGO CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURB. APPEARED TO BE FAULTY BALL JOINT (AREA), CHRYSLER INVESTIGATED AND SAID IT WASN'T FAULTY EQUIPMENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COVER-UP ON CHRYSLERS PART. PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY COULD HAVE DIED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS ACCIDENT.*AK EA03-023

STARTER MOTOR SHORTED OUT AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. STARTER MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DODGE FACILITY. STARTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NLM

CONSUMER STATES DOOR LOCKS FAILED TWICE. *YD

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN.*JB

VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH, NOT ABLE TO RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, # 10 FUSE WAS BLOWN. DEALER COULD NOT FIND STALLING PROBLEM. *AK

MY DURANGO IS ALL OVER THE ROAD ON BUMPY SURFACES AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO HIT A BUMP ON A CORNER, IT JUMPS ACROSS THE ROAD. THE DEALER PUT ON NEW FRONT SHOCKS, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO RETURN IT AGAIN. *LA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF, CONSUMER WAS HELPING CHILD OUT OF VEHICLE, WHEN CHILD BUMPED INTO SHIFT LEVER AND CAUSED IT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN, AND STOP VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. *JG *AK

WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER FEELS IT MAY BE RELATED TO BALL JOINT FAILURE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND WILL INSPECT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAKING TURNS. I FELT LIKE MY FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS GOING TO COME OFF WHEN I WOULD MAKE TURNS. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT MY LEFT BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND ADVICED NOT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE PART I NEEDED WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THEY WERE UNSURE WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY VEHICLE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.*AK

CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE WHILE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHILE EASING OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND WENT BACKWARD CAUSING THE DRIVER DOOR TO HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE FACE AND THE CONSUMER TO FALL OUT ONTO THE PAVEMENT, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHOWN WAS DRIVE NOT REVERSE. *SLC

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IN DRIVE IT WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. CONSUMERS SON WAS ABLE TO JARR THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BY CLIMBING ACROSS THE SEAT. THE GEAR SHIFT IS ABLE TO MOVE FROM GEAR TO GEAR AND OUT OF PARK WITH OUT THE VEHICLE BEING ON. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITHOUT THIS VITAL SAFETY FEATURE. *JG

THE LIGHTWEIGHT LOCKING LATCHPLATES HAVE NEVER LOCKED PROPERLY. I MUST USE LOCKING CLIPS IN ORDER TO SECURE MY CAR SEATS (BECAUES THERE IS AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR). THE SEAT BELT FAILS THE LOCKABILITY STANDARD AND MAKES CAR SEAT INSTALLATION VERY MR

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO WITH POWER SEATS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BEFORE THE PART COMPLETELY FAILED. THE SECOND TIME THE PART COMPLETELY FAILED AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT BRACKET HAS METAL ROD RUNNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNDER SEAT THIGH AREA. THIS METAL ROD IS USED TO LIFT AND ADJUST THE SEAT HEIGHT. THERE ARE METAL WASHERS ATTACHED TO SERVO MOTORS THAT FATIGUE AND WEAR OUT. AT FIRST SEAT BEGINS ROCKING SLIGHTLY BACKWARD ON ACCELERATION. EVENTUALLY WASHER(S) FAIL CAUSING METAL ROD TO MOVE FREELY WITHOUT ANY STABILIZATION. IF DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT IS LOWERED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND ALL THE WAY BACK THE SEAT APPEARS STABLE. IF DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT IS RAISED AND ADJUSTED FOR SMALLER DRIVER AND THE WASHER HAS BROKEN, THE SEAT FALLS BACKWARD SEVERELY AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I'M A MEMBER OF THE DURANGO OWNERS CLUB (HTTP://WWW.DURANGOCLUB.COM/CEILIDH/CEILIDH.HTML) AND SEVERAL MEMBERS ARE ENCOUNTERING ISSUES WITH THE SEATS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH OVER TIME. TO DATE, WE ARE THE ONLY ONES IN YOUR CLUB REPORTING THAT THE SEAT ACTUALLY BREAKS AND FALLS BACKWARDS. *LA

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AFTER STALLING THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START, THE MESSAGE NO BUS APPEARED RIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND THE PCM CRANKSHAFT.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS INDEPENDENTLY MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DEPENDABLE DODGE, LOCATED AT 21415 ROSCO BLVD, CANOGA PARK, CA 91304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY WAS DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8.

CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT HER VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY RECALL 01V077000 CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED SERVICE, AND RECALL HAS YET TO BE REMEDIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

DEALER ALREADY NOTIFIED-PREMATURE 1/4 INCH GROOVING IN ROTORS IS NOT NORMAL DURING MILD OPERATING CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THE METALERGY IS DEFECTIVE IN HARDNESS AND WILL REQUIRE THE EXPENSE OF PREMATURE REPLACEMENT TO AVOID FAILURE RATHER THAN STANDARD SERVICE. *AK

VEHICLE STEADILY ACCELERATED WITHOUT APPLYING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DEALER INSPECTED VEHCLE A CRACK WAS FOUND IN FUEL TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR A WHILE AND WHEN STARTING, IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DOES NOT HAVE FULL ACCELERATION POWER. WILL NOT PULL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED PROBLEM WAS THE FAN. *AK DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND ADDED INSULATION BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND AIR CONDITIONER, HOWEVER NOISES AND LACK OF POWER STILL EXISTS. *SLC

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, WHEN IN REVERSE IT WILL SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR, TCM AND QUICKLEARN. ON 30 APRIL 2002 AT 5 MPH TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL.*JB

1) CAR RACES AS IF IN HIGH GEAR (WHILE IN REVERSE AND THEN IN DRIVE) BUT WON'T MOVE UNLESS YOU FLOOR IT. AFTER 200FT. OF FLOORING IT ..IT DROPS INTO GEAR AND RUNS NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND NOT SPECIFIC TO COLD WEATHER BUT ENGINE IS USUALLY COLD.. 2)PROBLEM IS COMMON TO DURANGOS...CAR SHIFTS FREELY FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR ANY OTHER GEAR WITHOUT HAVING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE.*AK

#1-3 INCIDENTS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKING UP CAUSING SIGNIFICANT STEERING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS, REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AS A RESULT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE; #2-LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO MAINTAIN SAFETY OF VEHICLE (RIGHT SIDE BEGINNING TO MAKE THE SAME SOUND); #3-MULTIPLE INCIDENTS (AT LEAST 5) OF CEL COMING ON WITHIN LAST 9 MONTHS-THE LAST (8/20/04) INDICATES THAT THE FUEL PUMP, GAS TANK, AND OTHER COMPONENTS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE GAS TANK BECOMES CONCAVE AFTER THE VEHICLE RUNS FOR 15-30 MINUTES LEADING TO A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. *JB

WHEN GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PUT ALL THE WAY INTO PARK POSITIONING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT INDICATE IT IS IN ANY GEAR AT ALL. THERE IS A SQUARE WHICH SURROUNDS THE P, D, N, ETC. ON THE GEAR INDICATOR, AND NONE OF THEM WILL BE OUTLINED. IN ADDITION TO SOMETIMES NOT INDICATING THE CAR IS IN GEAR, IT CAN BE IN A DIFFERENT GEAR THAN INDICATED. IT CAN SAY IT IS IN DRIVE BUT WHEN ACCELORATOR IS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE. IT SIMPLY REVS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL OVER MY SMALL CHILDREN IF I THINK IT IS IN PARK BUT IT ACTUALLY ISN'T. THE VEHILCE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 3 TIMES AND I AM TOLD THIS HAPPENS BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOESN'T INDICATE WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. WILL PUT VEHICLE IN PARK WITH INDICATOR STAYING IN PARK.*AK CONSUMER STATES GEAR SHIFT MAY NOT INDICATE ANY GEAR AT ALL. *JB

A/C FAILED THREE TIMES W/I FIRST 90 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE REPLACED ALL PARTS, BUT FAILURE RETURNS. THEY HAVE OTHER VEHICLES PRESENTING WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THIS IS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. IT WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE AROUND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRES. I TOOK IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND REPLACED THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND THE SUSPENSION. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT DIDN'T RECTIFY THE PROBLEM; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD KEEP AN OPEN TICKET ON THIS AND IF ANYTHING CAME UP SIMILAR TO MY PROBLEM THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME. WELL, THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE, AND WE HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS THINGS ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. MY HUSBAND THEN CALLED THEM, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO SUCH PROBLEM, AND NO OPEN TICKETS OR RECORD OF MY BRINING IN THE CAR. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS WHO ARE WITH ME. I AM AFRAID THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS RIGHT WHEN YOU PAY A FORTUNE FOR A CAR. I THINK IT SHOULD BE SAFE. *JB

CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THIS INCLUDES BOTH SETS OF UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS.

CHILD PULLED VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT TOUCHING BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT CURB WITH CHILD STILL INSIDE. THIS MESSED UP BOTTOM OF TRUCK. CONTACTRF DEALER, AND NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

THIS IS A CHRONIC ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. THE FRONT END OF MY DURANGO WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED FOR EVEN A WEEK. IT IS SO BAD THAT IT PULLS SO HARD TO ONE SIDE, THAT IT BECOMES UNDRIVABLE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CHARGED ME A LOT OF MONEY, TO CONTINUOUSLY TELL ME THEY HAVE REALIGNED IT AND AS SOON AS I LEAVE THE PARKING LOT IT STARTS PULLING. THEY TRY TO TELL ME IT IS JUST THE ROAD GRADE. IT IS NOT! *JB

MIDDLE FOLD DOWN SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, SEAT CAME LOOSE AND HIT DRIVER IN HEAD. DRIVER WENT TO DOCTOR AND WAS INFORMED HE HAD A CONCUSSION. ALSO CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED HIM THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL OCCUR.*AK

LUGS:BOLTS:NUTS BROKE, CAUSING WHEELS TO FALL OFF. *AK

STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO RIGHT (AS IF SOMEONE GRABBED IT AND PULLED). STEERING PULLED SAME WAY AGAIN (WITHIN SECONDS) AND DURANGO WENT INTO SPIN, THEN INTO DITCH, THEN ROLLED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT, NO OTHER TRAFFIC, WEATHER WAS DRY AND CLEAR.*AK

RACK AND PINION BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TURNING HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND VEHICLE STARTED TO GO TO LEFT, THEN, WHOLE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE "TUMBLE FORWARD" SECOND ROW SEAT LEAVES A SHARP EDGED FLOOR ANCHOR EXPOSED WHEN THE SEAT IS TUMBLED FORWARD FOR ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW SEAT. SO FAR, BOTH MY SON AND I HAVE RECEIVED DEEP LACERATIONS FROM THIS FLOOR ANCHOR. IF AN OCCUPANT WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THIS COMPONENT IN AN ACCIDENT, IT COULD EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES ESPECIALLY TO THE FEET. *AK

WIFE DROVE FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE. SHIFTED TO REVERSE (AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION) AND BACKED UP TO STRAIGHTEN VEHICLE. SHIFTED TO DRIVE. APPLIED GAS, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE. BACKED INTO CURB AND MAILBOX, SHIFTED INTO 2ND. VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE, SHIFTED INTO 1ST. VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE, SHUT MOTOR OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER TESTED VEHICLE AND COULD FIND NO FAULT. COMMENT ON INVOICE WAS "NPF ROAD TESTED CHECKED WITH DRB NO CODES 185 LY, LONG LIC#2069. SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*746430

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL, IT GOES TO LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER BLAMED THIS ON TOO MUCH TIRE PRESSURE, AND ADJUSTED THE PRESSURE. CONSUMER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE THIS, DID NOT HANDLE THE WAY HER'S DID. *AK

LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE AND CAME OFF VEHICLE. *AK

NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH A 45 MILE/HOUR FRONTAL CRASH. *AK

FRONT TIRES STARTED WEARING EXCESSIVEY ON THE OUTER EDGE WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON VEHICLE ACCOMPANIED BY HARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH MINIMAL RESULTS. IT WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS AN ALINGMENT PROBLEM, DEALER SUPPOSEDLY ALIGNED VEHICLE TO FACTORY SPECS. THE SECOND VISIT I WAS TOLD THE SPRING ISOLATORS WERE MISALIGNED (REALIGNED ISOLATORS AND FRONT END). "COMPLAINTS ABOUT SERVICE AND CONTINUOS PROBLEMS ADDRESSED TO SERVICE MANAGER". I WAS OFFERED A FREE OIL CHANGE AS COMPENSATION. THIRD VISIT WAS TO DIFFERENT DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS WORN RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT (REPLACED PARTS). VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN RECENTLY AT 36000 MILES WITH EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND UNCONTROLLABLE PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALER STATED THAT THE GOODYEAR LS TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY ARE ONLY A 30,000 MILE TIRE AND CROSS ROTATED THE LT. AND RT. FRONT TIRES AS A FIX. I IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED UP WITH A VISIT TO THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE FIRST SUGGESTION WAS I GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TOLD ME THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE 40,000 MILE PLUS. ALL PROBLEMS HAVE ALL OCCURED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. ADDITIONALLY I CALLED CHRYSLER TO INQUIRE ABOUT NOTED PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS OR HISTORY OF FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH DURANGOS. I DID REQUEST TO START A CUSTOMER PROBLEM FILE AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT BOTH DEALERSHIPS RELUCTANCE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE FOR WARRANTY WORK. FINALLY, WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WILL BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AND BOUNCES TO LEFT OR RIGHT.

ROUGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE IDLES LOW CAUSING A VERY ROUGH IDLE. DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN DEFROST OR A/C IS USED BECAUSE THEY AUTOMATICALLY BUMP IDLE UP. SPENT MANY MANY HOURS AT DEALER WITH THEM ADMITTING A PROBLEM BUT UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DOES NOT IDLE LIKE A 30,000 DOLLAR VEHICLE. DODGE HAS LOST A FUTURE CUSTOMER. *JB

THERE IS NO SHIFT INTERLOCK PRESENT IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKES. ERGO, A CHILD COULD EASILY SHIFT A VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK