2003 Dodge Durango Complaint Log

DT: ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2005 ONE OF THE TWO STRAPS THAT HELD THE GAS TANK BECAME UNHOOKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED ON A SMOOTH PAVED ROAD, IT WAS NOT BUMPY, NO RAIN NOR SNOW. HEARD THE STRAP SCRAPPING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SAW IT DRAGGING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC INSTALL IT AND CHRYSLER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY. *AK *JB

FRONT SUSPENSION - DRIVE TRAIN - LOCKS - AXLE - POWER STEERING PUMP VEHICLE HAS HAD CONSISTENT FRONT END GRINDING NOISE SINCE 30,000 KM'S. BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, FRONT AXLE SPYDER GEARS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PREVIOUS 1998 DURANGO HAD SAME PROBLEM - FIX WAS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. 2003 DURANGO - DEALER SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. NOISE AND GRINDING ONLY HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEED TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT. FROM STOP TO LIGHT ACCELERATION TO HARD LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, NEW NOISE FROM REAR AXLE - LIMITED SLIP UNIT NOW GETTING LOUDER. AXLE OIL AND LIMITED SLIP ADDITIVE HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH FACTORY CHRYSLER OIL ADDITIVE. INDICATIVE OF SAME PROBLEM WITH 1998 DURANGO THAT I HAD, WHEN REAR AXLE PINION BEARING WAS HEAVILY SCORED. IN THAT INCIDENT THE SAME MAINTENANCE WAS DONE, BUT REPAIR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3,000 KM'S AND CHRYSLER ONLY PAID 50% OF REPAIR OF $700.00. OIL CHANGES ON COMPLETE DRIVETRAIN WAS $590.00 (4X4 WITH SKID PLATES). THIS APPEARS TO BE A METAL FATIGUE PROBLEM IN COMBINATION WITH ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS THAT ARE TOO WIDE IN TOLERANCES, WHICH ALLOWS FAILURE OF COMPONENTS TO COMPOUND PROBLEMS AND CREATE LONGER TERM DAMAGING RESULTS. EVER SINCE DODGE TRUCKS WENT TO MAINTENANCE FREE FRONT AXLE BEARINGS (YOU CAN'T PACK BEARINGS WITH GREASE), POOR LIMITED SLIP TOLERANCES IN REAR AXLE, AND TRANSFER CASE THAT'S ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED, THE DRIVETRAIN AND FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE EXCESSIVE LOADS AND POOR QUALITY COMPONENTS. BOTH DURANGOS THAT I'VE OWNED HAVE HAD 5 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS (CONSTANT PULLING TO THE LEFT) AND NO OFF ROAD DRIVING. STRICTLY HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. I PURCHASED FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 2003 DURANGO WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. SO FAR, OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES HAVE BEEN MINIMAL, BUT DURANGO SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME IN THE SHOP AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT TO HAVE SERVICED CONSTANTLY. NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH WARRANTY PARTS OR DEALER NOT DOING WARRANTY RECALL WORK. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SURGE FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTART MINUTES LATER WHILE IDLING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE DURING THE FAILURES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY REPLACED THE NVLD PUMP VACUUM CANISTER, THE CAM SENSORY, AND THE SPLIT HOSE SOLENOID CANISTER. THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,711 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

DT: CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LOCKED AND JAMMED. THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 3 WEEKS. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT SERVICE IT. CHRYSLER WAS GOING TO SEND HER SOME PAPERS, AND SHE COULD TAKE THE PAPERS TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD FIX VEHICLE. THIS WAS ON JULY 28, 2005, AND SHOULD RECEIVE THE PAPERS ANY DAY.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DURANGO IN WHICH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT HOUSINGS. THIS IS THE PLASTIC COMPONENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE WIRING OF THE ELECTRIC SEATS. THIS IS ALSO WHERE THE ACTUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS ARE LOCATED. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE HOUSINGS REPLACED ALREADY AND I NEED TO HAVE EACH ONE REPLACED AGAIN. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY OF THE SAME COMPONENTS BUT AT THIS TIME CHRYSLER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME, THAT WITH NORMAL WEAR THAT THIS PIECE SHOULD NOT CRACK AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT ALL; YET I NEED TO REPLACE EACH COMPONENT AGAIN - AT MY COST. *TR

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS METAL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD COMPONENTS IN IT THAT CAME APART AND SHATTERED THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED THE MECHANIC STILL HAS THE VEHICLE AND I BELIEVE I CAN GET THE OLD PARTS

THE STABILIZER BAR ON THE 2003 DODGE DURANGO WAS COMING OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PRODUCE A GRINDING NOISE. *MR THE GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE HUB AND FOUND THAT THE INNER AXLE HAD GRINDING WEAR ON THE INSIDE BY THE RUBBER BOOT. THE STABILIZER BAR WAS COMING OUT ABOUT 1/4 INCH. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT END STILL WOBBLES AND GRINDS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHEN STOPPING. *SC THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE WAS REPLACED. *JB

I CURRENTY OWN A 2003 DODGE DURANGO, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN NOV 2003. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TROUBLE FROM DAY 1. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACE 3 TIMES, DUE TO PULSATING AND PULLING FROM THE FRONT END. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR CLICKING & POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHICH DEALER CLAIMED ON BOTH OCCASSIONS THEY COULD NOT FIND. DEALER KEEPS STATING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, WHEN IT COMES TO BRAKES WHICH I DON'T COMPREHEND SINCE I'VE OWNED NEW VEH BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. I'VE PAID FOR 2 HIGH SPEED WHEEL BALANCES, AND THE DEALER HAD THE NERVE TO THREATEN ME WITH THE FACT THAT IF VEHICLE WAS RETURNED AGAIN FOR BRAKES I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. ALSO RECENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOUD NOT COME ON OR SHUT OFF ON COMMAND. OFCOURSE AT THE TIME I NEEDED THEM TO VISUALLY SEE THE ROAD SINCE IT WAS RAINING. I CLICKED ON MY RIGHT SIGNAL IN ORDER TO GET OFF THE ROAD ONCE I SAW THE MALFUNCTION OCCURING ONLY TO HAVE THE WINDHSHIELD WIPERS MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO START WORKING. I'VE KEPT A LOG OF EVERY REPAIR SHOP VISIT AND LACK OF REPAIR FINDING BASED ON DEALER ENDS. CHRSYLER NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE I'VE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS.

SLUDGE BUILD UP OCCURRED IN THE DODGE DURANGO.*MR THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT WAS AS A RESULT OF NEGLECT WHICH THEN VOIDED THE WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED NUMEROUS TIME BY NON-DEALER MECHANIC. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER PROVIDED ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED BY A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. *NM

FRONT SEAT BELTS DON'T RELEASE ON MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHEN SEATBELTS ARE WORN AND ENGAGED THE LOCKING DEVICE WON'T DISENGAGE. I HAVE TO GIGGLE, RATTLE AND PULL ON THE MECHANISM FOR THE SEATBELT TO UNLOCK. THE DEFECT HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR MONTHS AND IS CONTINOUS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.

WHILE DRIVING ON I 495 DURANGO STARTED ACCELERATING WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. IT KEPT ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKES LIGHTLY. THERE WERE CARS BRAKING IN FRONT OF ME, AND I WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF.*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER CHARGED HER FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT PARTS. *AK

INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER FRONT BALL JOINT IN MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BOTH DODGE AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO CORRECT PROBLEM STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DURANGO IT GOES THROUGH ROTORS ABOUT EVERY 18000 MILES. *NM

MANY TIMES, WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT HAS SLIPPED OUT OF PARK, SO IT WILL NOT START UNLESS THE DRIVER IS SUCCESSFUL IN PUTTING IT INTO PARK. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM IT IS ESPECIALLY LIABLE TO THIS PROBLEM. USUALLY IN THE WINTER OR IN COOL WEATHER IT DOES NOT SLIP OUT OF PARK. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE WHO CAN FIND OUT HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY DURANGO ACCELERATES FOR NO REASON AT ALL WHILE IT IS STOPPED. IT HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY AFTER GOING UP A SMALL HILL IN DRIVE AND THEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATES.*AK

BALL JOINT MALFUNCTION ON DODGE DURANGO SLT 4X4. MY DURANGO IS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL AS 600K OTHERS ARE HOWEVER THE NOISES, AND UNNATURAL MOVEMENTS OF THE FRONT END DURING CLOSE QUARTERS TURNING IS SUSPECT OF BEING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS ALSO NOT KEEPING ITS ALIGNMENT AND THE BRAKES HAVE SOFTENED RAPIDLY, I SUSPECT ALL ARE RELATED. NO LOSS OF CONTROL HAS OCCURRED BUT I'M CONCERNED AND I WANT TO REPORT MY VEHICLE AND PLAN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BY MY DEALER, WESTBORO DODGE. *JB

LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAUSES ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO FLASH. DEALER COMMENTED "WE SEE THIS A LOT ON (DURANGOS). *AK

DT: WHEELS- ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE WHEELS, THEY WERE CLANKING AND MAKING NOISE ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE BOLTS WERE ACTUALLY COMING APART ON BOTH TIRES ON THE ROCKER ARMS. CONSUMER HAD THE WHEELS REPAIRED. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS IN MOVING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND WITH THE GAS TANK. THERE WAS A PUNCTURE IN THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING GAS EVERYWHERE. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED TO THE OWNER, THAT SHE MAY HAVE PUNCTURED THE GAS TANK WHILE DRIVING. THE DURANGO IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN AWAITING THE SECOND REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000. DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS IN ORDER TO REPAIR. *JB

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL PULSATES AND THE STEERING PULLS THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB CONSUMER WAS TOLD LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TT

THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR , FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS ISSUE HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADVISE HIM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE.*AK *BF *NM

AFTER TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

2003 DODGE DURANGO 27,500 MILES-LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING ALREADY-DODGE EXPECTS ME TO PAY FOR ALINGMENT AFTER BALL JOINTS ARE REPLEACED. I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT. BALL JOINTS DO NOT NORMALLY GO BAD AT THIS LOW MILEAGE.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMELR CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. *JB

I OWN A 2003 DURANGO WITH 20,000 MILES. AFTER DONE SHOPPING WENT TO PARKING LOT AND HIT THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON REMOTE. HORN STARTED HONKING, LIGHTS FLASHING. THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE HIT PANIC BUTTON BUT DIDN'T THINK SO, SO I HIT ALL THE BUTTONS AGAIN, PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND STARTED CAR BUT HORN STILL HONKED AND LIGHTS KEPT FLASHING INSIDE & OUT. COULD NOT STOP IT. STARTED TO DRIVE HOME AND LIGHTS WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AND HORN HONK INTERMITTENTLY. STOPPED AT STORE TO GET BATTERIES FOR REMOTE KEY THINKING THERE WAS SOME COMPUTER PROBLEM AND SIGNEL WASN'T RIGHT. STILL WOULD NOT STOP. CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. FOUR WAY FLASHERS KEPT FLASHING. BEFORE I COULD GET TO EXIT HIGHWAY PATROL PULLED ME OVER. SAID THAT WAS THE SECOND SUCH INCIDENT THAT DAY WITH A DURANGO. HE CALLED A TOW TRUCK FOR ME AND WE TOWED IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE CENTRAL TIMER MODUAL. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL DURANGO'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE CAR IS STILL IN WARRANTY I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. . THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *JB UPDATED 5/3/2006 - THE CONSUMER SAT FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED IT MADE A LOT OF NOISE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME ABOUT 10 MPH. THE NEXT MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHO INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY WITH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. *NM

INTERMITTENT LOCKING/UNLOCKING OF DOORS WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE TEN MINUTES LATER, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK....INCIDENT DATE 09/30/2004. CONSUMER CLAIMED DODGE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR STALLING. DALER NEVER HAD AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE HAD MY 2003 DURANGO BACK TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR A RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT END. I HAD READ THE REPORTS OF THE FAILURES AND SYMPTONS OF THE BALL JOINTS.*AK ALL 5 TIMES THE DEALER HAS NOT RE-PLACED THE BALL JOINTS, THE NOISE STILL EXSISTS, I EVEN TOOK ONE OF THE SERVICE GUYS OUT IN THE TRUCK, AND HE HEARD THE NOISE. HE EVEN COMMENTED, THAT HIS 2003 DAKOTA, HAD THE SAME NOISE, AND THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE HIS FRONT BALL JOINT. THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT.

THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I TAKE MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO FOR FRONT END NOISE AND PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAYS THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE NOISE, BUT MY FAMILY KNOWS IT'S THERE WHEN WE DRIVE AND MAKE TURNS. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO 2ND TME FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH IN TWO MONTHS. THANK YOU

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY AND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIS. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *NM

OCCASIONAL DRIVING OF VEHICLE TRANSPORTING A TODDLER AND AN INFANT.*AK

THE REASON I AM FILING A COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE THE NHTSA HAS NOT UPDATED THEIR WEBSITE ACCORDING BASED ON A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY DODGE. THERE WAS IN ARTICLE ON MSN.COM TODAY THAT DESCRIBED A RECALL OF CERTAIN DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA MODELS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT/UPPER BALL JOINT. THE NHTSA WEBSITE LISTS 4 RELATED DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER ALL INVESTIGATIONS WERE OPENED AND CLOSED IN 2003 AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE LATEST ACTIONS BY DODGE. THIS WEBSITE SHOULD BE UPDATED SO PEOPLE WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND SPECIFIC MODELS OF RECALLS CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION.*JB

ON DEC 10 I WAS DRIVING WELL BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH. WITH ALL THE CHIRSTMAS TRAFFIC AND THE LIGHT RAIN FALLING I WAS BEING WHAT I THOUGHT EXTREMELY CAREFUL. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT LEAST 5 CAR LINKS AHEAD. WHEN THAT VEHICLE APPLIED THEIR BRAKES I IMMEDIATELY APPLLIED MINE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT TO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE WHICH AT THIS TIME HAD STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND AGAIN NOTHING HAPPENED. EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES TURNED MY 2003 DURANGO WOULD NOT FOLLOW. I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. SINCE I AM A WIDOW WITH 3 CHILDREN ONE OF WHICH IS HANDICAPPED I ONLY COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY. NOW MY 2003 DURANGO IS SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. ALSO THE BALL JOINTS I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. I THINK DODGE OWES ME TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE FROM THE ACCIDENT AND ALSO THE BALL JOINTS AT NO CHARGE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD PUT UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THEY SHOULD STEP UP TO BAT AND SHOW SOME TRUE CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND HEARD A METALLIC NOISE HIT THE GROUND. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE ALTERNATOR AND FELL OUT. *AK DEALERSHIP FOUND A LARGE BOLT THAT CAME LOOSE WHICH MAY HAVE ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE UPPER BALL JINTS CAUSING CORRSION. THE BOLT ALSO CAUSED THE WATER PUMP, GASKET, SERPENTINE BELT TO CRACK AND THE THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER REGARDING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS A MONTH AFTER REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

I BOUGHT A 2003 DURANGO FOR MY DAUGHTER IN APRIL, 2004 FROM HERTZ CAR SALES. LAST SATURDAY MORNING SHE WAS DRIVING HOME WITH TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AND SHE HIT A LIGHT POLE. I WOULD GUESS THAT THEY HIT AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THE IMPACT STOPPED THE CAR PRETTY SUDDENLY. SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT, BUT THE OTHER TWO WEREN'T. THE AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF. THE PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SIDE ALMOST BROKE THRU THE WINDSHIELD. HE HAD A CONCUSSION, NEEDED STITCHES AND BROKE HIS HIP ON THE DASH. I EXPECT THAT TO BE THE GREATEST LIABILITY. THE BUMPER IS BENT WAY BACK. THE REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $10K, BUT MY DAUGHTER IS AFRAID THE AIRBAGS DON'T EVEN WORK. WHAT CAN WE DO? *JB

WHEN DRIVING MY 2003 DURANGO AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE LOCKING UP AND THE TRUCK BEGINS SHAKING BADLY. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ALSO HAVE BEEN HEARING STRANGE NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT RIGHT TIRE WELL. ALSO, MY GLOVEBOX STARTED HANGING DOWN AND WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT THEY CHARGED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. WE DON'T USE THE GLOVE BOX, SO THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY MISUSE. AT 20,000 MILES THE WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE COVERED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART.*AK

I OWN A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 41000 MILES. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE MY DRIVER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I HEARD NO SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT END PRIOR TO THIS EVENT THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD ME TO SUSPECT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST DAILY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENED BEING TOLD MY FRONT TIRE WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. IT COST OVER $500 TO FIX THIS. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *AK

DURANGO BALL JOINT FAILURE TWICE. REPLACED BALL JOINT, STEERING RACK WITH TIE ROD END. *BF *TC

THE FRONT TIRE ON MY DODGE DURANGO IS MESSED UP. IT GETS STUCK SOMETIMES WHEN I'M TRYING TO TURN. THE SHOP THAT I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE BALL JOINT IN THE FRONT TIRE IS BAD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OF A LOT OF DURANGOS THAT WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT MY TIRES ARE BEING WORN DOWN BECAUSE OF THE TURN OF THE WHEEL. I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW SET OF TIRES ALSO. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR ALL THE THINGS I HAD TO HAVE DONE. I SAW A WEBSITE ABOUT IT SO I DECIDED TO REPORT MINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. PLEASE RECALL THESE VEHICLES SO THE WORLD WON'T LOSE ANY OF IT'S PRECIOUS LIFE. MY KIDS LIVES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART IN MY CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACTS ABOUT TAKING HUGE RISKS BY NOT GETTING ALL THESE DURANGOS FIXED.*AK

DODGE DURANGO 2003 BROUGHT OCTOBER 2003. ON OCTOBER 21, 2004 WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK (A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL), A WOMAN FELL ASLEEP AND HIT THE DURANGO FROM BEHIND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE ONCOMING LANE OF A TWO-LANE MINOR HIGHWAY (RTE 187) AND WENT INTO THE FRONT YARD OF A HOME AND HIT A TREE. SPEED LIMIT IS 35. THE FRONT PASSENGER NOSE OF THE DURANGO IMPACTED WITH THE TREE. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY (STATE FARM). THE ITEM WE WISH TO DRAW TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR INVOLVED THE SUSPENSION ROD, WHICH CAME OFF AND UP THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CARAND THROUGH THE ROOF. HAD ANYONE BEEN SITTING THERE THEY WOULD HAVE MOST CERTAINLY BEEN SKEWERED. THANKFULLY, I HAD JUST DROPPED MY CHILDREN OFF . MY 16 YEAR OLD NORMALLY SITS UP FRONT. ONE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY AS WELL. THE SHOULDER PART OF THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY UPPER BODY WAS ALLOWED TO BANG AROUND. I SPENT 4 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 5 WEEKS. I AM STILL ONLY ON LIGHT DUTY DUE TO THE CONDITION OF MY KNEE AND THE POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME I AM HAVING. THE WAY THE DURANGO CAME APART SEEMED UNUSUAL, ESPECIALLY THE ROD THROUGHT THE FLOOR AND SEAT. WE WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT.*AK

THE REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOTICED THAT OUR 2003 DODGE DURANGO WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. 10 MINUTES LATER, THE LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SEPARATED, THE UPPER BALL JOINT SNAPPED OFF, THE AXLE SEPARATED AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE MAKING A LOW SPEED RIGHT HAND TURN. THE DURANGO THEN CONTINUED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT AND INTO A PARKED CAR, TOTALING THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE DURANGO PUSHED THE PARKED CAR INTO A WALL. SO FAR, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE FAILURE, AND MY DODGE DEALER IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME ABOUT WARRANTING THE PART AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE. *NM

CONSUMER WAS INVOLED IN FRONTAL COLLISION WHEN AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

2003 DODGE DURANGO - VIBRATION OCCURRED WHEN BRAKING. AT APPROX. 11,000 MILES DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS. FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS BREAKING CAPABILITY DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. VIBRATION RE-APPEARED AT 24,000 MILES. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED AGAIN. NOW AT 30,000 MILES VIBRATION HAS RE-APPEARED. I TOOK THE DURANGO TO A LOCAL GARAGE SINCE DEALER WAS SAYING NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKING CAPACITY. LOCAL GARAGE INDICATES FRONT ROTORS NEED TURNED AGAIN AND ALSO THAT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING. *NM

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 DODGE DURANGO IN MARCH 2004 WITH 21,448 MILES FROM ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR. ON 9/24/04 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHEEHY DODGE IN UPPER MARLBORO, MD FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM. THE CODE WAS P0440, WHICH IS FOR A GENERAL EVAPORATION SYSTEM FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE PURGE SOLENOID. ON 9/30/04 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SHEEHY, AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SHEEHY'S ADVISOR CONTACTED ME LATER THAT DAY AND SAID THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES DISPLAYED, (THE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I ARRIVED AT SHEEHY THAT MORNING). I WAS TOLD IF THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON TO BRING IT STRAIGHT BACK, WHICH I DID AGAIN ON 10/6/04. THIS TIME THE SAME CODE CAME UP AS THE FIRST VISIT, P0440 AND THEY REPLACED THE L.D.P. LEAK DATEC PUMP. THEN AGAIN ON 11/8/04 THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN AND I TOOK IT BACK TO SHEEHY. THIS TIME THE CODE WAS ALSO FOR AN EVAPORATION LEAK AND THEY REPLACED THE GAS CAP. ON 11/23/04 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH SHEEHY ON FRIDAY, 11/26/04 TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN. DURING THIS PERIOD, I HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES, AS MY COMMUTE TO WORK IS ONLY 2 MILES. I AM AT MY WITS END RIGHT NOW, AS THIS WILL BE MY 5TH TIME IN TWO MONTHS THAT THIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OTHER 2003 DODGE DURANGO'S ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HOW MANY MORE TIMES I CAN BE EXPECTED TO HAVE TO RETURN TO DODGE SERVICE FACILITIES BEFORE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE PERMANENTLY CORRECTED.*AK