Complain about a product or service

Dodge Durango

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Dodge Durango • Engine Failure • Transmission Failure • Steering Problems • Brake Problems • Other Problems • All of the Above • What can you do? --- News • NHTSA Probes Durango Fires • NHTSA Investigating Dodge Dakota and Durango • Durango Recall to Fix Fuel Leak • Durango, Dakota Recall to Fix Suspension Problems • Feds Want Recall of Dodge Durango, Dakota • Durango Probe Drags On • Feds Probe Durango Steering Problems

Sure, they look tough. But underneath that brawny exterior, there are lots of delicate little parts. The most disastrous common problem is low oil pressure, leading to engine failure. Although this is happening like clockwork, DaimlerChrysler is refusing to accept responsibility.

Not only that, the Durango tends to go through ball joints like a dog through a pound of hamburger. This is not only expensive but can -- and does -- cause serious accidents, as many of our readers will tell you. The feds have finally put the arm on DaimlerChrysler to do a recall but there's some debate over whether the recall covers all of the affected models.

Latisha of Pocomoke City MD (11/16/07)
I have owned 2 2001 Dodge Durangos in the past two years. I purhcased the first one in FEB. 2006 and was in an accident with it in SEPT. 2006 after loosing control of the steering and the car going to the left, was struck by a box truck and totally damaged. Then, I thought maybe it was me and I love the Durango, so I bought another one in Oct. 2006 and I just was in another car accident with this one on Nov. 12th, 2007, again I lost steering problem, that caused me to go to the left again and a car struck me, flipped the vehicle over twice, luckily by the grace of GOD, I'm still alive. I'm also lucky that I have full coverage and all expenses will be paid. I didn't know that there was so many problems with the Durnago. If known I would not have bought one the first or the second time around.

Alvin of Elmwood Park, IL November 15, 2007

Alvin of Elmwood Park IL (11/15/07)
I bought my 1999 Dodge Durango at Montell Pontiac dealer in Blue Island, and have done nothing but replace parts on it since. I've replaced the ball joints, pitman arm, transfer case, suspension, shocks, muffler, brakes, window motors, window motor switches, belts, battery, pulley on engine, tires, all tune up items, oxygen sensors (both) hub seals, suspension bar is going bad, and the list goes on. I am extremely disappointed, as now my check guages lights keep going on, and the truck shuts off while I'm driving it! It doesn't matter where I am the engine just dies. This is the main transportation of my wife and daughter, and to have them be stopping in traffic is not safe. Luckily, so far, the truck has started again each time so we get home, but I am concerned that this will not happen much longer. 

Ameen of Jackson, WY November 15, 2007

Ameen of Jackson WY (11/15/07)
I have owned dodge trucks for the last 15 years, and have been a mechanic for 20 years. I had a 95 ram 1500 for many years without probs. It was brought to my attention by at least 4 or 5 people about brake problems with 98 and newer trucks (dodge). But never had a problem until I bought a 2001 dodge ram sport. It seems like the calipers are sticking or the proportioning valve is bad. The truck will pull left or right sometimes while braking. the same problem I've heard over the years from others. When I talk to dodge they claim they have no complaints or record of this being a recurring problem (go figure) how do I find the truth?

Jessica of Wiggins, CO November 7, 2007

Jessica of Wiggins CO (11/07/07)
We purchased a used 2001 Dodge Durango on July 6, 2007. We had no problems until late Sept, 2007, when the heater core started leaking antifreeze. We didn't have the money to replace it at the time, so we watched and kept antifreeze in the radiator.

On Oct. 5, my husband was driving the car when it started smoking. He's not a mechanic, but thought it was probably the heater core and the head gasket, assuming that the heater core had clogged up. He contacted the dealership and returned the car to them about a week and half later. They finally returned his calls and said that the cylinders were scored and it needed an entire new engine, at a cost of 7,900.

He found a reconditioned motor for 850, so told the dealership we would take it back. The mechanic said he would box up all of the parts he had removed, since there was no need for him to replace them and then my husband remove them all again. When my husband picked up the car, only the heads on the passenger side had been removed and boxed up.

He tried to find out exactly what they had looked at, but the mechanic he had been dealing with left and now won't return his calls. We're not even sure they examined the cylinders on the driver's side, and so far have not been able to find any markings in the cylinders on the other side. Now we are trying to find someone that we can trust to look at it to see if the cylinders are really scored or if it is just going to be a few smaller parts, but either way it's going to cost at least 400, if not into the thousands to repair.

Lynne of Warner Robins, GA November 6, 2007

Lynne of Warner Robins GA (11/06/07)
1998 Dodge Ram with transmission problems from day one. We bought this vehicle used with close to 40,000 miles on it. Transmission started clunking even then. Within the first year we had to have the dealer do repairs to it. Several yrs. later we took it for transmission maintenance again to the dealer. Within the last month and total of 92,000 miles the transmission had to be totally replaced by a transmission shop....no dealer.

Dealer quoted 3,000 and when we went in it had gone to 4,000. Huh? The transmission completely froze up and everything melted as there was no fluid getting into it for some reason. I feel this transmission was inferior from day one because of our experience with the sounds coming out of it and it would never pull. Chrysler assumes no responsibility here because we didn't have it into the dealer every year for maintenance.

Can't afford that with today's costs. Told me the truck was not maintained. Just because it didn't go to their shop does not mean it wasn't maintained. We take care of our vehicles and they have regular maintenance by us. The new transmission is silent. Truck gets better mileage and I am willing to bet that if we went to tow something it would tow it nicely.

Chrysler is responsible for equipping this truck with a piece of junk and not standing behind it. Yes, it is out of warranty but it was out of warranty the first time too. Lousy warranty at 36,000 miles or 3 yrs. Is that a warranty. They need to stand behind their products and own up to the fact that they had a transmission problem with this year vehicle.

Michael of Richmond Hill, GA November 1, 2007

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |