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Dodge Durango

1712 messages,  Last post on Apr 20, 2010 at 2:18 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Durango, SUV

Messages Page 46 of 172

#442 of 1712 HELP....Anyone having trouble with your steering? by bridgets

Feb 07, 2001 (1:00 pm)

Replying to: greg116 (Feb 06, 2001 3:52 am)
I have a 99 SLT 5.2 4x4. I would really appreciate any responses. My 1999 Forest Green "D" was hurt yesterday morning at 3:40 am on my way to work. I was going down a steep dry hill (one hill I travel everyday), the road was dry and when I went to turn right on the street close near the bottom of it...STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T BUDGE! And sickening to say, my Beautiful Durango ends up in a ditch hitting a very large boulder. Bye Bye to my nerf safari bar and hella black magic fog lights, not to mention the front end. This Durango is my baby...gots the graphics, sidebars etc. If it were a child, this child would be considered spoiled rotten. Since I was going down a hill, I guess I panicked alittle bit and stepped on the brakes to avoid the ditch. The brakes locked and took me straight into the ditch. Heck, we took pictures and everything....the skid marks are long and straight. I had my AAA tow her into the Dodge Dealer from the scene. When I called the dealer to let them know what happened, I got the feeling they are not going to take blame for this accident.
Unfortunately, my "D" has had many, many problems. Engine kept overheating and on the 4th visit to the dealer; had the head, cylinder and gasket replaced from an internal leak, also has spark plugs rewired, power window motor replaced, fog lamp replaced d/t moisture inside the lens, and annoying and continuing rattle in the upper right corner of the dashboard, she shifts hard, runs high rpms and has loose seats. But I was a die heart for my "D". Well, now i'm scared....big time of her! Don't know what happened to the steering as to why she wouldn't turn so I am asking the Durango owners today for help. And I hope to God this does not happen to someone else. One thing more to add is that I have been having trouble with the steering since last march. When I first start her up in the morning or after she sits for a few hours the steering is "hard" to turn...kinda have to force it (feels like manual steering instead of power steering) and it will turn but with alot of effort on my part. After a few miles she steers just fine. Noticed it getting worse lately and taking longer to "warm" up. Took her into the dealer back in March last yr and they were unable to "duplicate the problem". I have continued complaining about the steering and the "rattle" but they can't seem to find anything wrong. The steering does not do this in warm weather and also is unpredictable when it does descide to go stiff".
I have had more things go wrong with my durango its unbeliveable. I know the repair guys by their first name. I did attempt to "lemon" my Durnago, but lost is arbitration last august. My problem then was, she kept overheating. On the 4th visit to the dealer on that problem, she was fixed! Major engine repair....and i payed how much for this durango??? I service my durango every 3000 miles and i have the 75,000 mile extended warrenty...one postive note! My durango sure has been in the repair shop more than the average. Have to admit that the service department has been very kind and patient with me, but i think things are about to change now that i could have been killed with this last complaint.
Anyone out there have problems with their steering?????
I'll let you know what Dodge says.

#443 of 1712 Bridgets by nanuq

Feb 07, 2001 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: bridgets (Feb 07, 2001 1:00 pm)
I recommend you keep all documentation of ever having the thing in the shop for this trouble. On the work orders it should clearly state "high steering effort" etc.
 
A steering system consists of pumps, hoses, steering boxes, valves, you name it. Have you ever heard squealing from the belts trying to turn the pump? I doubt it... if so, then you might just have loose belts. If not, then the pump could have problems with insufficient "pumping" going on, or an internal valve in the steering box that doesn't control the steering fluid flow adequately. Your steering should NEVER have to "warm up" to work. Some systems get gradually less sensitive at hwy speeds so you don't sneeze and put yourself in a ditch... but at a constant speed the steering should always ALWAYS feel exactly the same. If this has been a documented problem then you have recourse to have the dealer fix it.
 
If it was up to me, the moment I found my steering was "hard" or "soft"... same with my brakes... then I'd be out of the truck and on the phone. If I was lucky enought to have it rolling into my garage as it happened, then I'd haul out the tools and find the problem (if I didn't have the wonderful 75k mile warranty!!!!)
 
Good luck. Don't be afraid of it... but MAKE them replace all those parts and fix your baby.
 
Regards, -Bob

#444 of 1712 by alwaysfords

Feb 07, 2001 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: nanuq (Feb 07, 2001 1:11 pm)
You can still go lemon on it - most states require either 4 visits for the same problem, or a considerable risk to safety. One of those two items seems to be available to you now. I would try again.

#445 of 1712 R/T Club Cab by durangort1

Feb 07, 2001 (7:30 pm)

Greg116, I guess I meant club cab. Now that you mentioned it, I have seen the extra cab version. I wonder if they will offer a 4WD version?

#447 of 1712 All Standard Mirrors......... by bowhuntwi2

Feb 12, 2001 (7:50 am)

On 98 - 01 are fixed mirrors, this is nothing new, if you want folding you need the tow package, I have an 2001 Slt Plus with the tow package and the folding mirrors, always thought the standard mirrors were too small anyhow, but that is just my opinion. If your paying $35,000 for a Durango, then you probably deserve to be stuck with the fixed mirrors. I paid $29,995 for an 01 that listed out at $36,000 after my $1000 rebate. From a guy thats still driving an 89 Lebaron
and complaining that it's unreliable to the point he's borrowing a 91 Saturn I can see why you think this way...........Have a good day.........hopefully your starving artist days are numbered, so you can buy a reliable car........does the saturn have folding mirrors?

#448 of 1712 Excuse me by orangelebaron

Feb 12, 2001 (7:48 pm)

Sorry. Excuse me. They should be standard, then.
BTW, no, my Saturn has fixed mirrors and someone
broke the right side off. Good luck with your new Dodge. What happened to your Ford?

#449 of 1712 Nothing happened to my Ford......... by bowhuntwi2

Feb 13, 2001 (9:36 am)

I still have it, I use it for hunting & fishing & work........my wife drives the Durango.......but if Dodge's 2002 full-size Crew is anything, I might take a look at that, who knows..............

#450 of 1712 99 D USING OIL by hudgens1

Feb 15, 2001 (3:22 pm)

Bought a used 99 D SLT+ 4X4, Recently has oil light come on when slowing to a stop and breaking. As soon as accelerating from stop light went off. At next corner same scenario. Only 300 meters from home, so I drove it home. Had my hubby Check the oil, 3 QTS Low. Oil had been changed within 2 weeks. One week of hubby driving vehicle checked again (no lights) 2 qts low. No, None, Nada, Zip oil to be found in driveway or on or around oil filter/pan. Next day noticed exhaust was very rich. Anyone else with this or similar problem? Possible someone could be messing with my vehicle? Or is there a way for this oil to be going out the exhaust? Currently stationed in Germany, dealing with German Speaking Techs any info would be helpful. Only 6,000 miles left on warranty.
Kim

#451 of 1712 Possible oil leak... by richster

Feb 15, 2001 (4:22 pm)

The 5.2/5.9 liter engines have a tendency to leak oil through the bottom of the intake manifold. Here is a TSB on the problem:
 
http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm
 
It is covered under warranty.

Messages Page 46 of 172

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