1999 Dodge Durango SLT 360

Faults:

At 25,000 miles. coolant leak, dealer charged warranty for water pump, timing cover gasket, thermostat housing gasket, this was of no cost to me. Dealer actually replaced o, ring at water pump. All the above work was done in less than (4) four hours. At the same time of the coolant leak I reported a transmission noise. Dealer claimed noise is normal.

General Comments:

At 35,500 miles. noise in front end, dealer charged warranty for lower control arm package, (2) two ball joints, this was of no cost to me. Dealer actually replaced (2) two lower ball joints. Dealer also did front wheel brake job, $300. cost to me. At the same time of this repair I again reported transmission noise. Dealer claimed noise is nommal, road tested car, NO PROBLEM FOUND.. Now at 50,000 miles. car dosn`t move noise in transmission has gone away!!!. Dealer offered to posibly replace transmission goodwill IF I can show that I serviced transmission (3) three times. I do not tow, race, plow, ect. Dealer dosn`t know whats wrong with transmission!. trans shop in town does?? how could this be?. Area reps don`t return calls. Service writers don`t follow customers orders,car went into the shop DEC.2 on, DEC.6 the car was still on the lift at which time I told the service writer to put the trans pan back on, oil in it, and put the car out side. DEC.7 the car was still on the lift!!.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 9th December, 2002

27th May 2003, 10:30

Steve, I have a 99 Durango and I have a giant list of problems that were fixed by my dealer after I bought the truck last October (used). Now my water pump needs replacing any my rotors on my brakes need replaced. I had a lot of transmission problems and it is due to the engine is too big for transmission. It can stand the power it has. Now I think the new Durango's are built to withstand the power, but the 98, 99 and 00 all had these problems. Don't feel bad I'm in the same boat with all the mechanical problems of a durango. I ready to sell!

1999 Dodge Durango SLT 5.2L

Summary:

Poor excuse for an automobile!

Faults:

Here is my list of Durango's visits to the doctor!

The motor for the rear passenger window failed at 8,000 miles.

The rear door would not open from the inside at 10,000 miles.

Power steering pump failed at 35,000 miles.

At 42,000 miles, the output speed sensor on the transmission failed.

And last, but not least, at 57,000 miles, the engine seized!

Seems like the engine seizing was similar too many others that I see posted here.

Like others, check engine light went on, and a second later, the oil pressure went to zero, and the engine blew.

General Comments:

Although I love the looks of the car, like many others, I cannot keep the car out of the shop.

However, I have been lucky because I purchased the extended warranty, and everything have been covered by the warranty.

And to my surprise, the dealer has been nothing but nice and courteous to me!

That is a surprise, since everyone is complaining about the dodge mechanics!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th December, 2002

17th Dec 2002, 16:49

When the engine seized up, was it due to sludge formation? If so, what was the oil level at the time? Seems some Durango's burn oil through the intake manifold (no smoke), dropping the level to very low. I suspect that the oil level getting so low causes the remaining oil to overheat, build sludge, block the oil pump, and fry the engine... just a theory. Would be interested to know whether your engine failure might have fit this scenario. Mike (thyssen@intertek.net)

1999 Dodge Durango SLT

Faults:

I have replaced each of the shocks several times since I have had the car, I have replaced the front tie-rod, and the car still squeaks loudly on even the smallest bump in the road. In addition, I feel like a Mexican jumping bean when I am on any road that has even the slightest bumps. The ride is atrocious.

My biggest complaint, though, is the transmission. I replaced it for the first time when the car was 2 years old and had just over 40,000 miles--too many miles to be covered by warranty of course. At the time, I tried to get warranty service since I didn't believe that a transmission should suffer complete failure with such low mileage, but I was denied such coverage. I had the transmission repaired by an independent transmission specialist who spent several months trying to get some help from Dodge as well as other transmission specialists across the country in assessing the problem. Dodge would not even discuss the problem with him. He was finally able to repair the transmission, but he was certain that the source of the problem was an inherent defect in the onboard computer system which was new in the 2000 Durango. Dodge would not acknowledge any such problem, however. His suspicions have now been confirmed, though, because, less than a year later, I am now faced with a second transmission failure.

I am so disappointed with this car that I wish I could leave it somewhere with the keys in the ignition and have it stolen. I do not feel safe driving it, and I will never drive a Dodge again because the dealer support has been outrageous. We have written Daimler-Chrysler on numerous occasions, and they have been no help. I don't think they care whether they have dissatisfied customers or not because most of their dealers can't keep the cars on the lot, so why bother to worry about the dissatisfied ones, or about fixing the inherent defects--the cars continue to sell out regardless.

General Comments:

Don't waste your money on a Durango. The car is not well made and it handles very poorly under even the best conditions.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd December, 2002

3rd Dec 2002, 18:39

I wrote this review and it is mistakenly filed under 1999 Dodge Durango. I purchased the car in 1999, but it was a 2000 model year Durango. This model year featured a new engine which was controlled by computer. According to both my mechanic and the independent transmission specialist who repaired my transmission when it first failed, the problem with the car is not necessarily in the transmission--it is in the computer. And furthermore, Dodge is aware of the problem. Whatever the problem is, it leads to transmission failure--witness my second transmission failure in 3 years (and this one only 9 months after the first was rebuilt).

17th Dec 2002, 16:54

Did you try to reprogram the computer? My tranny acted funny after I had the battery disconnected for a while (computer did not "learn" the point where the torque converter was supposed to lock up... and acted like it was slipping) A $60 reprogramming at the dealer made it shift like new!