2000 Dodge Durango review from North America

A few months ago the Durango started making a light knocking noise, initially while accelerating and then pretty steadily. The Durango also appeared to be locked into 4-wheel drive (although it had not been placed in four-wheel drive).

The dealer service department said it was a transmission problem, replaced the transmission oil which they stated was "dirty" and also agreed the truck was "locked" in four-wheel drive (although not indicated by the gear shifter or dash lights). They, in turn, released the truck from four-wheel drive; fixed associated problems at a cost of $900.00. This was not covered by warranty.

For the past few months the truck continued to make knocking noises. This morning, while driving, the drive shaft fell off the differential to the ground. I, obviously, had to have the car towed to the dealership. Thank God I was only going 10 miles an hour when it happened. The report is, the U-joints went bad, causing damage to the drive shaft, which as it fell off, damaged the transmission seal. This, unfortunately, is not covered under warranty and costs about $700.

If U-joints can randomly go bad to the extent that the drive shaft falls off the car while in motion; shouldn't some sort of safety check be performed at 50K miles?