1999 Dodge Durango SLT V8 from North America - Comments

I now know I am not the only one has suffered the perils of owning a Durango. I have owned this truck for three months and have the privilege of actually driving it for approx. three weeks. It's horrible!

At 63,000 miles my engine grenaded shooting rods through the oil pan, likely due to oil pressure problems several of us owners have had. I replaced the engine which I had paid out-of-pocket, unfortunately I have no warranty, and now the transmission is on the fritz. I must add that the transmission problem happened no less than twelve hours after picking up the vehicle from the engine replacement shop. It's a nightmare! So it sits in my driveway, not able to move, just looking good and wasting time.

I read in someone's review that they had replaced their transmission THREE times. Well, I can't say I'm going to put up with that. A patch and seal job should do the trick, giving me just enough time to drive it to the dealer and trade it in. Even after a $4,300 engine swap and other miscellaneous investments, I'm ready to cut my losses and get a new car. I would rather have a vehicle I could rely on rather that wait it out for the next major problem.

--> Note to self, no more Dodges.

A beautiful truck with skeletons in the closet. Don't trust it.

Durango's do have a very nice infinity stereo package though, a great sound, the guys in the shop will love it.

I have a 2000 Durango 5.2L (purchased 11/99) with 53,000.00 miles and the engine froze without warning. I have paperwork and receipts from all of my oil changes which were done (every 3000 to 6000 miles) at a Sunoco Station where I have gone for 12 years without problems. I have a 75,000 mile maximum warranty coverage.

I had to agree to pay $ 350.00 prior to the vehicle being checked in case the Dodge Dealership determined it was not covered under warranty.

The dodge dealership where I purchased this $ 34,000.00 dollar vehicle is refusing warranty coverage due to finding sludge in the oil pan. They claim the oil was never changed and have called me a liar and Sunoco a liar. I was treated very rude by the Dodge Dealer. They quoted me a price of $ 5,913.90 for a new engine which I declined and I told me I would have it towed from the dealership because I wanted to pursue trying to get it covered under warranty. They told me I needed to pay $ 250.00 to have the vehicle put back together so it could be towed. I refused to pay this, they did put the wheels back on the vehicle, but when we got to the dealership to meet the tow truck the service department would not pick up any of the unattached parts not put back on the vehicle and we were told to pick up the oil pan with oil in it and other parts and load them in the vehicle ourselves. The tow truck driver helped us. They wouldn't give us a box and after much effort they finally agreed to give us a plastic bag to put the items on. I contacted Chrysler and they referred me back to the Dealer who in turn referred me back to Chrsyler who in turn told me that they stand by the denial of the warranty coverage.

I was told that I should get a copy of the oil analysis that I was told should have been completed, but when I contacted the Dodge Dealership to request the oil analysis I was told one was never done.

Do you have any suggestions?

Yeah its called a lawyer. Go after the dealership. They will fold. Call Local News. Dealerships can't have negative feedback on Local TV who would by from them? I wouldn't!

I am appalled by the way you say you were treated by the Dodge Dealership.

Did you stop to think about the service intervals prior to your ownership? You obviously have maintained the vehicle according to the Owners Manual, but what about the previous owner.

When purchasing a used vehicle you should always have it inspected by a mechanic that you trust. If the oil has not been changed regularly it is USUALLY evident by looking down into the oil fill hole.

Oil changes are the least expensive maintenance item you can perform on any vehicle and also the most important.