1998 Dodge Durango SLT from North America - Comments

At 24,000 miles after hearing a loud grinding noise in the front end, I was told the tie rods and ball joints needed to be replaced. The dealer did so and when I was walking out of the service department told me that I needed new tires as there was uneven wear on the current tires - but of course the dealership claimed the tie rods and bearing played no role in premature tire wear.

Grinding noise remains and dealership claims nothing is wrong with the car - insinuated it was in my wife and I's heads.

At 27,300 miles the air conditioner quit. Dealer charged the system - was better but not as good as before. Dealer finally replaced the evaporator but forgot to tell us it would take three days to do so. Evaporator was replaced but the mechanic left a large stain on the carpet on the passenger front that the service department claims no knowledge of. Air still does not cool as good as before.

After the air conditioner repair, a strong smell of anti-freeze was in the passenger compartment. Service department claims there is no leak so once again they insinuated it was in our heads. Finally agreed to replace the heater core, but was sure there was no problem with it even after finding an anti-freeze stain on the floor mat and in the carpet under the floor mat.

All electric windows failed to work after picking up the vehicle from its last service, service department said they must have bumped a wire?! Repaired electric windows then the right rear electric window failed a week later. Repaired and working at this time.

Map holder pocket that has nothing in it behind the front passenger seat has large tear down the seam - dealer indicated that my wife or I must have torn it. Sure.

The worst service department who will never answer a phone, call you back, or even speak to you about what repairs were effected when you pick the car up. Tried several times to leave no written documentation of the problem - probably trying to avoid a paper trail.

This was my first purchase of a Dodge/Chrysler product. Never, ever again and no one in my family or circle of friends will be buying one either.

Too bad because the price is right - of course it is holding true - you get what you pay for I guess.

I too have just had to replace my heater core on my 1998 Dodge Durango. I had suddenly lost most of my heat, which is a real problem, as I live in Wisconsin. The dealer tried everything, and finally told me that my heater core had corroded and clogged. I could not believe that this could happen on a three year old vehicle. I have had vehicles thirty years old with heater cores that worked just fine.

I still barely get any heat at idle, only when I am accelerating. The heat cools off immediately when I let off the gas. The dealer says this is the way Durangos and Dakotas are supposed to be...

My e-mail address is mail@theosullivans.net