1999 Dodge Durango SLT from North America - Comments

When I went to work for this company they promised me a company vehicle. After a couple of weeks I found out that it was in the shop getting an engine replaced (5.2L V-8). The vehicle had 66,000 miles and since it was out of warranty they had to spend approximately $3500 on a new motor. The company was upset about the situation. And I was told to change the oil every 3,000 miles. No problems till 104,000 when the oil pressure started to fluctuate. In a panic I rushed to get a quart of DURALUBE in hopes of protecting the engine in case it happened again. I changed the oil (only 1500 miles after last oil change) added the DURABLE LUBE and things were fine for another 1,000 miles. This time it lost pressure again. I'd pull over and stop... restart the motor and things would be fine for awhile. Then lost pressure again. Made it to a gas station...new oil pump $800. Mechanic showed me the screen on the oil pick up tube. First he said it was way too small for a V-8 (His opinion of course!) Then I noticed the screen was caked with black chunky deposits. I had to use a screw driver to scrape them off the screen. They were chunks of hardened oil. Mechanic said the only available replacement was the same oil pump from Dodge. Worried about the boss getting upset again I started using synthetic blend motor oils. Things were fine until I lost pressure at 130,000 miles. This time a mad dash to the auto parts store and SLICK 50 to the rescue. Things were fine for about 2,0000 miles when it started acting up again. (I had also used Z-MAX OIL TREATMENT ON PREVIOUS OIL CHANGES) Now it's time for another oil pump. No matter how much you "baby" this piece of junk it's going to cost you a fortune. Lucky for me the boss has to foot the bills. Oh, by the way the transmission went out at 121,000 miles! SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY either changing oil or waiting for another repair.

I certainly do not see a problem with a trans going out at 121,000 miles. What do you expect it to do last forever? If the trans was not properly maintained it is amazing it went as far as it did.

I have to disagree with the comment above, I would expect better then 121,000 miles from a transmission, but then I also stopped buying American.

My 91 dodge dynasty required a new transmission at 100,000, 198,000 and 201,000, the last being a warranty replacement. This car was serviced regularly with frequent fluid changes. By contrast my 81 Volvo 240 still had the same transmission (standard) at 295,000 and had never been rebuilt or had fluid changed, the car was disposed of when the body rusted apart around it. the 91 Yolvo 240 has got 199,000 miles with regular fluid changes of every 50,000 miles on an automatic and hasn't started to slip, rumble, or complain. So why assume 121,000 is a good amount of miles on a $30,000+ vehicle? The only other vehicle I've had that had the transmission fail at less than 150,000 miles was a Yugo at 112,000 and even that required a friend to shift from 3rd to reverse on the highway. Maybe the blame should get transfered to the manufacturer more and less to the owner.

I experienced the same oil pressure problems and had replaced the oil pumps 3 times. After the third oil pumb the problem reappeared within 10,000 miles. I then went back and checked the old pump that had been removed. The old pump could pump oil through a rag over the intake! The problem is not the pumps it is the engine. This engine develops sludge, even with regular oil changes, and even with synthetic oil. I have noticed Dodge is now advertising a different "Hemi" engine for the newer Durango. Us poor suckers who purchased the defective engines are out of luck and a big chunk of change. Never trust Dodge again, they won't stand behind their products. Even worse, they try to say the problem is improper maintenance on the owners part. I am sure that some owners may not take care of their vehicles, but I was very careful to follow all the required oil changes and check up required in the manual. The vehicle cost me over $33,000 in cash, and I wanted it to last a long time.

I read everywhere about people having their Durango oil pumps replaced. These pumps are gear pumps pumping oil. If you don't pump too much grit, metal, etc. through them, they will last for many years.

If you just partially plug the suction strainer, the pump will lose suction and engine oil pressure will become erratic. If the oil cannot get to the pump, it cannot pump it!