2002 Dodge DURANGO: complaints, problems and recalls

THIS NOTE IS TO ACCOMPANY THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEFECT NOTIFICATION FOR MY 2002 DURANGO, VIN [VIN removed]. THIS IS THE SECOND DEFECTIVE DURANGO I HAVE PURCHASED IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS AND IT PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST DURANGO WAS ONLY GOOD FOR FOUR DAYS AND LESS THAN 400 MILES. WE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH IT TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING, ENGINE VIBRATIONS, AND POOR HANDLING PROBLEMS. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT MULTIPLE COMPUTERS WERE BAD AND IT WOULD TAKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AS …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000314 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A COMPLAINT IN GENERAL ABOUT THE BLINDING HEADLIGHTS BEING PUT ON VEHICLES NOW DAYS. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO REGULATE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS PLACED IN CARS. ALSO, DRIVERS WHO DRIVE WITH THEIR DRIVING LIGHTS ON WHEN NOT NEEDED REALLY CAUSE PROBLEMS. CAN'T IT BE REGULATED THAT DRIVING LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHEN APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HEADLIGHTS NOWDAYS ARE JUST TOO BRIGHT. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO BEING BLINDED BY THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000987 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003931 at NHTSA ↗

MY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND I HAD STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR TO GET THE MAIL. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED DRIVING FORWARD AND ACCELERATING ALL BY ITSELF. IT ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE SIDE OF MY HOME.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005816 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY ON THE PARKWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVE. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007249 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE DURANGO SLT IN MAY OF 2002. WHEN I PURCHASED IT I ASKED IF IT HAS A RECYCLE AIR OPTION AND WAS TOLD IT DID, AND WAS SHOWED WHAT IT WAS. IT WORKED FINE IN HOT OR WARM WEATHER, BUT DOES NOT WORK WHEN IT IS VERY COLD. THAT FEATURE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND FEEL THAT THEY ARE MISLEADING CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY SAY IT HAS RECYCLE AIR, BUT DON'T THEN TELL YOU THAT IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I'M STUCK BUYING THIS CAR FOR 6 MORE YEARS. I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007629 at NHTSA ↗

THE SEAT BELT FOR THE MIDDLE ROW SEATS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT PULL OUT. THE MECHANIC KEPT WORKING WITH IT UNTIL HE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OUT. HE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT TWISTED AND ORDERED A NEW ASSEMBLY. IT IS ON BACK ORDER. IN THE MEANWHILE, THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE MECHANIC COULD NOT PULL IT OUT. I HAD TO FOLD UP THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS AND CARRY MY CARGO IN THE MIDDLE UNTIL THE SEAT BELT IS REPLACED. *TS *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***763142

Owner-reported narrative. 121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009387 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN BRAKING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011968 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.

Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2004-12-21 (December 21, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Consequence: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2006-09-07 (September 7, 2006)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BENCH SEATS ONLY, IF FLUID IS SPILLED FROM THE FLOOR MOUNTED CUP HOLDER, AN UNUSED CONSOLE POWER OUTLET CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED.

Consequence: THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONSOLE WIRING CONNECTOR FOR CORROSION, CLEAN AS REQUIRED, AND INSTALL A CAP TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL FLUID FROM CONTAMINATING THE CONNECTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2007-12-04 (December 4, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.