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Dodge Durango
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Also, just had my 99 Durango, 5.9, 4X4 in the shop for 9 days with overheating problems. Gage would go to full hot for a few seconds, then drop very quickly back to normal. Dealer cited a TSB on the cooling fan, but didn't sound like a cooling problem to me, sounded electrical. Anyhow, finally ended up replacing the PCM. Fixed now, best we can tell. By the way, when I got the car back, it was filthy (9 days in the back lot!), and had coolant sprayed all around the engine compartment. I complained to the service guy, got no response, so complained to the manager over the phone. After 7 weeks, got a call from the general manager apologizing, and offering to give me a car wash. No wonder Dodge rates at the bottom of the dealer ratings!
Finally, has anyone put a RT muffler on a standard Durango? My buddy gave me his muffler, he put on a Flowmaster (very loud!). Thoughts?
I have also looked for a good Dodge web site to ask questions and technical advice, opinions, etc. The best site I have found is www.moparchat.com This site is clearly the best in quality, with over 60,000 posts! Good luck either way Trevor!
First of all, let me say, I think Dodge has done a good job refining the interior of the vehicle. The construction worker grade of the control panel has been softened with features such as dual climate control as well as a redesigned rear ac unit. As far as we were concerned, this was going to be our new vehicle.
The Sunday before we were to start looking, I was driving from San Antonio to Austin (about 90 miles door to door). A few miles into the return leg of our trip, the brake light came on, followed quickly by the ABS light, and the speedometer and odometer stopped working. The following day while driving the truck to a nearby dealer, the Check Engine light came on. After spending a week in the shop (and paying for a week of car rental), I got the D back. Wife picked it up, so I'm still not sure what the exact problem was. Anyway...
TWO DAYS later I am again returning from San Antonio to Austin. This time we hit stop and go traffic on the highway. Everytime I came to a stop, I heard a loud grinding noise upon takeoff. Flooring the engine barely made the Durango creep. However, putting the vehicle into 1st gear felt and sounded fine. I drove back home shifting like a manual, using the "D" gear selection as third gear. This morning, my wife said that she didn't hear the same grinding noise, but now the check engine light is on again. Back to the shop and another week of renting!
BTW, when I originally put the car in the shop, I spoke to the dealer about trading it in and buying a 2001. He actually had the nerve to tell me that because of the warning lights on the dash, they were a little concerned about the vehicle and were not going to give me the full resale value (despite the fact that there is still approximately 15,000 miles to go on the warranty. If the Dodge dealer is not willing to stand behind his own vehicle, why should I? I am getting it fixed and selling it off this week. The Durango obviously does not hold its resale value and I do not want to be stuck in this same position again 3 years down the road. I will probably be getting a Chevy Tahoe to replace it.
Did I love my Durango? Sure I did.
Did it serve me faithfully? Yup.
Will I recommend it to a friend. No way!!
Kerry
This very popular forum currently has over 120+ members -- internationally -- and we're growing. Members post daily to discuss (and sometimes argue) Durangos and other vehicle issues. We also have an incredible photo album for you to post photos of your D once you join the forum.
Kerry
Is this a good price? Do you think I can find a better deal?
Thanks.
One thing that concerns me is that the transmission can be engaged (with vehicle running) without putting your foot on the brake pedal. The service manager stated that it has been addressed to Dodge before and they thought the problem would be corrected on the 01 Durango.
He states it's a safety switch that has to be put on the transmission when it's built. He noted that on the 01 they did change the gear selector which now makes you roll the arm toward you to engage it and away from you to disengage it.
How can a company as large as Dodge overlook a safety issue such as this? Are all Dodge vehicles like this? This should be a concern with anyone who has young children or may be towing something... which is what I bought this vehicle for. I guess I'll just have to live with it and be more cautious.
Try www.carprices.com for an invoice price with your options. This is the time buy a 00 if you want to get a good deal because the 01's have been out for a few months now..
* Everytime I drove my car, its seems like on my third stops (doing my errands)or when its a little hot..the engine won't start...I am sick and tired of this..the service department can't figure the problem on my car, 2 weeks ago, they install co-pilot on my durango. They said, to figure the problem..but it doesn't look like they did..drove it for 200 miles the engine lights went on and it won't start again. I feel like talking to attorney regarding lemon car, may be they sold me a lemon car. any suggestions?..attorney maybe?..or any body there have a similar problem?
I would be interested in seeing your postings on this. Thank you.
Dodge Dakota Owners - General Topic (Topic #24)
Dave Eaton
deaton@bandag.com
also... does anyone know the tax benefits of leasing vs. buying for a small business owner? business use is 75%. Is there a significant difference in deductibles?
At least you could help isolate what the problem is in your own mind. I encounterd a simular problem where the MIL kept coming on too.I had an EES failure which was traced to a hose that had poped off the nipple.
DTC = DiagnosticTroubleCode
MIL = MalfunctionIndicatioLamp
The first day it rained, I knew we made a mistake. The car is big and heavy and the brakes do not work in the rain. The car fishtails all over the road. It slips and slides around corners.
Yesterday, a cold rainy day in the Northeast, I slammed into a car in front of me because my brakes froze up and I couldn't control the car. The ABS did not engage. We are all fine. The car protected us well, none the less, it was a terrifying experience and the car will be traded in as soon as the fog light on the front driver's side bumper gets repaired. Any one want to buy it?
Are there any statistics on brake failure in this vehicle?
I HATE this car.
Shari Weinberger
I am glad to hear that no one was hurt beyond some frazzled nerves. You have discovered that a TRUCK is safer than a car. You have also found that the weight of a TRUCK has to be respected while driving or one will slip and slide all over the road due to momentum. Here in Vermont, I see people driving big "SUV's" under poor road conditions as if they are IMMUNE to sliding off of the road. Sadly, many people get hurt thinking like this.
Make no mistake, the durango is a TRUCK. It has a real frame and many people I know appreciate the SAFETY that a truck provides them. As you said yourself, you "SLAMMED" into another "car" and the damage is very minimal.
Brakes cannot help you stop under slippery conditions. ABS will only provide CONTROL while REDUCING the stopping power. Driving too fast for conditions is the main cause of accidents. It is easy to blame the vehicle but I wonder how many years you have been driving a 4 wheel drive or a rear wheel drive vehicle. (4WD and RWD both require unique driving skills.)
I have an arbitration meeting on 12/04/00 regarding my Durango
Among the many problems I had with this truck, one of the problems was with the brakes.
I took it back three times because the brakes just didn't seem to be working well.
Each time I was told there was nothing wrong.
On snow covered roads my front wheels locked up and I could not steer nor stop, no matter what speed I was driving.
While towing a trailer, I notice that the braking power was greatly reduced for my truck.
A couple of months ago I was towing a camper on a fresh wet road. I was slowly approaching an entrance ramp when my front wheels locked up and I proceeded to creep past the entrance. I figured the reason my front wheels locked up was because of the wet road and the tongue weight of the trailer making the front end light. But why didn't my rear brakes work?
I had my rear brakes inspected and found out that they have never worked! My Durango has never had working rear brakes only the front - and I believe you may have the same problem.
Please keep me informed of what you find and I will do the same for you. I'm hoping that if we both have the same problem with our Durango's we can share our information to help protect ourselves regarding Chrysler and their defective Durango’s.
Thanks
it back twice. The first time the dealer adjusted the front doors, the second time the weather seals
were replaced. Does any body else have windnoise?
Now the good part! One of the Mechanics helpers disconnected the hose that goes to the smog reactor unit, I don't know why, and left it that way. The Dealership ordered a part that they thought would fix it, so I drove away expecting no change until the part was installed.
You guessed it. The problem never recurred, until about 2 years later, I thought I'd reinstall the hose, as I'm sure I couldn't pass a smog test. Alas, the next day the old problem came back. I fixed it myself.
Anyone else heard of this...and is Dodge fixing this under waranty for current owners??
Otherwise love the vehicle...mechanic broke my heart....
I wonder if the wind noise is from any with the larger towing package mirrors, I have heard that other vehicles with the larger mirrors have been known to have a higher level of wind noise (standard mirrors ,here !
If anyone knows where I can get spews for the 2001, especially for the transfer case and the differentials, and upgrades for better mpg, please let me know.
excessive. If you haven't already, go to http://www.durangoclub.com/ and ask
your question on the DOC forum. Someone there might be able to answer.
Ergonomically I have yet to find fault, the engine is pure and strong and gets 18mpg on the highway and 15 in the city. Problems have been few and far between. There hasnt been anything I havent been able to fit into the back with the seats down.
The heater is great, pumps heat within two minutes and brings the interior to boiling within ten, and the sound superb, even though I have the base 4-speaker system.
My only complaints? I wish I had front ABS and a limited-slip differential. I ordered one with those options and the 5.2 liter, but was told I could get this one that was priced higher for the same price. Good choice. I'll eventually add the limited-slip myself, and the ABS im living just fine and dandy without.
Might trade it in one day for one of the new 4.7s, but only if it blows up for good. It's my faithful steed, and I will keep it for as long as I can.
Tell me about your Durangos! And please, don't go bashing other makes and models when you havent even sat in them yet.
Prior to purchasing it, I tried a Ford Explorer (rough ride) and a Jeep Grand Cherokee (the driver's seat is uncomfortable and I felt like I was sitting high up on a pedestle).
The Durango has wide, comfortable seats. It also had lots more leg room than even the Lincoln Navigator did, especially in front of the 3rd seat.
One thing I really like about it (and maybe this is because it is a 4X2 instead of a 4X4) is that it sits up a little higher than a car, but not too high. When I hit an uneven place in the road, I don't get the wobbly back-and-forth motion I have gotten in other trucks and SUVs.
I couldn't be happier with a car.
husband is a mechanic. when we had to replace our 95 grand Cherokee limited because of too many repair $, last was a new transmission because of design flaw, I wanted a wahoo. he has always been a am guy. however since the fleet of wahoos
that he constantly repairs for minor and major problems, he would only take me to look, he wouldn't even get out of the car! we had previously owned an 80 gmc jimmy, full size. a rag!
we finally agreed on the Durango, 2000. wanted the extra seat that stayed in the vehicle but folded flat. good choice. love the room in the front. husband 6'4", big guy, me 5'4". suits both sizes perfectly.
back seat is no where near as roomy. seats tend to be to upright.
enough blabbling ----all in all love my durango...
hope to get the same service as with our 85 dodge pickup. won't get rid of it ever! not pretty but that's "da goat".
BSKNROBNS
Thanks
Chris Carlino
Go here if you would prefer to discuss things in more detail with fellow D enthusiasts at the Durango Club Forum.
http://216.117.167.84/ceilidh/ceilidh.html
Durango. They have been both 4x4. I live in
Michigan, and live in a rural area alot of snow
and I have yet to get stuck. I actually owned one
of the first Durango's in my area. I am very
proud to own one of these suv's. I have however
been subject to the noise of the wind over my
windshield too, that was on my 1998. My 2000
sounds much better. Only one thing that bothers
me. It needs better insulation, gets cold too
soon when you turn down the heat. But I LOVE IT.