FYI,
Saw this on USATODAY.com, here is a snip:

Entire Story Here

 

Yep my moms wheel came off leaving the driveway. Destroyed the fender and door.

 

My sister has a 2002 Durango.

Watching the progress of that closely.


phox

 

Everyone affected should band together and file a class action suit against DC.

"but the auto maker doesn't believe the defect is dangerous, a company spokesman said."

Yeah, right!

Maybe they'd change their mind if they got hit with a several million $$ lawsuit!

 

Part that still honks me off is stated right there in the title - DC is fighting it. I read the article that Fox has on this and I was really amused, to say the least.

Matt

 

It's definitly in DC's best intrest to fight this. You can't blame them.

I mean, it's just wheels that are falling off. Not that dangerous or anything.

 

According to CNN, DC is now going to recall the affected vehicles (also, Ford has a recall on some units).

DC TO RECALL 600,000 VEHICLES

~Rob

 

Did anyone else misread "Ford owns one-third of Mazda Motor Corp." as "Ford owns Cummins"? Just checking!

brandon.

 

On the 02 or 01 up chevy's and GMC, there's a TSB about the steering wheel locking up during a turn. They don't feel it's necessary to issue a recall about that.

 

We just got a recall letter today saying that DC would replace our upper ball joints on our 2000 4WD Durango. My wife called 2 dodge dealerships and asked if they were going to do an allignment after they changed the ball joints? The first place said that they just check the Toe because it wouldn't need an alignment. The first place doesn't even have an alignment rack. The 2nd place said that could check the toe, but theres no need because their mech " HAD A WAY TO LOCK THE NEW ONES BACK IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE OLD ONES! " My wife even told the first place that she worked in an Auto center and that her alignment mechs said that it needed an alignment after a ball joint change.

I've changed alot of ball joints in my life and I can't see how anyone could say that it would stay in alignment. I can't see how any type of front end work could be done and stay in alignment except stuff like shocks,brakes and little things like that.

If I'm wrong please tell me, or if you have more info on this Recall please let me know.

Thanks
CRIS

 

I've replaced ball joints before. I don't see how it would change front end alignment unless you're replacing tie rod ends or control arms. The balljoint should go in the exact spot the old one came out of. As before and now with our Durango, I listen for any unusual noises and fix things when they need it. Not after it breaks and does damage. Ball joints don't just break and the wheel alluva sudden falls off. A dry ball joint will croak and groan for a long time before it fails. I'm siding with DC on this one.

 

A guy would think DC would have learned something from Ford and the Explorer/Firestone public relations disaster. Stuff like this ain't going to make you look good.

 

The fanatical tree hugging Honda hybrid driving liberals would like nothing less than to badmouth our trucks and suv's out of existance. I'm not going to participate in their sensationalized fanaticism.
It's a ball joint. When it's bad, replace it. Explorers are narrow and top heavy. Not a sports car. Put air in the tires and be aware of what you're driving.

 

I own a 99 durango 4x4 as hannibal said ball joints go bad preventive maintance is the key. replaced my upperball joints at 90k. no fault of DC just worn out. also no alinement nessasary.

jed