dodge durango anyone?

[RG5384]

Tell me what you know, i want the good, the bad, and the ugly. Driving one we just picked up from the auction and i'm falling in love with it, great power, good looks, handles relatively well for an SUV, and practical as hell(minus gas mileage). Thanks,
Ryan

[Mike Murrell]

One of my in-laws has one that's around 4 years old. No real problems to date.

I always ask about reliablity - things of that nature. Could care less about cup-holder placement, etc.

Try to avoid the "Monday/Friday" cars....those made on Monday or Friday.

[catmandoo62]

people i know that have had them couldn't wait to get rid of em.don't know what you paid,but up here there was just an auction with a 2001 i believe with like 70,000 miles,looked nice,sounded nice,clean carfax 2 owners, sold for $2000

[RG5384]

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

people i know that have had them couldn't wait to get rid of em.don't know what you paid,but up here there was just an auction with a 2001 i believe with like 70,000 miles,looked nice,sounded nice,clean carfax 2 owners, sold for $2000

that would be the steal of the century i would buy 100 of them at that price and have no issues getting rid of them. I know the dodge trucks are really hit or miss as far as reliability, but you'd think parts would be cheap, no?

[t walgamuth]

we bought a new one in 99. two wheel drive. loved it at first but tired of the jiggly ride. we bought it to tow with and my mrs drove it daily. It was a little too light for our 29 foot travel trailer and we sold it along when it had bout 42k on it. bought another suburban.

No real reliability problems but the od or lockup was starting to go in and out occasionally and made me nervous.

Tom W

[Larry Delor]

Last Chrysler product I had was a '88. Haven't trusted, nor forgiven them since.

[PaulC]

You didn't mention the year, so I'll assume it's the old bodystyle. The rear suspension is leaf sprung, which is prehistoric even by American SUV standards. Ride suffers a bit, but if you're comfortable with it, it's a non-issue.

[LUVMBDiesels]

When I was looking for an SUV I asked a couple mechanics I know about the Durango. They both said that they eat transmissions. Has anybody with one had a tranny go south on them?

They also told me to stay away from the 2000 up Suburban/Tahoe/GMC trucks as they had engine and other issues.


'course the '99 has had two computers go bad, had the front axle actuator fall off the truck, and has needed a fuel pump and 8 new injectors all in under 150k.

[Jorn]

Two friends of mine had to replace the transmission of there Durango and Dakota shortly after hitting 30K miles.

[PaulC]

That's a shame. Chrysler was once known for fantastic automatic transmissions, such as the Torqueflite from the '60's. Bean counters strike again.

[Hatterasguy]

IMHO they are total POS's, but I hate all Dodge trucks. Can you say CHEAP.

[Emmerich]

I have had 3 Jeeps a Cherokee and 2 Grands. The first I gave away with 250k miles, no major problems. The second was a decked out Grand, awesome, great tower, but had full time 4WD and MPG sucked so I sold it. Current Jeep is a Grand with the 4L I-6. No problems at all in 2 years.

Not sure if you consider the Jeeps real Chryslers. Other people swear Cherokees were crap.

[LUVMBDiesels]

Originally Posted by Emmerich

I have had 3 Jeeps a Cherokee and 2 Grands. The first I gave away with 250k miles, no major problems. The second was a decked out Grand, awesome, great tower, but had full time 4WD and MPG sucked so I sold it. Current Jeep is a Grand with the 4L I-6. No problems at all in 2 years.

Not sure if you consider the Jeeps real Chryslers. Other people swear Cherokees were crap.

The I6 engine was an AMC product and the transfer cases came from DANA. Don't know about the transmissions, but I don't think they were MOPAR, maybe GM? Guess you can't really call a Jeep a Chrysler

[RobTheMod]

My coworker has a 2001 5.9 R/T Durango, hates the 11/14 mpg thirst, loves the rest of it. Good boat towing vehicle, quiet, fast, but don't try to take a corner in it. He bought a Daewoo Lanos at auction as a "dinghy" so he wouldn't need to feed the Magnum 360 so much, that POS only gets about 21 mpg- so he's driving the Dodge more often anyway. It's an un-apologetic TRUCK but if that's what your needs dictate then go for it- a crossover can't tow a 20 foot Four Winns...

[rwthomas1]

A buddy of mine just sold an 03 Durango with 80K on it. Had the small v8, still got 22mpg and his wife beats on stuff pretty hard. No issues at all, perfectly reliable. Why did he sell? Hes an idiot. Got a Honda Pilot lease to replace it....
RT