hi
I am a newbie on this forum and i havent owned a Dodge before.
I saw a really nice Durango R/T which i liked a lot esp the 5.7 L engine

This is a one owner dealer maintained vehicle.

I looked at edmunds and other places to assess the reliability and found numerous complaints about
steering column
ball joints shearing apart the entire wheel assembly from the knuckles
gasket issues
transmission failures

Are these over hyped; is this due to negligent maintenance or just bad flaws that can be fixed permanently?

What nagging issues are common and specific to the Durango R/T?

Is maintenance expensive than say a jeep?

Please help. I really liked the SUV. I drive a Z06 daily and in the winter i would love to drive that 5.9L. I also liked the seats a lot.

Thanks!!

 

see the post I just wrote for someone else thinking about buying a D...Chris

 

Thanks!
I did i found answers to some of my questions (of transmissions and ball joints) but not all. Could someone please help answer the ones specific here?

this is for a 2002 Durango R/T.
Thanks again!!

 

Hi Shaggy,

On the 2000 to 2003 models, there is a ball joint recall for which the R/T is qualified under. You can check the records to see if this was done on this R/T. I would assume so if it is dealer maintained.

I would not worry much about the tranny either if it was dealer maintained on schedule maintenance.

 

Awesome. Thanks!

anything to watch out for during a test drive or pre purchase inspection?

 

You can do a visual inspection of the drive train. Is engine/tranny/axle leaking fluids etc. Even tho it is dealer maintained, is the engine itself been taken care of such as keeping it clean, etc?

Also when you test drive it, use the cruise control, if you notice slight random on/off surging, you will have to replace the TPS sensor. Even tho the PCM does not throw a code for the TPS, the TPS may be slightly out of adjustment that causes the surging and not throw a code.

You can always take it to another place and have them check it out for 2nd opinion.

The R/T is top of the line model. With the 5.9, not much problems with it mechanically. More electrical that is the annoyances of this vehicle. examples of electrical are the sensors. TPS sensor and the "A/C blower resistor pack on the 01-03 models".

My 00 R/T just broke the 91k mark. I already had all my sensors replaced. One recommendation you can do if you purchase the R/T and if it has alot of miles on it 100k or more, replace the MAP sensor. You will see a very noticable gain in power on the low end.

 

thank you!!

Since you mentioned you have a 00 R/T, i have to ask, do the other problems also apply to this specific trim and model year?
like the transmission, steering column etc?

Once i do the recall on the ball joints and replace steering bushings and what not, am i in the clear or do i have to keep a watch out for accelerated wear on these ?

 

I don't want to mis-inform you as I don't really have the details on the R/T you are going to buy. But basing on speculation, of what you have provided us, I think you are in good shape. You won't find too many vehicles that has been dealer maintained. If so, you may want to see the maintenance records if possible so you can have an idea what maintenance is up next.

I cannot compare my 00 R/T to your 02 R/T. Just some FYI, there was a interior design change starting on 2001. So interior 01-03 are different compared to the 98-00 models. Knowing this, electrical and electronics are different interior wise and maybe a few things under the hood. But mechanically for the most part are still the same from 98-03 except that starting on 00, they change the steering assembly to rack and pinion instead of recirculating.

 

Chech this thread: Looking at getting a Durango