In my life I have owned many vehicles, I would estimate about 14 or so. Out of all of these that I have owned, my last purchase, a 2001 Dodge Durango R/T. This vehicle is fully loaded, I mean every possible option you could get – I got… In driving this thing it has been the most comfortable, best driving and most enjoyable vehicle yet.

I have had a few minor problems almost all of which have been covered under my extended warranty, with great results once I found the right dealership for service…

Having said all of this, the D has a multitude of problems now. Friday morning I went out to hop in the D to go to work… I started her up, put in my favorite CD, got out my sunglasses and let her warm up… I take off as I have so many times in the past but this time things were a little different… down the street I go, 1000 rpm’s… 2000 rpm’s… 3000 rpm’s… 4000 rpm’s… 4200 rpm’s…. Hmmm, so I take my foot off the gas, drop the rpm’s then slowly apply pressure again… Now it seems to be in neutral even though the transmission is clearly in Drive. I pull over and start again… Same result…

Now I already had an appointment to take it in to the dealer for a few problems that had come up over the last month along with the regular service that I have always had done at the dealer… The climate controls seem to work but the air will never come out the bottom, you can hear the doors change like it should work but air never makes it to the bottom, much like another post on here a while back entitled “frozen feet”… The other item is that when I let the vehicle sit for 4 hours or more something happens to the brakes. When you get in and first apply the brakes they all lock up, throwing the vehicle into some sort of skidding frenzy… Once the fist skid occurs all operates normally until you let the vehicle sit again… The reason I figured out the 4 hour rule is that if I take an early lunch it does not occur, but if I take no lunch or a mid day lunch it occurs again… I have changed all of the brakes (shoes, pads, drums and rotors)…

At any rate, I am getting tired of these problems, the vehicle is at the dealer being looked at, and having two recalls taken care of, transfer case and the ball joints, which by the way the last time I was in there they told me that the Ball Joint one did not apply to my year, model and VIN… It has already had the complete rack and pinion replaced, steering box, tie rods and tie rod ends, found to be faulty a few services back…

Anyone want to buy a 2001 Dodge Durango R/T with 50,000 miles on it?

 

Just for future reference, when trying to sell a vehicle, do not complain about it in a long story leading up to the sales pitch. LOL J/K
Look man, I am sorry you are having all these problems. I really hate to see when people have problems with their D's especially the R/T's cuz I have an '03. But that brake problem is really crazy. I have never heard of such a thing. I hope you get all of it worked out.

 

Well obviously, by the post, I love the car more than my desire to sell it... I do not want to sell it, but if someone else has the patience to deal with the problems and still wants to care for her then so be it... Kind of like finding a good home for an ill pet...

And yeah the brake thing is just freaky... The mechanic that does all the work for my company (actually a payrolled guy) is a Dodge guy through and through... He owns a Durango and a Dakota R/T... He has looked at it and is just baffled... He did not believe me at first, then we went to lunch just so I could show him... He was in shock, and all he can say is that it does not make sense, he initially thought that there was perhaps a leak and that there was fluid dripping on at one of the calipers and that it was causing an air pocket in the fluid and causing the brakes to slip once first applied. After inspection he found that there are no leaks and that there does not appear to be any air pockets that develop after sitting... Go Figure...

 

Rec'd call from the dealer... My transmission is history... They are replacing it as we speak and all I will owe is my deductible...

They did replicate my braking problems but have yet to find out what is causing it...

I foresee a long stay in the shop...

 

now you guys mentioned about braking issues, I had something similar but was only doing like 5-8 miles per hour down a parking lot. when I passed over a small wet puddle that only the front passenger tire went over, and when I had to hit the brakes (gently applied that is) that passenger tire just locked up on me. Freaky as I got a lot of faces of the people crossing the parking lot (in Walmart) looking this way. it happened a couple more times in other similar situations. So I am kinda lost also.

 

they say they fixed the braking issue... I am not sure I believe them though, they said they took everything apart and found a couple of brake fluid leaks, repaired and all is okay with the brakes...

They also say that the transmission is done, they called me to come pick it up Saturday, I did and the heater A/C control problem had not been fixed so I did not drive it to test the rest, they opened a new ticket and now I will wait for my next call...

The brake issue was covered under warranty also all but the pads, the front rotors and pads are new I replaced them myself about 40 miles ago... when I had everything apart I did not see any leaks however...

Covered Items that had been repaired so far as per my updated paperwork:

[ul][*] Transfer Case Module - Covered by Recall[*]Valvebody Assembly 4X4 Equipment - Replaced under extended Warranty[*]4088898 Wheel Cylinder - Replaced under extended Warranty[*]4088899 Wheel Cylinder - Replaced under extended Warranty[*]v2013126AB Pad Kit - $55.77 not covered under any plan[*]4549625 replacement fluid - $5.45 not covered under any plan[*]21550231 Valve Body - Replaced under extended warranty[*]2464324AC Gasket - Replaced under extended Warranty[*]21950154 Valve Body - 45RFE - Replaced under extended Warranty[*]50524 D47 W Replaced Upper Ball Joints - Covered by recall (I was told on my last visit that I did not need this)[*]08975182 Reprogram Transfer Case Module - Covered under Extended Warranty

[/ul]
Still waiting on whatever else is going on...

 

I hope my RT doesnt give me any probs....but iffin it do i dont have an ext warr i bought fro an individual....i still love me RT..

 

Kensai - it prolly got your brake wet on that wheel and made it lock up, it happens to my dad all the time, he'll launch the boat the back brakes get wet and the brakes lock up in the parking lot, but it doesnt happen by the time we're on the raod cause that happening at 30+mph would be scary

 

I also have had brake problems. I have an 02 R/T, loaded out with all the goodies! I took it on a trip to the NC mountains... 103 miles one way. When I got there the right front wheel locked up tight... towed it to the local dealer and had to leave it there for almost a week! Went to pick it up on the following Wed and drove it home... 103 miles. Left front wheel locked up! Once again towed it to the local dealer in home town. They told me 2 weeks before they could even look at it! I then called Chrysler againand had it towed to the Chrysler dealer. They had it 5 days. They replaced the entire left side and all is well so far. This truck only has 30,000 on it now and it only had 27,000 on it when it broke! Chrysler dealer here in town told me that the first dealership should have replaced both sides, but they didn't. They even tried to pawn off the old warped heat cracked rotor on me! I caught that and made them put the new one on before I went down the mountain! So far parts replaced to date...
Left fron caliper
Right front caliper
Left brake line assembly
left rotor
right rotor
brake pads
all fluid flushed out and filled

I feel that this is a little rediculous with such low mileage on this vehicle. I love the R/T it is a nice vehicle but on the same note this is my first Dodge and probably will be my last. I did not get these brakes wet and If I ever had a problem with brakes locking up when they got wet Dodge would have some serious problems! If the brakes can't get wet then why did they put windshield wipers on the truck!!!!!

 

still don't have my D back yet so I called the dealer...

He says, "Oh yeah I remember you, is your car even here???" Yes my car is there... He then says, "did you bring it in for something in particular?" I say "no, no just needed somewhere to park it for a month or so, of course I brought it in for something, you guys were supposed to fix the controls for the heating and a/c, everything else was taken care of"... He says, "oh yeah, I remember you" (again) long pause... I can hear him cursing in the back ground... Comes back on the phone and says "these guys just closed it out again and said they can't find any codes on the computer, but I know what is wrong with it you actually showed me. Let me get right on it and I will call you tomorrow"...

Got to love how smooth this one is going for me... The guys over there have been really nice and very apologetic, if this was my only car I would really be ticked off...