I would check the tie rods. I just did mine not that long before the accident so around 165k. I don't know if those were original but looked like it.

 

Mine had started making noise around that same mileage too. Had the driver's side wheel bearing go bad too at around 170k miles.

 

I do check over the truck periodically, usually at oil changes every 3,333 miles, where I also rotate tires and check brakes and suspension and such.

Some parts wear out and tell you they're done without leaving you on the side of the road, like most suspension parts. I'm more worried about the parts that leave you pulled over, like a dead alternator, broken coolant hose, water pump pissing at the bearing, etc. In the past three months I've had three things break or act up badly, the alt, the electric pump for the heater (leaked badly), and the main water pump. The fan belt is another of those 'stuck on the side of the road' parts, but I always keep the old one in the rear boot just in case.

 

Well belts usually tell you if they are almost done by how they look. It seems like things like alternators and water pumps vary by how the its used. I guess I haven't noticed a pattern on those parts. I haven't had luck with batteries for whatever reason.

 

Another thread posed the question to me... how long can we expect a PCM to last? They seem to be replaced here on occasion.

My Durango has been garaged it's whole life (bought new) and compared to others here so far has only shown typical wear on parts attributable to miles.

 

I think that's a crapshoot with the computers honestly.

 

Posted in wrong forum,message deleted.

 

Lets see, I'm at ~205,500 right now. I've replaced, starting first, the brake calipers started sticking, had to do the rear differential bearings not too long after. The ball joints that were replaced under recall went (same cheap crap... Put Moog ones on). Transmission went at 180,000. Replaced the front blower motor twice, second time was because the first one I put in pulled too much power, on my 4th resistor and harness plug. Water pump and thermostat went not too long before the engine dropped a valve seat at 203,000. I've replaced spark plugs a couple times, but I think of those like the brakes, filters or tires, they're sacrificial parts that will get used up and need to be changed.

 

I didn't check the date of your post first so odds are that this reply is useless to you.
so this is for anyone in the future who happens to come across this post looking for answers.

your battery is on the brink of death. By brink I mean the same day or tomorrow.
immediately disconnect it from your vehicle before it starts frying random components in your electrical system.
over time, the accumulation of lead sulfate on the bottom of your battery's cells will reach a height where it will begin randomly shorting to one of your lead plates causing the voltage spike you saw on your gauge.
your vehicle will act like it's possessed. Random things turning on/off even when it shouldn't be possible for them to.
when it permanently shorts, & your doesn't turn over, don't try to jump it with another vehicle or that one will start acting funny too😳
if your gauge has spiked on more than one occasion then it should be close enough to death for you to be able to verify that it's an internal short.
after removing your battery, place it in a cool place. Come back in a couple hours and run your hands around the perimeter/sides of the battery. You should be able to easily find a spot that is significantly warm to the touch. That spot is the outer wall to the cell that is shorted.
If your alternator is bad, the battery light will light up on your dash. I've never once seen an instance of one without the other.

 

I would be checking your alternator for that voltage issue you had mine did that a couple times then just totally quit and it did it right in front of my house in the middle of the road and I don't know if you've ever tried to push your Durango but, let me tell ya it's not light and not easy! lol!