2001 Dodge Durango engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELT VIBRATION WHEN SHE ACCELERATED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS AN EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM LEAK. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE SECURITY, CHECK GAUGES AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THEN FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP, BATTERY OR IGNITION SWITCH. ALL OF WHICH WERE REPAIRED TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 0. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE OIL SENDING UNIT, THE PUMP, AND THE OIL PAN SCREEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“SINCE 2007, HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING. ONE TIME TO THE POINT IT WARPED BOTH HEADS AND HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT. HAVE REPLACED WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT (3 TIMES), CLUTCH FAN. WHEN THE HEADS WARPED, THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE SHEARED APART AND I SAW NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT ABOVE HALF-WAY. PERSONALLY I THINK IT'S JUST A BAD DESIGN. THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE CONTAINS THE RADIATOR CAP, AND IT'S STILL NOT THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE "CLOSED" SYSTEM, THUSLY THERE IS ALWAYS AIR WHICH NEVER PURGES INTO THE OVERFLOW TANK. EVERYTIME I CHECK RADIATOR FLUID THEIR IS NONE IN THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE. THE FLUID HAS TO BE GOING SOMEWHERE, ALTHOUGH I NEVER SEE ANY UNDER THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ IN INTERNET FORUMS OF MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. IT'S NOT YEAR SPECIFIC, NOR IS IT ENGINE MODEL SPECIFIC. THERE IS AN UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT DODGE ISN'T ADDRESSING, OR HAS KEPT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO AVOID HAVING TO REPLACE 500,000 ENGINES. I LOVE MY VEHICLE. I LOVE THE WAY IT DRIVES AS WELL AS IT'S APPEARANCE. THIS IS QUITE AN ANNOYANCE. IT HAS DEPLETED WHAT LITTLE SAVINGS MY FAMILY HAS TO INSURE THAT OUR…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE HEAT UNDERNEATH THE FLOORBOARD AND IN THE ENGINE. SHE ALSO SMELLED SULFUR INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING, AND CAUSES RAW FUEL TO FLOW THROUGH THE CYLINDERS. OVER TIME, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. SHE WAS PROVIDED A LIST OF DEALERS TO CALL THAT HAS SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THE EQUIPMENT WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,267.”

“VEHICLE IS 2001 DODGE DURANGO R/T 5.9. 26,000 MILES. FRONT END BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING. CALIPERS FROZE/LOCKED ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. OVERHEATING OCCURRED TWICE ON FRONT CALIPERS. NEEDED OUT OF POCKET MONEY FOR REPAIRS. AIR CONDITIONING BROKEN. *TR”