1998 Dodge Durango Owner Complaints

DUE TO TO UNEVEN DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED, OR TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SPIN AND NOT MOVE, AT WHICH THE VEHICLE IGNITION WAS SHUT-OFF. IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ABOUT 50 FEET TO A PARKING PLACE. ANOTHER PERSON OFFERS TO HELP, THEN PUSHES VEHICLE 25/50 FEET...ADVISES TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL DOES NOT WANT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAS USED A LOT OF POWER STEERING FLUID ALMOST DAILY(HAS A HISTORY OF SQUEALING AND HARD TURNING AT START UNLESS LUBRICATED). SO ADVICE TO PLACE VEHICLE IN REVERSE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE EVEN HARDER TO TURN, IF AT ALL. I REQUESTED HELP FROM THE BYSTANDER, WHO AT WHICH POINT COMES TO THE DRIVER SIDE WHERE I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO. IT'S UNKNOWN IF THE BYSTANDER HELP TURNED THE IGNITION ON, OR IF THE IGNITION SOMEHOW TURNED ON BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY ONE ADDITION PASSENGER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED IN REVERSE GEAR, WITHOUT ANYONE PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THERE WERE MINOR TO SEVERE INJURIES, AND DAMAGE TO 2 VEHICLES AND ONE STRUCTURE.

NHTSA ID

11388250

Incident

Jan 12, 2021

Mileage

240,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 8/11/2015 AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON ROADWAY AND WAS IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN STRUCK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11090896

Incident

Aug 11, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

"TAKATA AIRBAG" I WAS IN A ACCIDENT WHERE A PERSON RAN A RED LIGHT, GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND I T-BONE THAT PERSON'S VEHICLE, WITH ME GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. THE AIRBAG DELAYED ON DEPLOYMENT IN MY VEHICLE. I HAD MY SEAT-BELT ON BUT I STILL ENDED UP HITTING MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HITTING MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF MY AIRBAG CAN GET DEFECTIVE OVER YEARS BECAUSE OF THE DELAY OF DEPLOYMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A TAKATA AIRBAG THAT ISN'T ON THE RECALL LIST YET OR NOT. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG PART ITSELF THAT I CAN GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS OFF OF. SOMEONE REMINDED ME ABOUT THE TAKATA AIRBAGS SO I FIGURED I ASK.

NHTSA ID

11065718

Incident

Jul 24, 2016

Mileage

210,000 mi

ALL 4 POWER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE GONE OUT.

NHTSA ID

11061593

Incident

Mar 6, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

BOUGHT MY DURANGO NEW IN MAY 1998. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING IMPROPERLY IN JULY 2000. TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (31,418 MILES). THEY DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND PRONOUNCED IT DOA (PAN WAS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS). SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE WRITING ON THE WALL BUT I LOVED THIS VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO AN INSPECTION STATION FOR SAFETY & EMISSIONS TESTS IN MAY OF 2006. IT FAILED FOR BAD BALL JOINTS. I ASKED THE MANAGER WHY HIS MECHANICS SEEMED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FRONT END DURING INSPECTION AND HIS REPLY WAS IT WAS VERY COMMON TO FIND BAD BALL JOINTS ON APPROX. 50% OF ALL 1998-2000 DURANGOS. HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, BOTH SIDES, AT 74,064 MILES, TO THE TUNE OF $701 PLUS TAX. I THEN STARTED HEARING ABOUT OTHER DURANGO OWNERS WITH SIMILAR BALL JOINT WOES. I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED RESEARCHING. FOUND A SITE WHERE FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WITH THE SAME BALL JOINT PROBLEMS, SOME WITH ACCIDENTS, WERE TRYING TO GET NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING. I GUESS PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DIE FIRST BEFORE NHTSA WILL STEP IN AND TELL AN AUTO MANUFACTURER THEY NEED TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PRODUCTS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE 1998-2000 DURANGOS WERE BUILT ON THE DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP CHASSIS. A DAKOTA WEIGHS ABOUT 4,600 LBS. WHILE A DURANGO 4X4 WEIGHS IN AT 6,400 LBS. IT'S NO WONDER THE 1998-2000 DURANGO FRONT-ENDS WERE FALLING APART. SERIOUSLY, WHAT KIND OF IDIOT ENGINEERS DOES DODGE HAVE WORKING FOR THEM. SOMETIME LATER I HEARD THAT DODGE RUSHED THE DURANGO INTO PRODUCTION IN 1998 TO COMPETE FOR THE SUV MARKET BUCKS AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO ENGINEER A NEW CHASSIS SO THEY JUST MODIFIED THE DAKOTA CHASSIS WITHOUT BEEFING IT UP. WHEN PEOPLE STARTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BALL JOINTS AND SUCH, THEY BUILT A WHOLE NEW CHASSIS FOR DURANGOS IN 2001. I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS SITE TODAY WHILE RESEARCHING ANOTHER VEHICLE I'M THINKING ABOUT BUYING.

NHTSA ID

10886041

Incident

May 15, 2006

Mileage

74,064 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION LINES WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CEILING LIGHT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD ERRONEOUSLY TURN ON. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, A BANGING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID

10822477

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

156,000 mi

THE CV JOINT CAME OUT RUIN THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSED RUBBING ON MY INNER RIM, AFTER A WHILE IT HAS CAUSE THE INNER RIM TO TO BREAK OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CV JOINT, WHEEL HUB BEARING, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE STEERING BALL JOINT. NOW THE LOWER BALL JOINT IS STILL HITTING THE INNER RIM AND I CAN'T DRIVE

NHTSA ID

10760195

Incident

Aug 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,000.

NHTSA ID

10692053

Incident

Mar 3, 2015

Mileage

241,000 mi

I WAS CROSSING THRU A UNPAVED ROAD WHICH WAS A LITTLE BUMPY ROCKING MY TRUCK FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AN MY DRIVER SEAT SLID FORWARD AN BACK IN WHICH I HEARD A SNAP AN MY SEAT DROPPED IN THE BACK AFTER SLIDING FORWARD AN BACK A COUPLE TIMES. NOW MY SEAT IS AT AN ODD POSITION AND WHEN I COME TO A STOP OR DRIVE OFF FROM A STOP MY SEAT SLIDES BACK OR FORWARD. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678155

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

197,243 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A PATCH OF BLACK ICE, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL BEFORE ROLLING OVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED INSTEAD OF RESTRAINING THE DRIVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 11/20/14 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WERE IN SHOCK AND HAVE HAD ONGOING BACK PROBLEMS. THE PASSENGER NEEDED A METAL ROD IN THE BACK DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT. UPDATED 5/6/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10595859

Incident

Feb 22, 2013

Mileage

96,000 mi

DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 04/26/2014 COMPONENT(S): SEATS DATE OF INCIDENT: 04/02/2010 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10565005 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): SUMMARY: THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS ABOUT 2 INCHES WHEN I ACCELERATE AND COMES FORWARD THE SAME AMOUNT WHEN I BRAKE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF CASES OF THE SAME THING. A RECALL IS IN ORDER HERE AS NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION AFFECT THE SAFETY OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AS THE MOVEMENT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE ENTIRE THING TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10585029

Incident

Apr 2, 2010

Mileage

198,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS ABOUT 2 INCHES WHEN I ACCELERATE AND COMES FORWARD THE SAME AMOUNT WHEN I BRAKE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF CASES OF THE SAME THING. A RECALL IS IN ORDER HERE AS NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION AFFECT THE SAFETY OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AS THE MOVEMENT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE ENTIRE THING TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565005

Incident

Feb 19, 2014

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF

NHTSA ID

10558610

Incident

Jan 6, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND BEYOND 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10558139

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

WE ON THE ROAD DRIVING AROUND 7:30 AND I NOTICED MY TRUCK WAS LOSING POWER...I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE... I PULLED OVER AND MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE... THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE BOOT AROUND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LEVER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT... TRUCK DESTROYED.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551626

Incident

Oct 30, 2013

Mileage

195,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT MOVES BACK WHEN ACCELERATING AND GOES FORWARD WHEN BRAKING FEELS LIKE YOUR GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511457

Incident

May 10, 2013

Mileage

151,630 mi

NYLE MAXWELL DODGE SUPERCENTER IN AUSTIN TEXAS WAS PAID TO FIX MY SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AND STAYS ON 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE A SENSOR WHICH WOULD COST JUST OVER $1100, AND WAS REQUIRED TO SIGN OFF ON A FORM SO THEY COULD BEGIN THE WORK. AFTER THEY HAD MY DODGE DURANGO A COUPLE OF DAYS, FEBRUARY 27, 2013, I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM SERVICE TO SAY THEY COULD NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON "INTERMITTENTLY". THEIR EXPLANATION WAS CONFUSING. SO I BELIEVE THAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THIS, IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON THAT THE ABS BRAKE WILL NOT BE WORKING AT ALL. AFTER THIS, I WAS GIVEN AN OPTION OF PAYING ANOTHER $350 FOR A SEPARATE PART, PERHAPS "MODULE" AND THE SERVICE MAN FELT IT WOULD BE THE SOLUTION. I COLLECTED MY CAR WITHOUT NYLE MAXWELL DODGE SUPERCENTER HAVING FIXED THIS $1100 ISSUE. BUT I PAID THEIR BILL. (I NEED TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE FOR A SECOND UNBIASED OPINION.) AS A CUSTOMER/CONSUMER OF THEIR SERVICE AGREEMENT, I SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT THEM TO FIX IT FROM HERE ON OUT TO COMPLETION AT THE EXPENSE OF NYLE MAXWELL DODGE SUPERCENTER; OR REFUND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500876

Incident

Feb 28, 2013

Mileage

95,600 mi

DRIVING ALONG WHEN SEAT TRACK "BROKE" SEAT NOW TRAVELS BACK AND FORWARD WHILE DRIVING, BRAKING OR ACCELLERATING...CAUSING MY BODY TO BE PUSHED FORWARD OR BACKWARD. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITHIN ITSELF. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. MY DURANGO ONLY HAS AROUND 87,000 ORIGINAL MILES AN EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF TRUCK BUT WITH THIS PROBLEM, I FILL LIKE I AM DRIVING A BROKE DOWN PEICE OF SH.. AND I LOVE MY TRUCK. SEEMS LIKE I HAVE BEEN LUCKY FOR MINE TO HAVE LASTED AS LONG. *JS

NHTSA ID

10461114

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

87,000 mi

WHILE ACCELERATING, HEARD A "SNAP" UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS POWER SEAT NOW HAS A ROCKING MOTION WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND COUNTLESS NUMBER OF BLOGS AND COMMENTS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM, WITH SOME SAYING THEIR SEAT IS ACTUALLY SLIDING BACK AND FORTH ON THE SEAT RAILS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, WARRANTING SOME RECALL OR REMEDY BY CHRYSLER. IF THIS SEAT CAN SLIDE FREE IN A HARD ACCELERATION OR EMERGENCY STOP, THIS COULD CREATE ACCIDENT OR SEVERE INJURY. THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER ! *TR

NHTSA ID

10459706

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH COOPER DISCOVER STT TIRES, TIRE SIZE 31X10/50/R15, DOT NUMBER WAS 60DWE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FELT UNSTABLE. ONCE AT HER DESTINATION, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE WAS TORN APART. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10396901

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

MY DRIVER SEATBELT UNLEASHES ON IT OWN AS I DRIVE. WHEN I PUT THE SEATBELT AROUND ME AND IT CLICKS, BUT IT STILL COMES OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395366

Incident

Mar 6, 2010

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH THE SEAT ADJUSTOR IS BROKEN NOT SURE HOW IT HAPPENED JUST WENT TO GO SOME WHERE ONE DAY AND IT STARTED ROCKING WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10376309

Incident

Sep 20, 2010

Mileage

110,256 mi

THE BRACKET FOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE SEAT ROCK BACK AND FORTH. HAD TO HOLD ONTO THE STEARING WHEEL TO MAKE IT HOME. AFTER REVIEWING SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMIN PROBLEM AND DODGE SHOULD FIX NOT HAVE ME PAY THE $400 I HAD TO PAY TO FIX THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA ID

10372786

Incident

Jun 10, 2010

Mileage

102,000 mi

THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A VERY NOTICEABLE "CLUNKING NOISE" DURING TURNS AND OVER BUMPS. THE VEHICLE OFTEN FALLS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND DRIVING FEELS UNSTEADY AS ON OF THE FRONT WHEELS IS LOOSE. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARS THIS IS BEING CAUSED BY PREMATURE WEAR TO THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED EXCESS WEAR ON THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION. AS OF YET NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAS TAKEN PLACE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM; HOWEVER, IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSES PROMPTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370306

Incident

Dec 12, 2010

Mileage

123,000 mi

I HAVE A 98 DURANGO AND FOR THE LAST 4 YRS THE SEAT HAS MOVED ABOUT AN INCH BACK AND FORTH. NOW THEY SAY IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359888

Incident

Jan 1, 2006