1998 Dodge Durango Electrical Problems

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

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

THE ODOMETER SAYS "NO BUS". *TR

NHTSA ID

10334360

Incident

May 28, 2010

Mileage

148,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AND I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM OLYMPIA WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT, HE WAS A SLEEP. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I SMELT A FUNNY SMELL AND IMMEDIATELY GOT MY SON OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS ENGULFED IN BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS SOON FILLED WITH FLAMES, ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAD 141,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. THE POLICE REPORT AND EVERYTHING STATES THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ORIGINATING FORM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE AND IT DOES NOT COVER WHAT HAPPENED. I JUST KEEP THINKING WHAT IF MY OTHER TWO CHILDREN WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME, THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN A SLEEP AND IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO GET ALL THREE OF THEM OUT 2,5 AND 7 ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SCENARIO'S LIKE THIS? THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED THE DASH, SEATS, ETC ALL MELTED AND BURNT. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS DISPATCHED AND THEY HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CAN PROVIDE POLICE REPORT, ETC. THAT WILL BACK UP WHAT WE JUST SAID, THE FIRE DID NOT AFFECT ANYTHING UNDER THE HOOD, JUST THE INTERIOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292250

Incident

Nov 7, 2009

Mileage

141,000 mi

HEARD METAL TO METAL RUBBING ON 2/2/09 NOW ON 2/6/09 HUB BEARING BROKE RIGHT SIDE.... WHEEL IS TILED IN TO WHEEL WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257778

Incident

Feb 6, 2009

REPEATED STARTER REPLACEMENT. *PH THE STARTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10071425

Incident

Sep 6, 2002

Mileage

41,496 mi

WHILE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED UPPER BALL JOINTS FELL OFF. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK BRAKES WERE PULSATING WHEN VEHICLE TRYING TO STOP. IT WAS FOUND THAT ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. VEHICLE DOESN'T START OCCASIONALLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME. NO FAULTS ON TEST FOUND; THEREFORE, DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, MOLDING ON WINDOWS, DOORS, AND BUMPER. *LA

NHTSA ID

10063530

Incident

Apr 6, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN TRAVELING ON HWY 70 CHICO CA. TO QUINCY CA WHEN SWITCHING HEAD LIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10058370

Incident

Feb 10, 2004

Mileage

54,500 mi

FRONT BRAKES (REPLACED 3X'S IN ONE YEAR) KEEP FAILING ON DODGE DURANGO CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT TO SHIFT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES 4 TIMES AND THE REAR TIRES TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JANUARY 2,2000. ALL TIRES WEAR AT AN ANGLE WITH SEVERAL BALD SPOTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES. I ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR FEBRUARY 2003. NOW THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT WORKING. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY 300.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR WHATEVER REASON.

NHTSA ID

10070543

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

Mileage

40,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE CONSUMER SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING AND THE ACID WAS DRIPPING ON THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE FACT THAT THE ACID BURNED THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE. *AK *PH *NM

NHTSA ID

10045028

Incident

Oct 26, 2003

Mileage

46,328 mi

I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY WHEELS WERE GETTING READY TO FALL OFF AND THE TRUCK WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN AUGUST OF 2003. I BARELY HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES ON IT ARE TERRIBLE. WHEN IT IS RAINING I HYDROPLANE JUST ABOUT EVER TIME I PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW BROKEN. IT STAYS AT ZERO MOST OF THE TIME BUT WILL OCCASIONALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHEN IT LOCKS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHENEVER I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND GO OVER 60 MPH THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10038973

Incident

Mar 4, 2003

THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO NOTICED SLIGHT PLAY IN THE GEAR BOX AND ADJUSTED IT. A FAULTY SOLENOID IN THE CAB CONTROLLER CAUSED THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10031993

Incident

Jan 14, 2003

Mileage

86,991 mi

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE AND EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT ONE. ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THE BACK BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT. *AK THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND SEALS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10029897

Mileage

3,000 mi

BALL JOINTS CASUING UNDUE WEAR AND TEAR ON TIRE REPLACED FRONT TIRE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS

NHTSA ID

10031074

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

NAR 02/28/2003 MR DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE *CB

NHTSA ID

10014757

Incident

Dec 26, 2002

Mileage

82,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10004641

Incident

Jan 21, 2003

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND FROM TIME TO TIME LIGHT WILL STAY ON WHEN GETTING VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. SPARK PLUGS WERE MELTED AND , HEAD CYLINDER WAS CRACKED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010546

Incident

May 2, 2002

WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS IN OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF OR DIM UNTIL CONSUMER PLAYS WITH KNOB, AND HEADLIGHTS GET BACK TO NORMAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

896718

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT BIGELOW MOTORS IN BELLEVILLE,NJ (973) 759-4220 ,WAITING FOR A COMPUTER TO BE DELIVERED. ALSO, THERE ARE FOUR OTHER DODGE DURANGOS' WAITING FOR THE SAME COMPUTER AT THIS DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

751034

Incident

Jul 27, 2001

INTAKE MANIFOLD RESEALED, INTAKE & PLENUM GASKET REPLACED, INTAKE & PAN & O-RING REPLACED, INTAKE RESEALED & PCV VALVE REPLACED, MANIFOLD & INTAKE REPLACED, ROD BEARINGS & VALVE GUIDE SEALS & #4 SPARK PLUG & INTAKE REPLACED. PURCHASED AS TRADE-IN AT FORD DEALER 21504 MILES. PROBLEMS BEGAN 2-3 WKS AFTER PURCHASE. PREVIOUS/ORIGINAL OWNER HAD SIMILAR SERVICE PERFORMED (TSB PERFORMED 4/05/99). PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR AS PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY OR AT THEIR COST. DEALERSHIP NEVER DETERMINED EXACT CAUSE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

748781

Incident

May 24, 1999

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY. SHE WAS DRIVING IN DESSERT AND ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW, AND STRARTED SMELLING WIRES BURNING. SHE WAS INSIDEOF PARKING LOT, AND VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

890154

NO TIRE JACK WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURHASE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785297

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A BUSZING NOISE. LATER THAT DAY, VEHICLE STARTING SHAKING AND MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THEN, CONSUMER TURNED OFF CAR. TRIED TO RESTART, AND IT WOULD NOT. 3 HOURS LATER, TRIED TO START AGAIN, AND THERE WAS NOTHING AT ALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

873845

Incident

Oct 24, 2000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT TO PULL OVER AND CUT OFF. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER COULD HEAR CAR ARKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

864743

Incident

Jul 4, 2000

BATTERY SUDDENLY DIED, PREVENTING ENGINE START. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY PRIOR TO INCIDENT, BUT BATTERY TESTED COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED JUMP STARTING AND CHARGING BATTERY WITH NO RESULTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

717051

Incident

Nov 5, 1999