RoadVitals

1998 Dodge Durango Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Mar 4, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 965 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Dodge Durango submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 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
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 29, 2009

LIGHT SWITCH, WHEN SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM THIS RESULTS IN NO LIGHTS AT ALL. DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A FIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10282255
Incident
Jul 22, 2006
Mileage
98,251 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 9, 2005

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY FOR FAILURE TO OPERATE PROPERLY, IE: THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY HOWEVER WITH SLIGHT INWARD PRESSURE ON THE SWITCH, THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SWITCH WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. I THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THIS SWITCH BECAUSE OF RECURRING FAILURES, AND SINCE IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE BY DECREE OF THE STATE, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE EXAMINED NATIONWIDE FOR RECALL CONSIDERATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142339
Incident
Nov 9, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed Sep 9, 2004

I PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE DURANGO IN MARCH OF 1998. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS EXCELLENT UNTIL ABOUT 52,000 MILES. 1ST REPAIR, WATER PUMP. AT ABOUT 56,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT ABOUT 61,000 HEATER CORE, AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. AT 77,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD AGAIN. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO STIFFEN UP AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION. DURANGOS DO NOT HAVE RACK AND PINIONS, THEY HAVE GEAR BOXES. AT ABOUT 94,000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AT 106,000 TRASNMISSION REBUILD AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER THIS TIME AROUND ALONG WITH AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION GAUGE WHICH TELLS ME THE TEMP OF THE TRANS(PRICE WAS $125.00 FOR GAUGE AND WIRING). CALLED DODGE WAS LIKE TALKING TO MY DOG, THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I SWORE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT THE DAY I BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER IS THE DAY I EAT S**T!!! DODGE CARS AND TRUCKS SUCK, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CRAP AND I HAD TO SPEND MONEY $$$ OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR REPAIRS ALONE ALMOST $9,500.00, OUT OF WHICH CHRYSLER KEPT SAYING ITS NOT OUR PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHEN ITS THEIR PROBLEM, WHEN THEY SCREW WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T JUST JOE SCHMOE WALKING IN TO BUY A CAR. SOMEONE WITH A DEGREE IN LAW SO THAT THEY CAN ROYALLY GE SMACKED IN THE FACE AND HELP ALL THE OTHER UNFORTUNATE ONES WHO ARE STUCK WITH DODGE SUCKS (TRUCKS). WHOEVER WANTS TO BUY A DODGE, BE PREPARED FOR A RUDE AWAKENING. THEY ARE GOING TO RAPE YOU! *AK

NHTSA ID
10090677
Incident
Jun 3, 1999
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed May 21, 2004

VEHICLE ACQUIRED IN JULY OF 2004. ALL COMPONENT SYSTEM FAILURES LISTED HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THAT TIMEFRAME. ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO TWO (2) FREEZE PLUGS THAT FAILED BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING. REVERSE LIGHTS NO LONGER FUNCTION AND CAUSE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. FRONT TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED AS WERE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR FACILITY REQUIRING UPPER BALL JOINT AND TIE-ROD END REPLACEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072937
Incident
May 20, 2004
Mileage
72,995 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2003

WHEN GOING FROM HIGH-BEAM TO LOW-BEAM, ALL HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING.DEFECTIVE SWITCH.*AK

NHTSA ID
10043703
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2003

LOW BEAMS GO OUT WHEN HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. THIS CREATED ZERO VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING ON A DARK RURAL ROAD. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008321
Incident
Nov 3, 2000
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER VIEW DURING NIGHTTIME. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10001592
Incident
Dec 9, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2002

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. BACK-UP LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE, BUT GO OUT ONCE FULLY ENGAGED IN REVERSE. WE HAVE NOTICED THIS ON AT LEAST ONE DURANGO BESIDES OUR OWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
762373
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2001

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILS TO MAKE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
752889
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Body & structureBrakesInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Aug 30, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND STAYED ON. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT CORRECTLY. *AK THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS TO 100MPH AND FALLS TO 0 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE OVERDRIVE HARNESS IS STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MODULE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MODULE. THE REAR SEAT WOULDN'T FOLD UP. THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. THE RIGHT REAR PANEL CAME LOOSE. MOTOR OIL WAS FOUND IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
869146
Incident
Aug 1, 1999
EngineExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Mar 10, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED IDLING AND CUT OFF. PULLED OVER AND SAT FOR AWHILE TO COOL OFF, THEN SHIFT INDICATOR JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. WENT TO PUT FOG LIGHTS, AND THEY FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. FOG LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED THREE TIMES, BATTERY AND THROTTLE BODY ALSO REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
858323
Incident
Dec 14, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 18, 2000

LOW BEAMS WOULD GO OUT WHENEVER HIGH BEAMS WERE ACTIVATED. THIS AFFECTED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN A DARK AREA/ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
857256
Incident
Aug 30, 1998
Exterior lightingTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
607683
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Exterior lightingTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

THE END KNOB ON THE SHIFT LEVER OF THE TRANSMISSION BECAME LOOSE AND CAN EASILY BE REMOVED. MJS

NHTSA ID
607598
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Body & structureExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH KNOB FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
607256
Incident
Aug 18, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .