1998 Dodge Durango Other / unspecified Problems

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

MY MECHANIC NOTICE UNABLE TO KEEP TIRES. WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 KIDS NOTICED EXTREMELY LOOSE ACTION WHILE DRIVING, CAR UNABLE TO STAY ON ROAD. MECHANIC CHECKED AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE RESEARCH AND NOTICED NO RECALL WITH THESE VEHICLES. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER FOR THERE LACK OF MAKING A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263709

Incident

Feb 20, 2009

Mileage

210,000 mi

WE BOUGHT A 98' DURANGO W/ 123K MILES & AFTER DRIVING IT LESS THAN 500 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOUD-REPEATING NOISE "THUD...THUD.." COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WALL. THEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE EXTREME STEERING PROBLEMS SO I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED IT FURTHER. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A LOT OF "PLAY" IN THE FRONT TIRE. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO "WOBBLE' BACK AND FORTH AND THE LUG NUTS WERE STILL SECURED. I CONTACTED A VERY REPUTABLE MECHANIC (3RD GENERATION RACE CAR DRIVER TOO!) AND HE ADVISED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS FAILING ON THE DURANGO'S , BUT THEY ONLY WILL FIX BACK TO 2000' MODEL YEAR. WELL, ANY REASONABLE AUTO COMPANY THAT KNOWS IT HAS A FAULTY PART SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS PEOPLE....IF NOT, THEN THEY ARE LIABLE FOR CONTINUING TO ALLOW A PRODUCT THAT ENDANGERS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER, ITS OCCUPANTS & OTHER MOTORIST'S/CITIZENS-WHO EXPECT THEIR SAFETY TO BE LOOKED UPON, NOT "INVESTIGATED INTERNALLY." I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR +13 YEARS, AND AS A RESULT I HAVE WORKED MANY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS (SOME CAUSING DEATH) THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE-UNTIL NOW! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE...AND NOT JUST "ONLY 2000' YEAR MODELS AND UP" THING. DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! *TR

NHTSA ID

10251860

Incident

Dec 11, 2008

Mileage

123,000 mi

98 DODGE DURANGO DRIVER SEAT FAILURE. THE DRIVER SEAT ROCKS UNLESS IN THE EXTREME FORWARD/BACK POSITIONS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT HAPPENS IN A WIDE RANG OF DODGE SUVS/TRUCKS. IF I HIT THE BRAKES MY SEAT SLIDES FORWARD CAUSING ME TO UNINTENTIONALLY "SLAM" ON MY BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245520

Incident

Sep 7, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LARGE BANG. SHE LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE FLYING OFF HER VEHICLE DOWN A STEEP HILL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CABLE ROTTED AND BROKE APART. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170,000. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF UPDATED 10/09/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10240170

Incident

Aug 28, 2008

Mileage

170,000 mi

REPLACED UPPER BALL JOINTS AGAIN,FIRST WAS ON 7/7/03 39,414 MILES ON MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO,NOW AGAIN 3/25/04 45,452 MILES 1ST TIME WAS UNDER WARRANTY ,NOW OUT OF WARRANTY IT COST ME 853.23 WILL I HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN @6K MILES, WE WERE NEVER TOLD THERE MAY BE A DEFECT AND TO BE CAUTIOUS. *AK THE CONSUMER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HIS VEHICLE IS BEING OMITTED FROM THE BALL JOINT RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10063919

Incident

Mar 26, 2004

Mileage

39,414 mi

BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY 1998 DURANGO IN 2002. I KEPT HEARING POPPING NOISES FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHEN I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE OR CAME TO A STOP SIGN.*JB

NHTSA ID

10104951

Incident

Jan 18, 2002

Mileage

52,801 mi

POPPING NOISE IN SUSPENSION AT 41000 MILES, BAD BALL JOINTS BLAMED. VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL I REPLACED THE WORN BALL JOINTS AND TIRES (FEATHERING TO TWO SETS OF GOODYEARS). AND THE TIRE STORE WAS ABLE TO FINALLY COMPLETE THE ALIGNMENT. OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS FAILED AGAIN AT 100000. REPLACED WITH NON OEM BRAND THIS TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082540

Incident

Jun 21, 1999

Mileage

41,000 mi

DANGEROUS FLAW WITH THE LUGGAGE RACKS.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE LUGGAGE RACK BROKE AND AS A RESULT THE CARRIER CAME OFF AND BOUNCED DOWN THE INTERSTATE. NO ACCIDENTS RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE BROKEN LUGGAGE RACK OR THE ABANDONED CAR TOP CARRIER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10079797

Incident

Apr 17, 2004

1. SEATBELTS, HOUSING REPEATEDLY FELL DOWN. NEVER REPLACED, SERVICE ONLY PULLED IT BACK UP AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES 2. ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL. NOW I HAVE ONE WINDOW THAT WILL GO DOWN. THE REST ARE STUCK IN THE UP POSIITON. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY IS UP. 3. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT AT 63,000. 3,000 PAST WARRANTY. 4. ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS ARE BAD. SERVICEMAN SAYS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL REPLACED. STILL WAITING ON A RECALL. 5. PASSENGER FRONT SEAT COVER CAME APART AT SEAMS. SERVICE SAID NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 6. HOOD LATCH DOES NOT RELEASE HOOD. MY VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND NOT BEING DRIVEN AT 80,000. I DO NOT HAVE AND WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT IN MY DRIVE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. IT SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART AROUND ME. SEEMS I HAVE HEARD STORIES ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS, WHEELS COMING OFF, ETC. NO ONE KILLED YET, BUT NO RECALL YET EITHER I SEE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10074504

Incident

Apr 15, 1999

TODAY I TOOK MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO (VIN-1BHS28Y6WF132671) FOR THE YEARLY VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DOMINION DODGE IN SALEM, VIRGINIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 1998.SHORTLY AFTER MY ARRIVAL AND NOTIFIING THE SERVICE MANAGER WHAT I WAS THERE FOR, HE CAME AND TOLD ME THAT MY RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS "BAD" AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND HE WAS WELL AWARE THAT THIS FACILITY HAD REPLACED 3 OF THEM APRIL 2002. INCLUDING THIS ONE THAT NEEDED REPLACING 2 YEARS LATER, 11,203 MILES SINCE REPLACED. WHEN THESE WERE REPLACED IN APRIL 2002 THE SAME INFERIOR PARTS WERE INSTALLED AS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW!! SO THIS VEHICLE HAS A TOTAL OF 41,780 AS OF TODAY AND I AM STATING TO PUT A SECOND SET OF BALL JOINTS ON MY DODGE DURANGO! WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO DO SOMETHING??*AK

NHTSA ID

10065786

Incident

Apr 8, 2004

Mileage

41,744 mi

4 OF 6 RIGHT REAR WHEEL STUDS SEIZED/BROKE OFF DURING ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. NUTS WERE CORRECTLY TORQUED TO MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045231

Incident

Oct 20, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi

1998 DODGE DURANGO - SUSPENSION - FRONT-CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC 1999. WE WERE ADVISED IN AUG OF THIS YEAR THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039275

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

I HAVE REPLACED TWO WINDOW MOTORS AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO REPLACE AS IT IS OUT NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY COMPLAINTS OR CAMPAIGNS ON WINDOW MOTORS ALSO I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FRONT SUSPENSION EITHER THE BALL JOINTS UPPER OR LOWER ARE WEAK OR OUT BUT I HAVE WEAR PROBLEMS ON MY NEW TIRES AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY ONLY BEING A 1998 ARE THERE ANY CAMPAIGNS ON THIS .*JB

NHTSA ID

10039251

Incident

Sep 21, 2003

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL PUMP FAILURE AND SLUDGE BUILDUP. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 2-11-02 AT 65,499 MILES. ENGINE REPLACED AND SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 16, 2003 AT 91,749 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030305

Incident

Feb 11, 2002

ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELTS DIDN'T WORK PROPER. LOSS OF OF CONTROL FROM STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING PROBLEMS ON WET ROADS. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, DOESN'T SHIFT PROPER, NO AIR CONDITION, CAN NOT DRIVE WITH WINDOWS DOWN IN BACK, VERY HARD TO CONTROL. CAR IS PARKED BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. BEEN BACK TO DEALER WITH PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030245

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

Mileage

47,000 mi

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029096

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT. BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 52264 K MILES, 5/17/01 AND AGAIN AT 89387 K MILES ON 02/07/03. ALSO REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 89387 K MILES ON 02/07/03.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028882

Incident

Feb 7, 2003

Mileage

47,574 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT 2 SAFTY DEFECTS WITH MY 1998 DODGE DURANGO. FIRST IS THE POOR QUALITY WHEEL STUDS. DURING VARIOUS TIRE ROTATIONS AT A QUALIFIED SERVICE CENTER, SIX STUDS HAVE BROKEN (TWICE AT THE DEALER). I'M REALLY WORRIED THAT AT SOME POINT A WHEEL MAY COME OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. SECOND, THE DRIVERS POWER ADJUST SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH DURING BRAKING & ACCELERATION. THIS IS ANNOYING AND I'M AFRAID THAT EVENTUALLY, IT'S GOING TO BREAK ALL THE WAY LOOSE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008139

Incident

Feb 26, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF WHEEL STUD/BOLT BREAKAGE. HAS OCCURRED BOTH DURING HIGHWAY OPERATION AND DURING TIRE REMOVAL. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 6 STUDS ON VARIOUS WHEELS. IN EACH CASE, LUGS WERE INSTALLED AT PROPER TORQUE AND WERE REMOVED EITHER BY HAND OR BY AIR-POWERED TOOL. CONCERNED THAT THE STUDS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE OF POOR QUALITY OR THE MATERIALS USED IN THE STUDS AND LUGS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE AND THEREFORE SEIZING IS OCCURRING. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TOO MANY WHEEL STUDS! 4/10/01 - WHEEL LUG COULD NOT BE RE-INSTALLED AFTER REMOVAL FOR TIRE ROTATION, COULD NOT HAND-START; CONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEM WITH STUD AND POTENTIAL BREAKAGE. TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH DURANGO STUDS BREAKING OFF.

NHTSA ID

743859

Incident

Sep 15, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

785297

FOUR OF 6 REAR WHEEL LUG BOLTS SNAPPED OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

737889

Incident

Nov 19, 2000

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND VEHICLE TILTED TO THE SIDE. CONSUMER GOT OUT, AND THE WHEEL AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS TILTING INWARD, ALL LUGS: STUDS WERE GONE. DEALER IS WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE WHY LUGS: STUDS BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

856007

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH WITH A TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, AND THE TRAILER CAME UNWELDED FROM THE TONGUE OF THE TRAILER AND TOOK OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRAILER BACK, AND THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME, THE TRAILER CAME UNWELDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

847664

Incident

Aug 26, 1999

HUB ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

609643

Incident

Dec 22, 1998