- The problem
- Certain replacement k&n fuel performance kits, p/nos. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, And 57-1530. Also, a small percentage of these kits were sold under the mopar performance parts brand name (p/nos. P5007069 and p5007070). All kits were manufactured from april 20, 1999, through september 23, 2004. These assemblies were manufactured as replacement equipment for certain dodge pickup trucks and suvs. A small piece of material from the tube wall could be sucked into the engine throttle body, which could cause the throttle to become jammed in the open position.
- The risk
- A jammed open throttle could cause unintended acceleration of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash or increased stoping distances when braking.
- The fix
- K&n will provide owners with a free repair kit along with repair instructions. The recall began on april 20, 2006.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Dodge Durango Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 976 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Durango with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (539) and the transmission & drivetrain (101). Those complaints describe 52 crashes, 12 fires and 31 injuries. It is covered by 6 recalls, the latest in March 2006 for the engine and engine cooling. For comparison, the 1997 has 4 and the 1999 has 2,012.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Durango year, for its age
#4 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 976
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 52
- Fires
- 12
- Injuries
- 31
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1998 Dodge Durango problems
Share of all 976 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1998 Dodge Durango recalls 6
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain ford, daimlerchrysler, and jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the brand names of napa, raybestos, aimco, ac delco, carquest, bendix, and wagner. Only products that were manufactured from july 27, 2005 through january 17, 2006 (date codes 0529 through 0602) are subject to this recall. When subject to very cold temperatures, an internal seal in the master cylinder could lose flexibility and may cause brake fluid to leak.
- The risk
- Loss of brake fluid can lead to a decrease in brake line pressure and an increase in stopping distance, which can result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Affinia (brake parts, inc.) Will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at 1-800-323-0354.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th vin position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11th vin position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.
- The risk
- When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, will also be included in this campaign. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The fuel tank strap can separate due to fatigue during operation. If this occurs, the tank will be unsupported, increasing the risk of a fuel leak.
- The risk
- Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the double toggle lock fuel tank straps with single toggle lock design. Note: affected vehicles built through may 21, 1998, also require the rear brake tube inspection/repair. As a result, the fuel tank strap and brake tube repair will be performed on these vheicles in a single service procedure under recall 99v-341/daimlerchrysler #841. Affected vehicles built from may 22, 1998 through september 25, 1999, only require the fuel tank strap repair, which will be performed under recall 99v-342/daimlerchrysler #842.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The rear brake tube can contact an underbody crossmember eventually wearing a hole in the tube.
- The risk
- If the tube were perforated, there would be a reduction in braking from the rear wheels, increasing stopping distances.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a rubber isolator on all vehicles that do not indicate tube contact. Vehicles that show contact and have less than 45,000 miles and no signs of red rust will have the rubber isolator installed with silicone to protect the tube where the coating has worn off. Vehicles that exhibit contact, and have more than 45,000 miles or show signs of red rust, will have the brake tube replaced with the production tube and isolator.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The fastener which secures the generator cable to the power distribution center (pdc) has an insufficient clamp load, resulting in a loose connection and electrical arcing at the connection.
- The risk
- This condition could cause a fire in the engine compartment.
- The fix
- Dealers will retighten the generator cable and battery cable fasteners to the proper torque specifications.
What owners say
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976 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Durango
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 40.
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...
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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.
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.
"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.
ALL 4 POWER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE GONE OUT.
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...
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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.
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.
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
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.
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
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...
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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
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
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
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
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.
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
Drivers side electric seat moves back when accelerating and goes forward when braking feels like your going to go through the windshield. *Tr
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...
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"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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
Dodge Durango: every year compared
All Durango years1998 Dodge Durango vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Dodge Durango | 976 | 6 | F | |
| 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,429 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 1998 Chevrolet Blazer | 734 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER | 264 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Nissan Pathfinder | 149 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Subaru Outback | 127 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 1998 Toyota Highlander | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Ford Explorer | 0 | 14 | B | Compare |
| 1998 Honda Passport | 0 | 6 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1998 Dodge Durango
Does the 1998 Dodge Durango have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 1998 Dodge Durango: engine and engine cooling (March 2006); service brakes, hydraulic (March 2006); air bags (May 2001); mounting (December 1999) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Durango?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (539), transmission & drivetrain (101), brakes (94).
How many complaints has the 1998 Dodge Durango had?
976 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 21, 1998 and the latest on January 15, 2021. Of these, 52 describe a crash and 12 a fire, and together they report 31 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1998 Dodge Durango a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 19 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Dodge Durango year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Dodge Durango years have the most complaints?
1999 (2,012), 2005 (1,567), 2004 (1,115). See every Dodge Durango year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Dodge Durango has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data