Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Durango, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension540
- Power train103
- Steering90
- Service brakes, hydraulic85
- Engine and engine cooling66
- Visibility50
- Seats43
- Electrical system34
- Air bags30
- Seat belts27
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 33 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 13 1998 Durango vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Dodge Durango failed the safety check 1.80% of the time — 5% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 162,871 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
3 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Dodge Durango.
| 2000035 18 Feb 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the rear brake tube may contact an underbody crossmember during normal vehicle operation and eventually wear a hole in the tube. If the tu… |
| 2000033 17 Feb 2000 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel tank strap may separate due to high stress concentration at the double toggle lock upset area. Fuel tank strap separation could r… |
| 1998020 2 Feb 1998 | Electrical THE FASTENERS WHICH SECURE THE ALTERNATOR CABLE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER (PDC) MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD. INSUFFICIENT CLAMPING MAY RESULT IN A … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT AN UNDERBODY CROSSMEMBER EVENTUALLY WEARING A HOLE IN THE TUBE.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1998 Dodge Durango: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634117 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION FOR INJECTOR CIRCUIT FAULT. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 633977 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: NOX EMISSION FAILURE WHEN PERFORMING AN ASM TYPE I/M EMISSION TEST. *SLC |
| 628227 | SOME VEHICLES MAY BLOW WARM AIR OUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OUTLETS WHILE THE A/C IS ON AT IDLE. *TT |
| 625650 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620071 | SUBJECT REGARDING ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES CAUSED BY AN EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK. *TT |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 618874 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A REAR DOOR LOCK(S) THAT DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. *TT |
| 618857 | SUBJECT REGARDING UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING SERVICE. *TT |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 616727 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 616722 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LIGHT TO MODERATE SPARK KNOCK CONDITION DURING ACCELERATION (UNDER LOAD). *TT |
| 615688 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 614665 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 614651 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START OR STARTS AND STALLS. *TT |
| 614650 | ;SUBJECT REGARDING RTV USE ON CORPORATE AXLE. *TT |
| 612181 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE WHILE IN BI-LEVEL MODE, AIR FLOW FROM PANEL VENTS IS LESS THAT THAT OF THE FLOOR VENTS. *MJS |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610633 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A RED-IN-COLOR OIL SEEPAGE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE OIL SEEPAGE MAY BE LOCALIZED TO THE SECTOR SHAFT SEAL OF THE TRANSFER CASE. *TT |
| 610617 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT A SQUEAKING / CLICKING NOISE FROM REAR LEAF SPRINGS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
FRONT SUSP. UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation