36 of the
1,553 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Durango are about the
electrical system — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
81,000 miles.
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 complaint #10822477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 195,000 milesFlint, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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..
NHTSA complaint #10551626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 148,000 milesPayneville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ODOMETER SAYS "NO BUS".
NHTSA complaint #10334360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 141,000 milesHumptulips, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10292250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Branch, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10257778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesOlympia, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
NAR 02/28/2003 MR DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE
NHTSA complaint #10014757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,496 milesDouglas, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
REPEATED STARTER REPLACEMENT. *PH THE STARTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10071425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesSpencerport, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10063530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,500 milesQuincy, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN TRAVELING ON HWY 70 CHICO CA. TO QUINCY CA WHEN SWITCHING HEAD LIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10058370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,328 milesLava HOT Springs, ID
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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
NHTSA complaint #10045028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nicholasville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10038973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesCocoa, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BALL JOINTS CASUING UNDUE WEAR AND TEAR ON TIRE REPLACED FRONT TIRE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS
NHTSA complaint #10031074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,991 milesAntioch, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 complaint #10031993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesEnon, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10029897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amelia, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #10004641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stockton, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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.
NHTSA complaint #8010546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melburn, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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.
NHTSA complaint #896718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Butler, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
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.
NHTSA complaint #751034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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 complaint #748781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Elsinore, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
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.
NHTSA complaint #890154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Townsend, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLE IN DASH WHEN USING LEFT BLINKER, THE CRACKLING NOISE GOES FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO THE CD PLAYER. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #785297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bruster, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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.
NHTSA complaint #873845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indian Trail, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT TO PULL OVER AND CUT OFF. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER COULD HEAR CAR ARKING.
NHTSA complaint #864743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chula Vista, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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.
NHTSA complaint #717051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tempe, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
PCM FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tempe, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waller, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENLY WENT OUT ALL GAUGES RADIO ETC FRONT AREA. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND NOTHING WAS BURNT OUT. RESTARTED ENGINE FOUR TIMES BEFORE RESET AND THEN WAS OK. HAVE HAD RECURRING LOCKING OF BRAKES AND GRINDING LOSE OF CONTROL AT LOW SPEEDS AND ON WET ROADS. DISC BRAKES HAVE NO WEAR INDICATORS ON PADS AND IT RESULTED IN BEING WORN DOWN AND ATE INTO THE FRONT ROTORS BEFORE I WAS AWARE THAT THE PADS WERE SHOT. I HAD TO BUY NEW ROTORS AND PADS AND THE REPLACEMENT PADS ALSO DID NOT HAVE INDICATORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THAT THEY WERE MANUFATURED AND I THEN STATED THAT THIS WAS A SEVERE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY OVERSIGHT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL ON THIS AND THAT THEY HAD NO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OR BULLETINS ON THIS. MY BATTERY ALSO SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE. I COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE AND A NEW BATTERY HAD TO BE INSTALLED. POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT AND COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED BY DRIVERS SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #714349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waller, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENLY WENT OUT ALL GAUGES RADIO ETC FRONT AREA. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND NOTHING WAS BURNT OUT. RESTARTED ENGINE FOUR TIMES BEFORE RESET AND THEN WAS OK. HAVE HAD RECURRING LOCKING OF BRAKES AND GRINDING LOSE OF CONTROL AT LOW SPEEDS AND ON WET ROADS. DISC BRAKES HAVE NO WEAR INDICATORS ON PADS AND IT RESULTED IN BEING WORN DOWN AND ATE INTO THE FRONT ROTORS BEFORE I WAS AWARE THAT THE PADS WERE SHOT. I HAD TO BUY NEW ROTORS AND PADS AND THE REPLACEMENT PADS ALSO DID NOT HAVE INDICATORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THAT THEY WERE MANUFATURED AND I THEN STATED THAT THIS WAS A SEVERE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY OVERSIGHT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL ON THIS AND THAT THEY HAD NO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OR BULLETINS ON THIS. MY BATTERY ALSO SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE. I COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE AND A NEW BATTERY HAD TO BE INSTALLED. POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT AND COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED BY DRIVERS SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #714349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jacinto, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #609634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.