10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,286 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Dodge Durango engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Dodge Durango Owner Comments

problem #7

Jan 122021

Durango

  • 240,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 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.

- Fortuna, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 272002

(reported on)

Durango

  • miles
While driving cruise control unexpectedly activated without manual operation. Driver applied brakes, and they failed to stop vehicle, driver also turned cruise control switch off and vehicle continued to accelerate. After inspection of vehicle it was determined that throttle was stuck in open postion. To gain temporary control of vehicle throttle was released, and cruise control system was disconnected.

- North Newton, KS, USA

problem #5

May 112001

(reported on)

Durango

  • miles
While driving with cruise control activated when brakes were applied. Cruise control deactivated, causing loss of control.

- Lagrange, CA, USA

problem #4

Jul 072000

Durango

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer was driving at 50 mph when vehicle started to accelerate on its own, hitting speeds of 80 mph. Consumer applied brakes, but did not override the accelration. Consumer then shifted into park, lost control of vehicle, turned igntion to off positon and pulled it out, wheels was still spinning for about 2-3 seconds afterwards.

- Vale, NC, USA

problem #3

May 131998

Durango 4WD

  • miles
The problems we had with the windows, going down by itself and then not being able to get them up was reported to the dealer (tomkinson Dodge) twice. The first time, they said they fixed it, but it wasn't. the second time, the window went down by itself, we couldn't get it up. Reported to dealer (tomkin Dodge), they told us to take door panel off and pull window up until they could get to it. The inside window cable was so badless twisted and tangled, it was about to broke. They worked on it, again saying it was fixed. Window again went down (I don't remember the time span after being "fixed". so this time we took it to evans chrsler-Plymouth-ddoge in kendallville to be fixed. They replaced all the window regulators, and have had no problems with the windows since. There was a object rattling around in the rear hatch when closing it that tomkin Dodge could not seem to fix, but evans did. The vehicle also uses a lot of oil in between oil changes, we changethe oil every 2000 miles and would have to put 3 or 4 quarts in between changes. Took it to evans for this problem on Feb. 7, 2000, in which they replaced four gaskets; intake manifold pkg.,throttle body, thermostat, cleaned combustion chamber and also repaired the hood hinges. We will see if this takes care of the problem. I think for a $30,000 vechicle that it should hold up better than it has. There also seems to be a problem when driving on wet pavement. It sides around then stopping and taking off. Have not had this checked out yet.

- Laotto, IN, USA

problem #2

Nov 261999

Durango

  • miles
Cruise control failed to disengage resulting in damage to vehicle due to loss of control.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #1

May 111998

Durango 4WD

  • miles
1. stops or misses gears on upshift when accelerating. This occurs frequently, and is most apparent when towing/merging into faster traffic, or traveling up an incline. This slip causes the engine to rev into the very high rpms. The last time this occurred, a belt broke and caused the loss of steering in the truck. 2. shift indicator on the dash does not display indicator when in D drive position. The indicator is lost between neutral and drive positions. 3. noticeable vibration in the gas pedal when driving in certain speed ranges. It is most noticeable when accelerating between 30 to 40 and 60 to 70. 4.vibration noise can be heard and can be felt in the gas pedal. This is a recent development ( since Nov, 1998 ).

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

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