1998 Dodge DURANGO: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER VIEW DURING NIGHTTIME. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001592 at NHTSA ↗

INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE

Owner-reported narrative. 34,160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002904 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE ON THE WAY TO WORK, OIL PRESSURE GOES TO 0 AND TRUCK STALLED. GOT TRUCK TOWED TO SHOP AND WAS INFORMED BY SHOP THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP. ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY PROBLEM WE HAVE EVER HAD WITH THIS TRUCK AND NOW I SEARCH THE INTERNET AND FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND THAT THE COMPANY DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR ENGINES AND DOESN'T ADMIT THERE IS ANY PROBLEMS. NOW WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE $4,000 - $6,000 TO GET A NEW ENGINE AND STILL MAKE A TRUCK PAYM…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003320 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 78,000 MILES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003949 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004641 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DURANGO WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST WEEK I NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER IN CORYDON, INDIANA. THAT I HAVE PURCHASED 2 OTHER VEHICLES FROM. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER ALL THE COST OF REPAIRS, OR THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET CHRYSLER TO PAY HALF. I THINK THIS EXTREMELY UNFAIR. I HAVE HAD REAR DIFFERENTIAL VEHICLES WITH WELL OVER 100,000 MILES THAT ARE STILL MOVING WITH NO DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING T…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005056 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE PLAY AND OFF-CENTERED STEERING WAS CORRECTED AT 47K MILES BY DEALER- ADJUSTMENT TO THE STEERING BOX. PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AT 87K MILES. CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH OFF CENTERED STEERING AND NOW-GROWING TRACKING PROBLEMS WITH CONSTANT CORRECTIONS NEEDED TO KEEP VEHICLE IN STRAIGHT LINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005095 at NHTSA ↗

DODGE DURANGO SLUDGE ENGINE

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005141 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-05-08 (May 8, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 1998-01-30 (January 30, 1998)

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.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE GENERATOR CABLE AND BATTERY CABLE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.

Reported: 1999-12-02 (December 2, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT AN UNDERBODY CROSSMEMBER EVENTUALLY WEARING A HOLE IN THE TUBE.

Consequence: IF THE TUBE WERE PERFORATED, THERE WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 1999-12-02 (December 2, 1999)

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.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: 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.