1998 Dodge Durango — Known Issues & Recalls

Your driver's side power seat moves backward about 2 inches when you accelerate and forward again when you brake. The seat's position should remain fixed and not shift with acceleration or braking. This movement could worsen over time and potentially cause the seat mechanism to fail completely. The issue may require inspection and repair of the power seat track mechanism or motor assembly.

Your driver's side power seat moves backward about 2 inches when you accelerate and forward the same amount when you brake. This movement happens because the seat isn't staying securely in place during acceleration and braking. The issue may worsen over time and could eventually cause complete seat failure, which raises safety concerns for you and your passengers. A repair would likely involve inspecting and replacing the seat track mechanism or mounting hardware.

Your driver's side electric seat moves backward when you accelerate and slides forward when you brake, making it feel like you might go through the windshield. This happens because the seat isn't staying in position during these movements. The fix would likely involve inspecting and repairing the seat track mechanism or the electric seat motor to ensure it locks properly during driving.

Your driver's seat track broke while driving, causing the seat to slide back and forth during acceleration, braking, or normal driving. This movement throws your body forward and backward, which could cause you to lose control and get into an accident. The seat track likely needs to be repaired or replaced to keep the seat stable.

You heard a snapping sound under your driver's seat while accelerating, and now the power seat rocks back and forth when you accelerate or brake. You've found reports of the same issue online, with some owners reporting their seats actually slide along the seat rails. If the seat can slide freely during hard acceleration or emergency braking, it could affect your ability to control the vehicle safely. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing or replacing the seat track assembly and mounting hardware.

While driving on a bumpy unpaved road, your driver's seat slid back and forth and you heard a snapping sound. The seat then dropped and now sits at an awkward angle, sliding forward and backward whenever you stop or accelerate. This makes the seat very uncomfortable and unstable while driving. The seat track or locking mechanism may need to be repaired or replaced to keep the seat in a fixed position.

Your airbag failed to deploy during a crash on August 11, 2015, when your vehicle was struck on the right side while making a left turn. This is related to a Takata airbag recall. A faulty airbag system that doesn't deploy when needed poses a serious safety risk during accidents.

All four of your power windows have stopped working. The window regulators, which are the mechanical components that control the windows, have failed on all doors.

Your CV joint failed and damaged the lower ball joints, causing the suspension to rub against your inner rim. This rubbing eventually cracked your rim while you were driving. Even after replacing the CV joint, wheel hub bearing, both upper and lower ball joints, and steering ball joint, the lower ball joint is still hitting the rim and making your vehicle undrivable. The repair will likely require a complete suspension geometry inspection and realignment, plus potentially replacing additional suspension components.

You noticed an abnormal noise coming from the front end of your Durango when driving at low speeds. A mechanic diagnosed the problem as worn front upper and lower ball joints that need replacement. Replacing these ball joints will involve removing and installing new joints at the front suspension connection points.

Your vehicle stalled on an uneven driveway, and when you tried to push it to safety, the steering wheel became extremely difficult or impossible to turn — a problem you've experienced before due to low power steering fluid. The situation escalated when the vehicle unexpectedly started in reverse on its own and began moving backward without anyone pressing the accelerator, resulting in a crash that injured occupants and damaged two vehicles and a structure.

Your airbag deployed late during a serious collision (T-bone accident at combined speeds around 80 mph), which allowed you to hit your chest on the steering wheel and your head on the windshield before the airbag inflated. You're concerned whether your airbag may have been defective or degraded over time, and you want to know if it could be a Takata airbag not yet on a recall list. The fix would involve having the airbag system inspected and potentially replaced if found to be defective.

Your Durango was involved in a crash after losing control on black ice at 20 mph, rolling over after hitting a wall. During the crash, the airbags did not deploy and the seat belt unlatched instead of holding the driver in place. Both the driver and passenger experienced back injuries, with the passenger eventually requiring spinal surgery. Addressing this would require inspection and possible replacement of the airbag system, seat belt assembly, and related safety mechanisms.

While driving your truck around 7:30 p.m., you noticed it losing power and saw smoke in your side mirror. You pulled over and your truck caught fire, which required the fire department to respond. They had to remove the boot around the 4-wheel drive lever to extinguish the flames, and your truck was destroyed. The fire likely originated from an electrical short circuit or damaged wiring in the 4WD system area.

Your automatic transmission failed at 31,418 miles with metal shavings found in the pan, requiring replacement under warranty. At 74,064 miles, your front ball joints failed inspection and needed replacement on both sides at a cost of $701 plus tax. The complaint suggests this was a widespread problem affecting approximately 50% of 1998-2000 Durangos due to the vehicle's heavier weight being placed on a chassis originally designed for the lighter Dakota pickup truck. Fixing ball joint failure typically involves replacing the upper and lower ball joints and may require a front-end alignment.

Your engine suddenly shuts off while idling, and even after a mechanic replaced the fuel injection lines, the problem keeps happening. You've also noticed that your ceiling light turns on by itself when you press the accelerator, and you hear a banging noise from the front of the vehicle when you press the brake pedal—a mechanic couldn't figure out what's causing these issues. The fixes may involve replacing fuel system components, investigating electrical connections, and diagnosing the front-end noise source.

Your low beam headlights have stopped working. This happened at 241,000 miles on your 1998 Dodge Durango. The vehicle wasn't taken in for diagnosis or repair, and Dodge wasn't notified of the issue. Getting your headlights working again will likely involve replacing the bulbs, checking the wiring, or repairing the headlight switch.

Your Durango's engine wouldn't accelerate properly while driving at low speed — even pressing the gas pedal all the way down wouldn't make it go faster than 30 mph. This could indicate a fuel delivery, ignition timing, or throttle control problem that needs diagnostic testing to identify the root cause.

Your antilock brake system (ABS) warning light stays on continuously, and a dealership charged you $1,100 to replace a sensor but couldn't fully fix the problem — the light still comes on intermittently. The dealership then suggested paying another $350 for an additional part (possibly a module) but you left without completing the repair. When the ABS warning light is on, your antilock brakes may not function properly, which affects your braking system's safety features. You may need a second opinion from an independent mechanic to diagnose whether the sensor, module, wiring, or another component is causing the persistent warning light.

Your rear tire suddenly fell apart while you were driving at normal speeds, causing the back of your vehicle to feel unstable. You discovered the tire was torn apart once you reached your destination. The tire may have failed due to a manufacturing defect or damage, and will need to be replaced with a new one.