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#BS-1998-DODDUR-8F2B1998 Dodge Durango
Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,000 complaints, 54 crashes, 8 fires, and 6 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.4x the class average.
Top reported problems
transmission failure
13 complaints • Severity 9.1/10
defective ball joints
8 complaints • Severity 8/10
abs brake lights are constantly on
7 complaints • Severity 6.3/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
174 owners reported suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint issues — failures commonly reported around 64K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (137 reports) • Median: 64K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint (174 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
1998 Dodge Durango: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint Issues
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 1998 Dodge Durango, with 174 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 64,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 64K-mile mark.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint Issues
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 1998 Dodge Durango, with 144 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls Issues
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 1998 Dodge Durango, with 33 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility:power window devices and controls-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 1998 Dodge Durango, with 33 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1998 Dodge Durango. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (6 recalls)
AIR BAGS
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT AN UNDERBODY CROSSMEMBER EVENTUALLY WEARING A HOLE IN THE TUBE.
+ 1 more recall in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Dodge Durango is the 2004 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
1998 Dodge Durango vs. Class Average (Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD)
This vehicle
1,000
Class avg
229
4.4x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical special purpose vehicle 4wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Dodge Durango Model Years
1998 Dodge Durango: Frequently Asked Questions
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.