10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
107,796 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1999 Dodge Durango:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #123

Mar 102014

Durango

  • 220,000 miles
Engine shutdown, out of the blue. Nobus appeared on odometer. All gauges were on 0, but all other electronics worked. Starter would crank, but ignition would not ignite. I'm not sure if fuel pump went on or not. Vehicle would not start back up for apx 20 minutes. A couple days later, it happened again, then twice in one day. The quickest, but temporary, solution is to cool down PCM. An ice pack works great! but this is not always convenient. Needless to say, problem is worse on hot days. Once this happens, you need to replace PCM because solder joints are broken within. When unit cools, metal contracts, and contact is made again, and truck will start. But keep in mind-the solder joints are still broken. When unit heats back up, metal will expand, and connection will be lost again, causing engine shutdown and no bus to electrical ignition system. The very first time this happened, I had gone over a bump, which is probably what initially "broke" the solder joint. A new PCM can run $400. One from a junk yard could work, but there's always the risk that, it too, has the same problem-maybe that's why the truck is in the junkyard to begin with! and if it was in front end collision, good chance it won't be any good either! I've owned my Durango for 13 years, and it has never really left me stranded. But now that it has this problem, combined with bad design of front hub assy, vehicle is very unsafe and it's time to retire it - even though motor still runs strong.

- Port Hueneme, CA, USA

problem #122

Jan 162014

Durango

  • 129,800 miles
Electrical problem just shuts the whole electrical system down "while I'm driving", at any speed...doesn't matter the temperature, it happens on any day, and at random. Major safety issue, brakes and steering become unusable. Just missed rear ending a vehicle the other day which got me to have to write this. I have to remove electrical terminal from post for 30 seconds, put back on terminal post, then hopefully it starts. I cant even drive my family anymore due to safety hazard.it has happened at least thirty times now. Local Dodge dealer says they have no idea whats the matter, yet hundreds of owners online postings prove what I am saying. Please resolve this before someone, perhaps myself, dies.....

- Corbett, OR, USA

problem #121

Jan 062014

Durango

  • 184,700 miles
I have a 1999 Dodge Durango and I was on the highway driving 60 mph, out of nowhere the vehicle just shuts down and a semi truck was an inch from striking my vehicle from behind. The semi left skid marks that where 25 feet long. I have replaced the PCM, crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor and the ignition coil and still no fix. This is my only car and I have to get to work everyday, I have no other means of transportation and I cant afford another car. I feel that my life is in jeopardy every time I drive this car. I have been in several near misses such as this one. Does someone have to die before a solution is found?

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #120

Nov 112010

Durango 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
You go down the road doesn't mater how fast or slow you go just shots down put 2 PCM in does the same than shut down and say no bus had to pay a shop to say the PCM was no good to send it back to get a no one.

- Oroville, CA, USA

problem #119

Oct 102013

Durango

  • 163,000 miles
Hampton, va. This morning I was driving my kids to school, and the truck just turned off. I lost the power steering & brakes. I was in a school zone, I was going under 25 mph when this happened. After me and the kids pushed the car out of the street, I let the truck cool off for about 20 minutes then it started up and I was able to drive home. By my understanding from blogs and the Dodge customer service is a known issue, but nothing has been done about this.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #118

Sep 082013

Durango 8-cyl

  • miles
On 9/8/2013, the car quit without warning. The car had been running at highway speed without issue and without any warning lights. The engine stopped running many miles from any assistance. The engine continued to crank over. There was plenty of gasoline. There was no spark from the ignition system, coil, plugs, etc. There have many previous events. There have been many engine electrical system repairs. Including the PCM at ~$1600 55 weeks ago.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #117

May 062009

Durango

  • miles
When I turn on my headlights the instrument cluster, panel, lights go out the turn signal arrows light up. At night this is very dangerous as you can not see how fast you are going and also if any of the warning lights were to come on you would not know because you can't see them as they do not light up. This is also a problem during the day because of the instrument lights are out. When I crank car the chimes do not always sound. I am getting shocked when I stop turn off car and get out and touch the door to close it.

- Temple, GA, USA

problem #116

Aug 292012

Durango

  • 225,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 50 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and was able to restart the vehicle thirty minutes later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact replaced the ignition coil. After the repair the failure continued. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 225,000.

- Millville, NJ, USA

problem #115

Oct 182008

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
I was driving on the road on a busy road and it shut off on me..I could not turn the wheel to get off the road...someone almost rear ended me because of it!..its has done this to me several times...it scared me so bad that I quit driving it!

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #114

Mar 062012

Durango

  • miles
Vehicle shuts down without warning also losing power steering, brakes etc. May or may not start after 15 minutes or so. Have had grandkids with me on 2 separate occasions, one being sitting in 90 degree heat for over an hour and vehicle wouldnt start, waiting on tow. Another time vehicle shut down and had to jump lanes and coast to get to side road to stop. Very, very dangerous situations many times! havent drove it since. Sitting in driveway around 3 months. ABS has also gone out.

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #113

Jun 072012

Durango

  • 110,000 miles
I was driving down the highway when the vehicle powered down without notice. I lost my power steering and the powered brakes. It would randomly without any warning. Turns out it was the computer, and the mechanic said that Dodge is notorious for the computer failing. The computer is very close to the engine, and this causes the board to warp and connections to break. These cars need to be recalled, and this issue needs to be addressed, or it will get someone killed.

- Drumright, OK, USA

problem #112

Jun 022012

Durango 8-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
While driving on a highway at speeds of 60-65 mph, with my child, my vehicle's engine died without warning, without indications of imminent failure, no symptoms or signs of stress. The dash lights and alarms did not send notification until I was already coasting down the side of the emergency lane. While trying to steer the suddenly nonpowered steering wheel thru traffic I began to worry if we were going to make it to the side without hurting anyone or damaging any vehicles. At the time I was just thankful to have made it home with my child in one piece but soon I realized this story could have had a much worse outcome. The vehicle's ECM was faulty and resulted in an electrical issue that caused the entire system to temporarily shutdown without notice.

- Owensboro, KY, USA

problem #111

Jun 032012

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 138,001 miles
I was driving on the highway at 65mph, and the vehicle shut off completely. Lost power steering, power brakes, everything. Had 3 small children in the car and had to with all my power (I am 5'9" 235 lbs) navigate the vehicle to the side of the road. I have found this is extremely common problem with this vehicle. Many of the posts state is a manufacturing flaw of where the PCM is placed in the engine.

- Chico, CA, USA

problem #110

Mar 272011

Durango

  • 146,000 miles
We experienced within 1 week of purchase (March 2011) the frequent stalling out, along with total loss of power brakes and power steering that has been reported by hundreds of 1999 owners. The problem occurs in primarily hot summer weather, but has also occurred in spring and fall weather with any temps over 70 degrees, although less frequently.the actions required are to raise the hood, wait for the unit to cool (or cool it artificially with cold water or ice pack) until the vehicle will restart. Over a year period of experimenting, I have lessened but not cured the problem. All the solutions are related to increasing the airflow to the cpu/PCM area, which chronically overheats due to its location. If Dodge would recall the 1999 model, I can imagine either of two solutions at minimal cost. (photos of my solutions are available.) if the air guard to the passenger side of the radiator has the top half removed, then it is simple to install an intake tube or shaft to direct air thru the grille to the PCM. A plastic, easy installed unit would be the lowest cost solution. Failing this, the relocation of the PCM with a mounting bracket kit and a harness extension would allow placement of the unit in a cooler location (like right behind the new grille opening). My wife loses all braking and steering power assist when the engine stalls, sometimes when turning across oncoming traffic. This is a severe safety issue. It has occurred at least twice a week in hot weather for a year now, and on May 28th, 2012, it occurred 6 times within 40 miles during a 120 mile trip.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #109

Sep 292011

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 154,000 miles
Vehicle dies at stop light. I push it to the side of the road to investigate. Vehicle engine cranks but doesn't fire. On odometer display it says no bus. Fuel pump not coming on when ignition is turned on. I walk to parts store and buy fuel pump relay, or circuit breaker. Put it in, fuel pump comes on engine starts. Wife is driving it two days later. Vehicle dies in busy intersection. Nice people push her off the road way. She calls me, I tell her to take circuit breaker to parts store and get new one. She replaces breaker, she's on the road again. So now I do some reading find out circuit breakers just get hot stop working, cool down and work again. So some thing is drawing too much current. Replace the fuel pump and filter, big pain in the you know what. Vehicle dies two days later. Nice man pulls me off the road. I leave vehicle sit for an hour. Vehicle starts back up. So I just go on vehicle dies on me all the time. Fast food lines, busy intersections, it dies every where, every temp. I don't let mommy drive it anymore. I don't trust it to carry my baby anymore. I cant sell it. I have read about people having same exact problems. They say replace fuel pump, did it. Replace computer, did that. Several years ago dealer ship put new computer in cost me $1200. All for a problem similar to this one. Vehicle died at stop lights, but started up right away. I have replaced so many parts, every thing is new. I cant trust it. Its very unsafe. I cant knowingly sell it to some body. Thanks Dodge.

- Butte , MT, USA

problem #108

Mar 312012

Durango 8-cyl

  • 146,672 miles
I was pulling a boat to the lake when the vehicle just cut off, I lost all power such as power steering, power brakes.this could have cause a major accident ! once I got on the side of the road and opened the hood I moved around the wires on the computer, I heard the fuel pump engage and then I started it. It ran a few minutes and did it again ! both times their was a bus error on the odometer. As I have studied this problem, computers (PCM) are overheating and causing connection problems. This is going to cause people to have accidents and get people killed ! Dodge needs to fix this problem ! there are many !

- Lanett, AL, USA

problem #107

Feb 042012

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 113,500 miles
Vehicle dies with no notice, problem is PCM. This is a widely known problem with several years of the Dodge products. The PCM fails and the car can lose power while in operation. This is a dangerous situation because the car can lose power while operating on the highway or at any speed! Dodge refuses to acknowledge the problem. A replacement PCM is reported to resolve the problem temporarily. Some complaints indicate that it's an overheating issue, however mine stalls and dies in various weather conditions. Usually, I can unplug the connectors to the PCM and plug them back in to reset the computer and the vehicle will start and run again for a period of time. Since this problem is so unpredictable, the car is not safe to have on the road.

- Merriam, KS, USA

problem #106

Sep 292011

Durango

  • 156,000 miles
When driving at highway speeds the engine will suddenly shut off losing power steering and brakes. After sitting for 10 to 30 minutes it will restart and run for an additional distance until shutting off and repeating the same symptoms again. It will sometimes perform normally for days until once again quitting for no reason. Multiple components have been replaced without correcting the problem. Dodge denies there being any problems with the vehicle but there are many instances of the same condition being reported on internet sites from around the country.

- Holiday Hills, IL, USA

problem #105

Dec 032011

Durango 8-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
To whom it may concern, it seems like this is a serious problem that Dodge should have to stand behind. It is very dangerous. The vehicle just dies. Will start up about 5 minutes later. Seems like a computer problem. I have previewed where this has happened to a lot of people. Same problem.

- Nokomis, FL, USA

problem #104

Aug 092011

Durango

  • 150,000 miles
My Durango randomly dies during operation and on several occasions has endangered lives of civilians.

- Great Falls , MT, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »