10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,149 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.

problem #72

Mar 052011

Durango

  • miles
The pin that goes into the spindle on the 1999 Dodge Durango seems to have some huge problem, which can cause a major safety issue to its' drivers. I have read a number of owners' complaints on this same problem for this year of vehicle. We took ours luckily in to get a brake job before my brake fell off and could have caused me to wreck. The pin was easily pulled out and the threading was gone. No nearby junkyards have a spindle for my 4X4 1999 Dodge Durango, they have told me that as soon as they get them in, someone comes to get it. This sounds like it should be a recalled item. How does a pin fall out. We will have to get new spindles and to buy them from the dealership it is $600 each. All because a faulty pin.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #71

Apr 012009

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
1999 Dodge Durango slt / 4WD / 8 cyl 5.9L - vehicle mileage 53,712 as of 08/31/10; the following oem components / parts are defective / broken / worn prematurely causing other parts / components / systems to fail, brake & should be recalled, serviced, replaced by daimler Chrysler, llc at their expense (no wonder they needed bailout $): 4) upper & lower ball joints undersized in mfg. Causing early failure & possible accident;

- Suwanee, GA, USA

problem #70

Apr 062010

Durango

  • 145,000 miles
I bought my 99 Durango 3 months ago & the ball joints are popping & something in the rear is squeaking like an old mattress & the brakes already need replaced & the ac doesn't work. My concern is the number of complaints I have seen regarding accidents from the ball joints breaking & not being able to steer. If this has been an on going issue with vehicles that have low mileage there should be a recall & Dodge pay for the repairs when peoples lives are in danger. Do you really want another Toyota issue?

- Rogers , AR, USA

problem #69

Apr 172010

Durango 4WD

  • 159,000 miles
Control arms upper defective on Dodge Durango 4X4 makes loud popping sound loss of steering control, had to replace both upper control arms left and right and replace all ball joints due to what looks like shredding and shearing.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #68

Aug 012008

Durango

  • 129,146 miles
Steering problems related to linkage affected by brake resivoir leakage onto linkage to the gear box. Fluid ate rubber off of the "joints" that look to be like that of a "U-joint." The first time was a safety issue involving an "oversteer" situation and the underlying condition was not explained or repaired. The linkage was replaced. One year or so later the Durango began to repeat the above situation on an interstate highway at speeds of over 65 miles per hour. Again the linkage was replaced and the master cylinder {not including the resivoir} was replaced at my expense due to the age of my vehicle {or lack of warranty}. the problem still exsists because I have no job to pay for repairs or a different vehicle. I have replaced linkage X2 and master cylinder for this situation, also had axel hubs {sealed units} fail due to dry bearing, both sides front. Oem replacement parts both failed due to dry bearings in less than 12 months. This also caused a dangerous condition at highway speeds. Wobble and oversteering conditions. Prior to these problems the rear sway bar links had disintegrated and were replaced. This vehicle has done no off road 4X4 action for as long as I have owned it. Thank you !!

- Syracuse, IN, USA

problem #67

Oct 122008

Durango

  • 142,000 miles
Had uneven wear after I had put new tires on with a four wheel alignment. Both front wheels are wearing on the inside so I had it evaluated by a dealership which I was informed that I would need new ball joints and tie rods at a price of $2,200. After having this fixed I still have the same problems, so I took it back and they said that I would need new a arms for another $1,800. The vehicle is not even worth fixing.

- Springville, AL, USA

problem #66

Nov 052009

Durango

  • miles
My '99 Dodge Durango is sitting on it's 3rd set of ball joints, and I am told it needs another. I've repeated been told "you're lucky your whole wheel didn't come off while you were driving". this is ridiculous! I am tired of fixing the same problem over and over! I have seen hundreds of complaints at various sites from other consumers complaining of the same problem! why is nothing being done" how many people/families/children will have to die before this auto giant is forced to do the ethical and honorable action of properly repairing this problem" I don't care how much it costs them; they created the problem. Almost all auto giants are receiving bail out money from the government...million...they need to use some of it for a good purpose.

- Sanford, FL, USA

problem #65

Feb 132009

Durango

  • 150,878 miles
Suspension:front hub.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #64

Feb 092008

Durango

  • 125,000 miles
The ball joints failed on my 1999 Dodge Durango with the same clunking noise that the ball joints failed on the 2000 - 2003 Dodge Durango's. your NHTSA campaign number: 04V596000 clearly states this problem. Since you didn't include the 1999 Dodge Durango's in the recall I replaced the ball joints myself. Using the appropriate steps I replaced the bad squeaky, clunking ball joints with new moog ball joints. After about 3 months the front end of my Durango sounded as if it were going to fall off. I took my car to mieneke in spring, Texas to get it evaluated. The manager at this outlet informed me that the ball joints had wallowed out the holes on the upper control arm where the bolts go through ball joint and the upper control arm. He then charged me $1400 to replace the upper control arms on the right and left side and install new ball joints. My Dodge Durango began making noise again about 2 months later. The exact same problem. I called him back and let him know the problem was happening again. He said he would do some research and get back in touch with me. A day or two later he called me and informed me there was a service bulletin out that said you should not replace just the ball joint but you should replace the whole upper control arm that has a new ball joint riveted on to it. He said the metal on the control arm is to weak an malleable. How in the world can Dodge get away with using such cheap metal and parts and why don't all of the parts houses and repair shops know about this problem? only Dodge makes a replacement upper control arm with an attached ball joint for the 2 wheel drive Durango. It cost approximately $400 for each side.

- Spring , TX, USA

problem #63

Sep 142008

Durango

  • 137,000 miles
I own a 1999 Dodge Durango, and like many, almost scary amounts of other Dodge customers, am having numerous issues with this vehicle which provide extreme safety hazards to the drivers and occupants. One of which is an upper ball joint issue, which was recalled on the 2000 model year, but not other years with the same design flaw. Another of which is the automatic transmission not shifting properly, or at all rendering the vehicle 'in neutral' at times while in traffic. Also, a problem, which is starting to occur involves the vehicle to shut down out of nowhere in traffic, leaving the driver to try to navigate this beast to the side of the road without power brakesw/steering etc. If you search the internet, you will find literally thousands of people with these problems, severely endangering every man, woman and child who occupy these trucks. Dodge dealers constantly give owners a runaround and deny they have heard any other claims of these problems. These trucks are unsafe! Chrysler needs to know that, and do something about it!

- Hamden, NY, USA

problem #62

Aug 282008

Durango

  • 107,350 miles
Upper ball joints have too much play and need replacement.

- Milford, CT, USA

problem #61

Jan 052008

Durango

  • 50,000 miles
Ball joints, bushings, control arm, wheel bearings failed. Front wheels had three-four inches of play. When they jacked up vehicle to change tires they said they did not know why tires had not already fallen off. I commute on highway every day and often have my children in the truck. It is only luck or providence that I have not had a front end failure at highway speed. This is potentially fatal and Dodge should stand behind their faulty products and make it right.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #60

Jan 082008

Durango

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I am a single parent with to kids, I am going to college full-time and working to make ends meet. I recently acquired a 1999 Dodge Durango that I now have to either sell, scrap, or something. Due to the need to replace the ball joints and tie rods in the truck, also every time I step on the break my dash lights turn off!!!! why is it that the 1999 nwas not recalled along with the others?

- Cadillac, MI, USA

problem #59

May 252007

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,400 miles
According to dealer... "front end completely worn out." Front end -ball joints, tie rods, and sway bushings all failed. While driving, I began to hear a grinding noise in the area of the front end while the brakes were not engaged. The sound got worse so, instead of risking an accident (as I had my children in the car), I had the vehicle towed to the dealer the same day (the day before memorial day weekend :{ ).

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #58

Oct 162006

Durango 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,360 miles
My wife drives a 1999 Dodge Durango with 80,000 miles. A few days ago my wife noticed a strange noise coming from the front end. I wanted to drive the vehicle to see what my wife was talking about. The next morning I drove the vehicle as I took my daughter to school. I dropped off my daughter then I continued driving to listen for any strange noises. I noticed a clanking noise coming from the front tire at the driver''s side. The noise seemed to increase as I went over small bumps on the road, and while turning. I decided to take the vehicle to the nearest auto shop immediately. I told the mechanic about the problem and he was interested in taking the vehicle for a test drive, to hear what I was talking about. As we drove on to the highway the noise was getting worse. We tried to pull off on the next intersection to return to the shop when the front tire assembly came completely off the vehicle. Thank god we were driving at a low speed and no further accidents occurred, but it could have been bad. We had the vehicle towed back to the shop and it is being worked on. It appears that the wheel bearing lost lubrication and broke into pieces.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #57

Oct 182006

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles
I have a 99 Dodge Durango 4X4 with a 5.9L engine and I continually have to replace the front tires due to excessive wear from the inside tread. I went to get a front alignment and the establishment told me that I would have to replace all the ball joints and steering rods to be able to do an alignment. These have to be defective since I know people with the same issues that I have. I have not repaired the problem since it is a expensive problem to fix.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #56

Jan 092006

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have a 1999 Dodge Durango with 107,000 miles on it. The front end has been pulling to the right for some time now, I have taken the truck to the dealerdhip before to get checked and they it was fine.I have recently put the truck in shop for inspection and alignment and the repair shop said that the ball joints are very worn and the right side is loose.I have checked the recall was 2000-2003.the repair shop told me if the truck was made in late 1999 then maybe there is a chance to be recalled.I have called chrylser about it but they will not respond.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #55

Sep 272005

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,006 miles
While driving less than 600 from my house in my 1999 green Dodge Durango 4 door the power steering went out causing an accident with a parked car. I had the car had to be towed to the Dodge dealership in Warren Michigan I was told that the power steering seal blew causing the loss of power assist steering. The loss of this type of failure as you know makes driving harder that a car without power steering at all. I ask the dealership to have DCC look into the cause of this failure which cause the accident without any prior leaks or loss of fluid. The investigation letter stated that a vehicle that was built June 23, 1999 and had 66,006 miles would have these kinds of failures. The vehicle was inspected less than 3000 miles prior when it was taken in for air conditioning core issues. The dealership did an inspection and found other leaks but did not find issue with the power steering pump. I have looked all around the vehicle and operator's manual which does not have this information that steering can be hampered when the vehicle is older than 50K miles. The cost of the work to get he suspension, ball joints, tie rods, control arms, you name it will be just less than $5,000 dollars. Does DCC know people could be injured or killed by these kind of problems. I hope this will not go on unfound ears. Keep up the good work!!!!! stacy scicluna, Warren Michigan 586-757-7947.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #54

May 142005

Durango 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles
Consumer states: On the front end driver's side, the lower and upper ball joints were bad and had to be replaced. The boot was completely blown out. It was making a squeaking noise and had a different drive.

- Lawernceville , GA, USA

problem #53

Sep 022004

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
Front end suspension worn out. And ABS brakes; the brakes work but the anti-lock doesn't work.

- West Haven, CT, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »