1999 Dodge Dodge Truck Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1999 Dodge truck most often describe worn upper and lower ball joints, frequently found during routine service, alignment, or tire replacement. Other complaints describe brake failures or corroded brake lines, dashboards that crack or collapse, and stalling or loss of power while driving. Many ball joint complaints say the vehicle was left out of a later ball joint recall that covered other model years.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Worn upper and lower ball joints

   • 19 complaints (37%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2007

   Owners describe upper and lower ball joints that were worn or cracked, sometimes found during tire replacement, alignment, or a dealer inspection. Some describe a shaking front end, noise, or a vehicle that felt hard to control, and some describe high repair estimates for the joints and tie rods. Many complaints say the vehicle was excluded from a ball joint recall covering other model years, and owners ask why it was not included, while some say a dealer declined warranty work or said the recall did not apply. Mileage is mostly between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with a few reports at about 38,000 and about 116,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for the VIN to be checked for open ball joint recalls, and ask for records of any ball joint or alignment work. A pre-purchase inspection can check the upper and lower ball joints for play and look for uneven front tire wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I heard on the radio this morning that Dodge may recall the 2000 thru 2004 dakota thucks due to ball joint problems. I have a 1999 dakota and my mechanic told me that the ball joints need to be replaced. My complaint is if they are going to recall the 2000 through 2004, why are they not recalling the 1999's? It is my understanding that there is little difference between the 1999 and the 2000. Thank you very much dave ball.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102528, filed 2004-12, 70,000 miles

   “I have a 1999 Dodge durango with 55,000 miles. I took it to jerry's Dodge for a 4-wheel alignment and they told me that it couldn't be aligned because both the upper and the lower ball joints were shot. Also the vehicle needs tie rods. These are obviously defected parts. I should not be having this problem on a vehicle with only 55k miles. The vehicle has never been used off-road. It's only been driven on city & highway paved roads.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102668, filed 2004-12, 55,400 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake failures, corroded lines, and braking shake

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 60,288 mi at 8.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2008

   Owners describe brake lines that were corroded or rotted, and some describe brakes failing while towing a trailer. Other complaints describe front brakes that failed on wet roads and pulled the vehicle to one side, a pad that broke apart and damaged the rotor, and severe shaking when braking that repeated repair attempts did not resolve. According to complaints, a dealer said the original aluminum brake lines were no longer supplied, and another dealer found no fault. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 50,000 to about 116,000 miles, and some brake problems occurred in wet conditions.

   What to check: Ask whether the brake lines and pads have been inspected for corrosion and wear, especially on a truck of this age. During a test drive, check for pulling or pedal shaking, and ask the seller for any records of brake line replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brakes in the 1999 Dodge durango failed while trailing a y boat. I had the truck flat bed to the service station. I was lucky that this happened at the boat ramp so no accident occurred and no one was hurt. I had to have the entire front and rear brake lines replaced. They were completely rotted. I don't think that a truck that is 8 years old should have brakelines rotted as bad as these were. The mechanic said they were the worst he had ever seen. I had him save some of the old brakeline for me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10195217, filed 2007-07, 116,238 miles

   “When pulling trailer brakes went completely out the first time I stepped on the brake pedal, the second time I applied the brakes, the front right passenger tire totally locked up and put a flat spot on tire. I took it to the dealer & they say everything checked out fine. It did this all the way home from our trip. Furthermore, the truck has always had a steering problem, it wanders. The fog lights stopped working shortly after I got the truck as well & the dealer replaced the switch.”

   NHTSA complaint #739502, filed 2001-01
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Dashboard cracking or collapsing

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2010

   Owners describe cracked dashboards that sagged or caved in, and a report describes the collapsed dash falling onto the controls, airbag, fan, and wiring. Some say the problem appeared after the warranty ended, while others say the dealer refused to correct it during the warranty. Several owners say the problem is widespread and ask whether the manufacturer is working on a fix, and an owner describes intermittent electrical problems after the dash collapsed. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 36,000 to about 113,000 miles, and a crack appeared without any force while a truck was in a garage.

   What to check: Look for cracks, lifting, or sagging on the dashboard, especially near the airbag area, and check that the instruments, fan, and controls work normally. Ask whether the dashboard has been repaired or replaced and whether any dashboard-related recall or warranty extension applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recent purchase of 1999 Dodge ram 1500 sport truck. With no force or assistance the dash of the truck cracked once and within seconds another larger crack engulfed the dash. The truck was in the garage when the initial incident happened and the other happened as I stated above seconds later as I backed out of the garage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10226846, filed 2008-05, 113,000 miles

   “I've noticed recent new stories about Dodge Truck dash board collapse problems. Unfortunately, during the time my vehicle was under warranty, Dodge refused to correct the defect. The dash is a total write off now and we are beginning to notice intermittent electrical problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10189438, filed 2007-05, 47,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2010

   Owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, sometimes after several stops when the engine was hot, and losing power steering and gauges at the same time. Other complaints describe a diesel engine that would not accelerate when cold and stayed at idle, a truck that lost power and quit on a hill, and a vehicle that stalled despite several dealer repairs, with a stall leading to a crash. A report describes a transfer fuel pump replaced repeatedly under warranty, and the truck left the owner stranded beside the road more than once. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 90,000 to about 243,000 miles, and some occurred on hills or major highways.

   What to check: Ask for records of any stalling, engine, or fuel pump repairs, and check whether the engine accelerates normally when cold. During a test drive, watch for hesitation, loss of power on hills, or any stall at low speed or idle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transfer fuel pump has been replaced 3 times under warranty, now 140,000 miles the cummins engine needs another pump, has left me stranded beside the road two different occasions. Also 5th gear had to be replaced, I understand this is another problem Dodge has with the nv4500 transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047361, filed 2003-11, 140,000 miles

   “While my step dad was driving my Dodge durango up a hill, the engine revved up, lost power, and quit. The transmission slipped. After blogging about this problem, there appears to be a lot of issues with the transmissions failing at all mileage levels.”

   NHTSA complaint #10298396, filed 2010-01, 243,000 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Steering wander, pulling, and uneven tire wear

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 40,600 mi at 3.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2005

   Owners describe a truck that wanders in the lane, pulls to one side, or has steering that feels loose. Owners also describe front tires wearing unevenly, sometimes on the inside or outside edges, even after regular alignments. Some say the dealer found no current issue or pointed to crown pull, while others suspect a suspension or ball joint problem. Mileage is given in only a few reports, ranging from about 2,200 miles to about 79,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, check whether the truck pulls to one side or wanders on a straight road, and look at front tire wear patterns. Ask for an alignment and a steering and suspension inspection, including the ball joints and tie rods, with records of any past alignment work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my 1999 Dodge durango when I noticed my brand new front tires were wearing funny. I thought the alignment was bad, took it to get fixed, and found out it was all four of the front ball joints. Now there is a horrible shaking in the front end, and squeak. I was quoted close to $1000.00 to fix. I know this has been a very common problem among the 1999 year but the recall is only good for the 2000-2002. I do not have this kind of money to put into something that should be taken care of by the dealers.”

   NHTSA complaint #10124464, filed 2005-06, 79,000 miles

   “The steering is loose. The truck wanders back and forth in the lane. The right front tire wears considerably faster than any of the other tires despite regular alignments performed at a dealership. It is a 1999, Dodge ram 4x4 1500 sport pickup. I have contacted the dealership where purchased as well as corporate headquarters and they stated there are no current issues with this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10133260, filed 2005-08, 2,200 miles

Buying note. A buyer may want a pre-purchase inspection that checks the upper and lower ball joints, tie rods, brake lines, and dashboard, and asks for the VIN to be checked against recall listings. Because several complaints describe recall exclusions and repair estimates for the front end, asking for service records and a written estimate before deciding is practical.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 42 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.