1999 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 Durango most often report front suspension work, especially upper and lower ball joints wearing out well before expected, sometimes at very low mileage. A second recurring theme is the engine shutting off while driving, often in warm weather, which also takes away power steering and brake assist. Other reports cover transmission, brake and electrical faults on an aging vehicle.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front ball joints wear out early

   • 939 complaints (48%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (628 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $950 (median of 103 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2019

   Complaints describe upper and lower ball joints on the front end needing replacement at mileages owners consider premature, sometimes twice on the same vehicle. Symptoms include clunking or popping over dips and turns, uneven front tire wear, wandering that will not hold an alignment, and in some accounts the front wheel assembly moving far more on one side than the other. Owners report dealers and shops replacing the joints and control arms, and some say they were told the wear was normal or that the joints could not be serviced with greasable parts. Reported from roughly 13,000 to 90,000 miles, with many clustered between 40,000 and 75,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the front upper and lower ball joints and control arms on a lift, and ask for service records showing whether they were already replaced. Check front tire wear patterns and whether the truck holds an alignment.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1999 Dodge Durango 4wd. Within the last twelve months I had to replace the ball joints, wheel bearings and everything else that goes with it on both the left and right front tires. With all the problems from the 1998 to 2003 models, I do not understand why the 98 and 99 models are not included also. Vehicle has less than 80,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102995, filed 2004-12, 70,000 miles

   “I own a 1999 Dodge Durango which had to have the upper and lower ball joints as well as the control arms replaced at a cost of $1200. As an owner of a Durango, I do not feel the recall should be limited to model years 2000 to 2003. It is evident that the faulty parts used by Dodge were used in model years prior to 2000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102739, filed 2004-12, 48,859 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine shuts off while driving (stalling)

   • 317 complaints (16%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (229 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 33 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2020

   Owners describe the engine cutting out without warning at highway or city speeds, with gauges dropping and power steering and brake assist lost at the same time. Several report the vehicle restarts after sitting, and some mention a NO BUS message on the dash or rough idling beforehand. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits where the cause could not be reproduced, and in some cases the powertrain control module was replaced. Reported from about 55,000 to 200,000 miles, with several owners noting it happens more often in warm weather above roughly 70 degrees.

   What to check: Ask whether the powertrain control module or engine computer has been replaced and whether any stalling diagnosis was recorded. A test drive long enough to warm the engine, ideally on a warm day, is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1999 Dodge Durango - approx 80,000 miles - 1 owner. On hot days, when outside temp is in mid-80s or above, vehicle stalls and nobus light comes on. Vehicle is currently as chyrsler dealer for repairs, although they don't know what to fix. After researching the internet, I've found atleast 80 pages of the same complaint with the same year/make/model. People are begging for a recall. It is a safety issue. I've contacted chryler twice and have been given the run-a-round. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10233752, filed 2008-07, 80,000 miles

   “I have a 1999 Dodge Durango with 73,000 miles. We had the transmission replaced and other major repairs done to it last year. Since then it has given us nothing but trouble. This car is our family car so we travel everywhere with the kids in the back. It has stalled and died on us often. At times on the freeway in the middle of traffic and other times in the middle of intersections. The power steering goes and so do the brakes. I have been lucky so far in avoiding accidents. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10142509, filed 2005-11, 73,286 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Hub bearings, tie rods and front-end play

   • 190 complaints (10%)
   • median 65,141 mi at 5.5 yrs old (142 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 34 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2019

   Complaints describe front wheel hub bearings rumbling and needing replacement on both sides, inner tie rods going bad, and steering assembly play found during inspection. Some owners report the same bearing failing more than once, and others mention a pull to one side or a binding front end after switching out of four-wheel drive. Reported from about 40,000 to 87,000 miles, with several under 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Listen for rumbling or vibration while turning at speed, and have the front end checked for wheel bearing play, tie rod play and steering slack.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We just had the right hub bearing changed in may 2003. Now the same bearing is bad again and the tie rod ends are going bad and the upper and lower ball joints (these problems are on both the left and right side) it just seems to me that this is an awful lot of problems for a truck that is only 4 yrs old. The extended warrenty I bought on it doesn't cover any thing but the hub bearings. We bought this because we needed a family size vehichle, now I'm afraid to put my kids in it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10071128, filed 2004-01, 80,000 miles

   “The entire front wheel hub on driver and passenger sides had to be replaced at 56,740 miles, I would like to add these were easy highway miles. It happened without warning, I was driving when I noticed a loud rumble and vibration under my feet when turning the wheel slightly, I immediately went to my mechanic an was surprised when he put it on the rack and both wheels rocked back and forth!! This could have caused a serious accident had they let go while traveling 50mph. Just would like to know if anyone else experienced this problem? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10007648, filed 2003-02, 56,740 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and torque converter faults

   • 140 complaints (7%)
   • median 73,146 mi at 6.1 yrs old (86 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2020

   Complaints describe the transmission failing to shift into third gear, torque converter failure, and in some cases a full transmission replacement. Owners report paying for the repairs themselves and, in one account, a leaking transfer case replaced by the dealer at no cost. Reported from about 35,000 to 93,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check for slipping, delayed or harsh shifts on a test drive through all gears, and ask for transmission service records or a rebuild receipt.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1999 Dodge Durango - regarding suspension and steering. At 42,000 miles had to have left and right lower ball joints replaced, left and right upper control arms replaced. Chrysler would not cover total cost. My out of pocket cost was $728.45. Also dealer replaced leaking transfer case (a defect) no cost to me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10028968, filed 2003-07, 42,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake and ABS problems with a low pedal

   • 152 complaints (8%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (84 state mileage)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2019

   Owners describe the ABS shutting off and leaving a low, soft brake pedal, and one account links repeated front brake work to undersized rotors. Another complaint describes brakes overheating with a burning odor during a repeated steering and pulling problem. Repairs described include brake system work with aftermarket parts and rotor and pad replacement. Reported from about 20,000 to 90,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS light comes on and whether the brake pedal feels firm and high. Check rotor condition and whether brake work has been documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Early generation Dodge Durango (98-01) has ABS problems, causing ABS to shut down, leaving the brake pedal very low. I have researched this to be a very common problem and the vehicle was never recalled on this. Fix to problem seems to only be a complete brake system rebuild, with aftermarket parts to fix the problem and not have it return again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10296170, filed 2009-12, 90,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle veered to the left and the power assist pulled to the right. The contact heard a loud noise and smoke appeared under the hood. In addition, the vehicle was not running properly and the brakes overheated with a burning odor. The contact observed severe tire wear. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the vehicle was repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10242416, filed 2008-09, 20,000 miles

Buying note. Front suspension work, particularly ball joints, is the most common thing owners of this model year report, so a pre-purchase inspection of the front end and service records matter more here than cosmetics. Also budget for transmission and brake checks, and ask directly about any history of the engine cutting out while driving.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.