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1998 Dodge Durango Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1998 Dodge Durango has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Automatic transmission slipping or sudden failure.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Dodge Durango.

Reported to NHTSA

Automatic transmission slipping or sudden failure

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2005-12 → 2014-01

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND BEYOND 30 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10558139
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MANUAL SHIFTER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10217264
“WE WERE JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT (A COUPLE OF JERKS AND THEN NO ACCELERATION ABILITY)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10144516

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine oil pressure loss and engine failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

10 NHTSA complaints · 2004-12 → 2010-04

“62K MILES DOING THE SPEED LIMIT ON I/70 EAST OF MT COMFORT EXIT. OIL PRESSURE WENT TO 0 BEFORE I COULD SLOW AND GET TO THE SHOULDER THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD THREW THE OIL PAN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10326917
“OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO 0 WHEN RUNNING. IT HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10215969
“IN OCTOBER OF 2003 MY 2.7 LITER ENGINE WENT WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES. I CHANGED THE OIL IN THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY EVERY 3,000 MILES. I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10104899

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front upper and lower ball joint failure

SUSPENSION

119 NHTSA complaints · 2004-12 → 2016-07

“DODGE DURANGO 1998 BALL JOINT FAILURE AND FULL SEPARATION WITH NO WARNING, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN AN ON-ROAD ACCIDENT TO SEVERAL VEHICLES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10241432
“WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. DEALER STATED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10110873
“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH A GRINDING/POPPING NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT LEFT END OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE NOISE, AND NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD CAME OFF. THE TIRE WAS TURNED OUTWARD AND HANGING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10106644

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver's power seat track rocking or sliding

SEATS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2015-01

“THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR. I LEANED BACK TO ADJUST MY COAT AND SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT BROKE OFF ITS MOUNTING TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT ROCKED VIOLENTLY BACKWARD. I MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10215519
“WHILE ACCELERATING, HEARD A "SNAP" UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS POWER SEAT NOW HAS A ROCKING MOTION WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10459706
“1998 DODGE DURANGO (PURCHASED NEW) DRIVERS POWER SEAT SLIDES UP TO 1+ INCHES BACKWARD AND FORWARD WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR ACCELERATING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10346493

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Hydraulic brake line and caliper mounting failure

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

12 NHTSA complaints · 2004-12 → 2009-06

“DODGE DURANGO 1998 BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH . I CHECKED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND RECALL ID NHTSA:99V341000 WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED . I CONTACTED TWO DODGE DEALERS , AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NEVER ANY RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10230557
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 3 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED HARDER AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE THE SMELL OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10148843
“WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK VEHICLE HAD ABRUPT BRAKING, AND CLUNKING NOISES WERE HEARD INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND NON INTRUSIVE VISUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO FURTHER OPERATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10123796

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

152 crashes 1990–2024

How the 152 occupant deaths break down

113

driver deaths

39

passenger deaths

152

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1998 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

54

complaints mentioning a crash

12

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Dodge Durango reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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