Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 1998 Dodge Durango and I was driving home from olympia with my son in the back seat, he was a sleep. The vehicle stalled out and I drifted to the side of the road, I smelt a funny smell and immediately got my son out of the vehicle. We were on a busy highway. The vehicle then was engulfed in black smoke coming from underneath the dash, the interior of the car was soon filled with flames, all this happened within a matter of minutes. The vehicle had 141,000 miles on it and had no previous signs of problems. The police report and everything states the fire was an electrical fire originating form underneath the dashboard. I don't know what to do, we only had liability insurance and it does not cover what happened. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Durango. While the vehicle was idling, the engine suddenly shut off. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injection lines were faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued to occur. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the ceiling light inside the vehicle would erroneously turn on. In addition, when depressing the brake pedal, a banging noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000.
We on the road driving around 7:30 and I noticed my truck was losing power...I looked in my side mirror and saw smoke... I pulled over and my truck was on fire... The fire dept was called they had to remove the boot around the 4 wheel drive lever to put the fire out... Truck destroyed..
While vehicle being inspected upper ball joints fell off. No injuries reported. Brakes were pulsating when vehicle trying to stop. It was found that rotors were out of round. Dealer replaced rotors. Vehicle doesn't start occasionally after being driven for a short time. No faults on test found; therefore, dealer couldn't duplicate problem. In addition, molding on windows, doors, and bumper.
The consumer went to the dealer to have a front wheel alignment done. The technician told the consumer that the alignment could not be performed because the upper and lower control arms were worn. The technician also noticed slight play in the gear box and adjusted it. A faulty solenoid in the cab controller caused the brake and ABS lights to illuminate intermittently.
Electrical: driving approximately 10mph and smelled wires burning, stopped vehicle and got out and the smell got stronger. Got back into vehicle and drove another 25 feet, and noticed the smoke coming from underneath the hood. Pulled over and called fire dept . Vehicle totaled. Cause of fire loose nut on power source box.
Transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle and eventually the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt one. All four ball joints were and tie rods were replaced. The vehicle experienced electrical problems, because the back brake light continued to blow out. The front hub bearings and seals were replaced.
Consumer noticed fluid in the driveway under the vehicle. Upon closer inspection the consumer saw that the battery was leaking and the acid was dripping on the brake line. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed the fact that the acid burned through the brake line.
Consumer drove 2miles parked vehicle in driveway, 10 minutes later there were flames coming from the hood area. The horn started to blow continuously. Both front tire exploded . The fire department. Is holding vehicle until fire marshal comes to look at vehicle on March 09 1998.
Consumer was traveling about 70mph on highway. She was driving in dessert and rolled down the window, and strarted smelling wires burning. She was insideof parking lot, and vehicle burst into flames.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The fastener which secures the generator cable to the power distribution center (pdc) has an insufficient clamp load, resulting in a loose connection and electrical arcing at the connection.
Remedy: Dealers will retighten the generator cable and battery cable fasteners to the proper torque specifications.
Electrical complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Dodge Durango, 4% of the model year's 965 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Durango electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-019 (alternator/generator/regulator, Jan 30, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Durango electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 5 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.