Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH over a patch of black ice, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall before rolling over. The contact mentioned that the air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt unlatched instead of restraining the driver. A police report was filed. The contact stated that neither the driver nor the passenger sustained any injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 96,000 and the current mileage was 124,000. Updated 11/20/14 the consumer stated both the passenger and driver were in shock and have had ongoing back problems. The passenger needed a metal rod in the back due to the failure of the seat belt. Updated 5/6/2015
Accident, airbags did not deploy, seat belts didn't work proper. Loss of of control from steering problems. Steering problems on wet roads. Transmission problems, doesn't shift proper, no air condition, can not drive with windows down in back, very hard to control. Car is parked because I am afraid to drive it. Been back to dealer with problem after problem.
Brakes failed at 50mph. Slammed into the back of semi truck at 40mph and totaled vechile. The seatbelt restrant and airbag system failed to engage. I slammed into the steering wheel to break 2 ribs and crack my sternum. If the airbags would have went off I wouldnt be having back and neck problems either. I wish Dodge would help us instead of hurting us.
Dt*: the contact stated that the left seat belt in the second row of the vehicle would not unlatch once it was buckled. The belt on the right failed to latch at all, and the metal in the buckle was exposed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer.
Defective seatbelt: the locking seatbelt mechanism on my doge Durango fell apart in my hands. I contacted doge who told me the car was too old (98) and too many miles (60,000) they suggested I buy a new doge vehicle.
1. Seatbelts, housing repeatedly fell down. Never replaced, service only pulled it back up and the problem continues 2. All four window regulators replaced prior to recall. Now I have one window that will go down. The rest are stuck in the up posiiton. Of course, my warranty is up. 3. Rear differential went out at 63,000. 3,000 past warranty. 4. All four ball joints are bad. Serviceman says unsafe to drive until replaced. Still waiting on a recall. 5. Passenger front seat cover came apart at seams. Service said not covered by warranty. 6. Hood latch does not release hood. My vehicle is now parked and not being driven at 80,000. I do not have and will never have another Chrysler product in my drive. I bought this vehicle new and took very good care of it. It seems to be falling apart around me. Seems I have heard stories about the ball joints, wheels coming off, etc. …
Almost every time I go to put my children in their car-seats the safety belts have been released from the children wiggling to get into their car-seats. We make a big issue of our children being properly installed intheir car-seats. We have read all the user manuals and even taken classes to insure we are installing them properly. None of this does us any good when the seat-belts release so easily. I have problems with this almost daily. Will it take one of my family being injured or even killed before there will be something done. This has happend more times than I could even count.
I have intermittently noticed that the seat belts going through my two daughters' safety seats have mysteriously become unclipped. It happened during normal driving time. I have not noticed them becoming unclipped at the same time. It did not occur to me that this maybe a problem until I saw the news report on wpvi-channel 6 in philadelphia, pa. I am not sure of the exact incident dates. I do recall at least two incidents when taking my children out of the car, I noticed that the one of the seats had become disconnected. I thought it was unusual, but never reported the incident.
My husband and I own a 1998 Dodge, Durango. We have a 17 month old daughter that we have installed a car seat in the back seat for and on several occassions we have noticed the seat belt that holds her seat in has become unlatched. It has recently been brought to my attention that this is a gen3 seat belt and this is a common problem with this latch.
Shoulder restraint fails to operate in cold temperatures (less than 25 degrees). Chrysler will not replace untill dealership can duplicate problem. Chrysler has been notified that this is unacceptable, due to unreliability of said seat belt. If seat belt will not retract, children will not have the means to be safely restrained in the vehicle.
NHTSA investigations
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
Seat Belt complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 1998 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Dodge Durango, 3% of the model year's 965 complaints. The component named most often is front › anchorage (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Durango seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for the 1998 Dodge Durango, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Durango seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to seat belts 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.