Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
Due to to uneven driveway the vehicle stalled, or transmission began to spin and not move, at which the vehicle ignition was shut-off. It was attempted to push the vehicle about 50 feet to a parking place. Another person offers to help, then pushes vehicle 25/50 feet...advises to turn the wheel. The wheel does not want to turn. The vehicle has used a lot of power steering fluid almost daily(has a history of squealing and hard turning at start unless lubricated). So advice to place vehicle in reverse caused the steering wheel to be even harder to turn, if at all. I requested help from the bystander, who at which point comes to the driver side where I was standing outside of the vehicle also. It's unknown if the bystander help turned the ignition on, or if the ignition somehow turned on by itself. The vehicle was occupied by one addition passenger at the time of the crash. …
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.
At 85000 miles I started having significant problems with the transmission. When first started in the morning the transmission does not shift out of first gear until the tach reads 2500 RPM. This causes a check engine light to come on because the transmission is sending a fault code to the computer. Also there are many many time that the car bogs down when trying to accelerate and then will finally kick into gear however passing speed is very very poor. I had the problem diagnosed and was told it is going to cost well over 1500.00 to repair which is why I have yet to have it done because quite frankly I cannot afford that right now.that is how I found out abnout this complaint service because I was told that 98 durangos have had this problem since the car was built and the more research that I do on it the more I discover that there is truth to that statement. …
I purchased a 1998 Dodge Durango in March of 1998. The car was brand new with 3 miles on it. The car was excellent until about 52,000 miles. 1st repair, water pump. At about 56,000 transmission rebuild. At about 61,000 heater core, and power steering fluid leaking. At 77,000 transmission rebuild again. At about 80,000 miles, steering wheel started to stiffen up and very difficult to turn wheel they told me I needed a new rack and pinion. Durangos do not have rack and pinions, they have gear boxes. At about 94,000 transmission rebuild. At 106,000 trasnmission rebuild and installed a transmission cooler this time around along with an aftermarket transmission gauge which tells me the temp of the trans(price was $125.00 for gauge and wiring). Called Dodge was like talking to my dog, they said that it wasn't their problem. …
Tl* - on 3/13/06 the contact took 1998 Dodge Durango to cottman transmission because the transmission was slipping into first gear. At that time, cottman replaced the valve body. On 3/31/06 the contact took it back to cottman for the same reason, and cottman stated that they would rebuild the whole transmission. When contact picked up the vehicle it was making a loud squeaking noise, and cottman told him to drive it for a few days and the noise would go away. After driving it for a few days contact continued to hear the same squeaking noise, so cottman replaced the transmission. At which point the contact continued to hear the same noise, he took vehicle to at pro transmission and they stated to the contact that the damage was probably internal because they couldn't see anything wrong with the vehicle. …
Bought my Durango new in May 1998. The automatic transmission started shifting improperly in July 2000. Took it to a Dodge dealer because it was still under warranty (31,418 miles). They dropped the transmission pan and pronounced it doa (pan was full of metal shavings). Should have seen the writing on the wall but I loved this vehicle. Took it to an inspection station for safety & emissions tests in May of 2006. It failed for bad ball joints. I asked the manager why his mechanics seemed to pay special attention to the front end during inspection and his reply was it was very common to find bad ball joints on approx. 50% of all 1998-2000 durangos. Had my mechanic replace upper & lower ball joints, both sides, at 74,064 miles, to the tune of $701 plus tax. I then started hearing about other Durango owners with similar ball joint woes. I went online and started researching. …
I had a complete automatic transmission failure at just over 60,000 miles. I contacted Dodge and they acted as if it wasn't their problem. Cost me $2000 dollars for a complete rebuild. Then after one month of having transmission redone the air conditioning went and cost me another $800 dollars. I complained again and again was treated as if it were my fault. I have a friend that works for a local Dodge dealership and he told me that Dodge does know about this problem and are denying it exists because of the large number of recalls that would result. He said they did a study and found out that the transmissions that were installed from '97 until 2000 were to small to handle the payload of the Durango. They have since fixed that problem but will not admit to earlier damages to the earlier models. By the way, Dodge only charges the dealers $400 dollars for the rebuild kits.
Dodge dealer reported that ball joints on 1998 Dodge Durango have excessive wear and require replacement. The quote to replace exceeded $2000 and I was told at the time that the recall was pending. I am the original owner, vehicle mileage is 76,898. VIN is [redacted]. I see that the recall is for 2000 through 2003 and that warranty on 2000 thru 2003 models was extended to 100,000 miles for ball joints. Is there any recourse? Isn't this the same suspension design as the 2000 model? I also replaced the rear axle in 2003 following a total failure resulting in rear locking up and shearing the u-joint and dropping the drive shaft while driving. Replacement cost exceeded $3000 and I was told at the time that this is a known problem with Durango's as well. Updated 07/24/2012* js
We had noticed that the tranmission was acting very sluggish. Despite having the vehicle checked, our local shop could not find a problem. While on our way to florida, just outside of birmingham alabama with two children in the car, driving 70 MPH on the interstate, we had a catastrophic failure in the vehicle. The transfer case blew up and both driveshafts broke. We were able to be able to stop the vehicle without causing an accident, or having another vehicle hit us, despite the black coud of transfer case fluid trailing behind us. The vehicle required extensive service - to the tune of $ 2,600.00. We had 95,000 miles on the vehicle and were offered no assistance by Chrysler. In fact, not even an offer to assist us with the rental cars we were forced to take.
I own a 1998 Dodge Durango. In the last 2 years I have had to replace the engine and drive shaft, simply because they failed. The SUV has been meticulously cared for; all maintenance schedules have been followed. In addition, the ABS computer/system had to be replaced, and now 15 months later, the ABS light has come on again. I wanted to know if other customers have experienced similar problems with this vehicle. When I called customer service, the only people I have been able to talk to have been the low level employee. They will not, and probably have been instructed not to, forward the call to someone in upper management. They will not give me any information as to whether the problems I have had with this vehicle are common.this has been very frustrating.
Transmission complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1998 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 103 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1998 Dodge Durango, 11% of the model year's 965 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (37 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Durango transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.