Most common 1999 Dodge Durango problems
Share of the 1,967 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Durango complaints by model year
Best Durango years: 2020, 2024, 2022. Years to avoid: 1999, 2005, 2000, 1998. Compare all years →
1999 Dodge Durango recalls (3)
Air bags
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from May 16, 2000 through October 23, 2000; st.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor May not comply with the requirements of the standard.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. Owner notification began August 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The fuel tank strap can separate due to fatigue during operation. If this occurs, the tank will be unsupported, increasing the risk of a fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the double toggle lock fuel tank straps with single toggle lock design. Note: affected vehicles built through May 21, 1998, also require the rear brake tube inspection/repair.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1999 Dodge Durango:
Front susp. Upper ball joint failure
In July 2003, odi opened pe03-032 based on 4 consumer complaints alleging separation of an upper ball joint.complaints alleged an unexpected collapse in the front end and in some occasions the ball joint separation is alleged to have resulted in the wheel, brake rotor, and steering knuckle separating from the vehicle.since opening the pe, odi has received 23 additional complaints related to ball joint separation.
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.
Upper ball joint separation
Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (NHTSA recall no.
What 1999 Dodge Durango owners say
Suspension all 1,102 →
While driving less than 600 from my house in my 1999 green Dodge Durango 4 door the power steering went out causing an accident with a parked car. I had the car had to be towed to the Dodge dealership in warren michigan I was told that the power steering seal blew causing the loss of power assist steering. The loss of this type of failure as you know makes driving harder that a car without power steering at all. I ask the dealership to have dcc look into the cause of this failure which cause the accident without any prior leaks or loss of fluid. The investigation letter stated that a vehicle that was built June 23, 1999 and had 66,006 miles would have these kinds of failures. The vehicle was inspected less than 3000 miles prior when it was taken in for air conditioning core issues. …
(1) eighteen months prior to the accident, the upper and lower control arm assemblies were replaced by the dealer. (2) while driving, the right front wheel assembly collapsed causing a loss of control. Vehicle left the road, went through a utility pole, rolled twice causing a total loss of the vehicle. Police report indicates "it appears the accident was caused by mechanical failure." witness supports accuracy of accident report. (3) dealer suggested complaint to chrylser. After investigation, daimler chrylser responds they "are not convinced that a manufacturing responsibility is associated with this incident." they also "declined any responsibility associated with this incident." digital photos of vehicle, suspension and separated wheel assembly at the accident scene are available.
Engine & cooling all 312 →
1999 Dodge Durango---while out driving during the hotter months, the truck would just shut down while I was driving. The brakes stopped working, the steering wheel stopped working and the odometer read "no bus". When I finally stopped the car by running into a curb, it would not start for another 30 minutes. Finally got it started and two miles down the road, it happened again. After talking to other Durango owners, I was directed to change the PCM. Well that is a $1000.00 job. It was explained to me that the PCM box over heats because of where it is placed under the hood. That section where the PCM box is is not receiving any air flow to keep it cool. The cooling fins are nested too close to the body of the truck. This is a manufacturing problem and should be recalled . This is a safety issue, because you cannot control the car when it shuts down. …
4 times in the last two weeks while driving in heavy city traffic in the los angeles, ca area the engine turned off, without warning, warning lights, or warning sounds. All guages went to zero. There was no abnormal function of the vehicle before each incident. Power assist to steering and brakes were also lost. Each time it was in dry, sunny weather with the temperature between 60 and 80 degrees fahrenheit. Each time I was able to coast to a curb or physically push the vehicle out of traffic. Each time, except one, the engine would not start immediately afterward. The engine would turn over briskly but would not start. After 4 to 6 attempts the car would start normally and then run normally as if nothing had ever happened. Each time the gasoline tank was at least one quarter full. …
Electrical system all 181 →
Hello my name is [redacted] I brought this SUV 12/3/2019 .the guy I bought this SUV from he told me there's an electrical issue with the battery to the transmission I found there was several things wrong with it the steering wheel is loose. Need a tune-up oh when I got home the car starts smoking inside then the outside that's how it caught on fire underneath to the firewall I think not sure please help
1999 Dodge Durango PCM/ECU will fail when it gets hot, giving a no bus, and causing the engine to stall and lose power steering and brakes. This has happened to my vehicle on numerous occasions at highway speed where I was barely able to control the vehicle. This is a huge safety issue. I have had the PCM/ECU replaced over 5 times, which is extremely dangerous. Experts have pin pointed the issues to certain chips coming unsoldered in the PCM/ECU due to heat. Keenan laws has youtube videos on exactly what the issues are, as well as many other have done. Dodge contract's out the soldering of these chips, but they don't do a good job as some don't work at all. For example, we put three in before we got one that worked. This is inexcusable and puts people lives at very high risk. I paid around $800 to a Dodge dealership in santa rosa california for a PCM/ECU that lasted only months. …
1999 Dodge Durango engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 15 / 13 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Dodge Durango a good car?
Based on 1,967 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Durango rates avoid: 3.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Durango at the same age. It is one of the Durango years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Dodge Durango?
The suspension — 1,102 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › upper ball joint. Next are the engine & cooling (312) and electrical system (181).
How many recalls does the 1999 Dodge Durango have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1999 Dodge Durango, the most recent from May 8, 2001 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Durango?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2024 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2005, 2000 and 1998. See the full Dodge Durango years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Durango problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 21% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.