Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle struck a light pole while attempting to avoid crashing into two other vehicles. The drivers side air bag failed to deploy and the contact sustained a large bump on his head and a cut on his upper lip. The contact has a police report and the report of the damage to his vehicle. The VIN, purchase date, and engine size were unknown. The current mileage is 167,883 and failure mileage was 1676,833. The consumer stated have been through alot with this vehicle prior to the incident he has had the engine replaced twice in the car and rebuilt the transmission prior to the car having 38000 miles on it and now he has a defective air bag. The consumer stated would like Chrysler to pay the remaining balance on the car. The consumer provided pictures of the vehicle. Updated 07/10/07
After replacing hub assembly at les schwab brakes didn't work right when stepping down on brake it would make a sound as if they were not catching pulling car forward braking only depressed half way after a few seconds brake would let go all the down and then would return to normal I retorted to les schwab they checked brakes and found nothing wrong the said May be something was happening to suspension but it should be OK to drive it would continue off and on for a few weeks two days after thanksgiving returning from shopping sun was just going down when braking for a car I front my brakes gave out causing me to hit the car in front of me deploying air bags to both sides as we were pushing car out of road there was o skid marks at all.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While driving less than 55 MPH, a deer ran in front of the vehicle. The contact attempted to avoid the deer and swerved his vehicle to the right. He sideswiped trees on the passenger side of the vehicle and slightly off center on the driver's side. The vehicle stopped when it crashed head-on into a tree. The radiator was forced into the engine and the engine was pushed into the vehicle, which caused the contact to sustain major injuries to his lower body, including a broken knee cap. Smoke expelled from the engine. The air bags failed to deploy and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were less than 117,000.
While stopped at a red light, my family and I were rearended by a camry traveling between 40 and 50 MPH. We were pushed into the car in front of us which was also pushed into another car in front of that. Our Durango suffered $14,500.00 in repair costs. The seatbelts never deployed. I, the driver, was thrown into the steering wheel. My wife in the front passenger seat, was thrown into the windshield. My daughter was buckled in a car seat in the back seat. Although her shoes flew off her feet, she was restrained. My son, however, hit his tooth on the seat in front of him; he was belted in the 3rd seat.
When driving at 30-35 MPH and upon depressing brake pedal to make a normal stop consumer noticed a loud noise, brake pedal got very hard, making it very difficult to stop which caused an accident. Dealer foud nothing wrong with the brakes. Also neither driver's side nor passenger side air bags deployed.
My steering is bad I have little control over vehicle at high speeds I think it's in the wheel itself or maybe airbags?. Replaced brake parts front and back and still problems with trying to stop but skid .hub replaced and its better. Head lights do not work properly
I reported this last year when it happened but I was never contacted. Dodge put me in touch with mike martell who is the daimler-chrystler liason for safety. I have reason to beleive that they deleted my information about the way the brake pedal broke off before impact. Every time I called it had disappeared from their information. I also received word from the investigator they sent out to look at the airbags that the airbags were in fact deffective. Dodge took the original report and denied it. Those vehicles are unsafe and Dodge should be held responsible. My wife and I have spent over $20,000.00 in medical bills as a result and Dodge refused any help.
Vehicle was parked, started vehicle to move it about 5 feet, put vehicle in gear then vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed, driver advoided truck on his left vehicle hit the sides of three trees on right, driver advioded head on with a parked car by turning left hard, entering a driveway hitting a gate, fence and fencepost, then hitting another fence and fencepost stopping at a garage wall. This all happened in a matter of about 5 seconds, vehicle accelerated at full throttle and no air bag deployment at impact.
Dt: the consumer stated that the airbag light kept coming on and off. The ABS light also kept coming on and off. Then this occurred the RPM gauges would stop working along with the other gauges on the dashboard. The consumer took the truck to the dealership and they said that the truck is not covered under any recall. The owner has talked to manufacturer. They told the consumer to hold on to his repair receipts. The manufacturer also informed the consumer that there was not a recall on his vehicle.
While sitting at a intersection and waiting to make a left turn another vehicle rear ended consumer's vehicle, causing consumer's vehicle to hit the vehicle in front, and causing a six car chain of reaction collision. Both front driver's side and passenger's side seats collapsed forward. Upon impact, both front air bags did not deploy. Driver and passenger sustained neck and back injuries, and were transported by ambulance to the hospital. Vehicle was totaled by the insurance company.
Related recalls
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,…
Airbag complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Dodge Durango, 3% of the model year's 1,967 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (39 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Durango airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-153 (air bags, May 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Durango airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 40 crashes, 1 fire and 37 injuries to air bags 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.