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 1999 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Durango. While attempting to unlock the front driver and passenger side seat belts, the seat belt release buttons failed. The contact used a screwdriver to push the release button in order for the seat belts to unlock. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The PCM has already been replaced and it ran perfectly fine for 2 months and the same problem starting happening shutting off while im driving ive almost been in 3 car accidents while I was driving cause the vehicle shut itself off while I was driving on a 45 MPH road an twice on the highway driving 65mph something needs to been down so once on city streets and 2 times on state route 75 highway
While driving my car stalls out, I keep having problems with ball joints, my sway bar or chain has busted, seat belt for driver will not retract, rust and erosion has been so bad that I actually had to replace the whole front bumper assembly, and I have no heat.
At christmastime our transmission began acting up. We believed the harsh winter weather was causing the problem bc once the engine heated up, the vehicle drove just fine. At any rate, we took in to be serviced in March and had the 4x4 rear differentials flushed and serviced and the fluid changed. While it was in for that repair (at a dealership) they called and said the 2 front ball joints needed to be replaced. We knew about the recall, so asked them about it, but it just figures our VIN was not included. So, $1600 later, we went and picked it up and seemed to drive just fine. Well, then 3 wks. Later I was driving to the grocery store. I was stopped a red light, and when it turned green I went to go and it just barely accelerated. Luckily, the red light was right in front of the garage we normally use. …
Consumer was driving about 45-50 when a dear crossed the path of the vehicle .consumer swerved to avoid hitting the dear. Car tipped over and slid into a tree consumer was hanging upwards in the driver's seat, held by safety belt. While consumer was calling 911, safety belt snapped and consumer fell to the other side of vehicle against the tree. Also, upon impact, airbags did not deploy. Dealer sent someone out to check vehicle, and could not determine how seatbelt snapped.
Was in car accident. The shoulder belts on passenger's side and driver's side didn't lock and neither deploy on highway 35mph. Car facing west about 1 car length from other vehicles. Vehicle pulled out in front, and hit them on the center of the driver's side.
Consumer states was wearing driver's seat belt when involved in a hit and run collision. Consumer states seat belt failed to restrain and driver was thrown through the front windshield. Consumer advised just received recall 01V119000 in mail regarding seat belts. Nlm
When the truck was involved in a rear end crash shoulder belt on the driver's side did not restraint the driver. The crash caused the driver to hit her face on the steering wheel. The truck is being repaired by the dealership. Damage amounted total is $2,505.00.
Consumer was traveling 40-50mph & rearended another vehicle. Upon impact, airbags didin't deploy, and front seatbelts didn't lock, but the rear seatbelts did. Dealer sent an investigator, but nohting was found wrong with vehicle.
Related recalls
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…
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 1999 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the seat belts of the 1999 Dodge Durango, 2% of the model year's 1,967 complaints. The component named most often is front › buckle assembly (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Durango seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-119 (retractor, Apr 11, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Durango seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 11 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.