1998 Dodge Durango: engine failure

Filed Apr 21, 2010 · Engine · 62,000 miles · IN

62k miles doing the speed limit on I/70 east of mt comfort exit. Oil pressure went to 0 before I could slow and get to the shoulder the engine blew a rod threw the oil pan. Had it towed to my repair shop. He took the pan off and said he thought the oil pump had failed from what he could see. Local dealer did not want to talk about it. Said it was out of warranty. I told him of the failures I had found on the internet and he referred me to dodge and hung up. Dodge replied to my inquiry by telling me to talk with my local dealer.

Filed Jun 9, 2005 · Engine · 100,000 miles · MA

Dt: engine kept overheating. Had two new engines put in the vehicle, and overheated a third time, and vehicle was back in the shop. First time mechanic said it was due to oil leaking. Second time dealer got a used engine that was cracked, and third time wanted to put another used engine .

Filed Mar 23, 2005 · Engine · 71,930 miles · IN

Oil pressure on 1998 durango kept dropping to 0. Many trips to dealer were unable to determine cause of problem. Sept '01, engine failed. Replaced engine at cost of $4500. Sludge was found in old engine. Chrysler tried to say it was because of improper oil changes. Not true. March, 2005 oil pressure is dropping to 0 again. Car is at repair facility. They say it needs a new oil sending unit. I am concerned that the engine will fail again due to the apparent defect in this particular engine chrysler makes. What can be done? Dec. 2003 we replaced the ball joints for $1300. Find out in 2004 that chrysler recalled 2000-2003 durangos for defective ball joints. Why were the 1998 and 99 models left out? Is this not the same part as the 2000? Chrysler merely says no more information other than 98 is not included.

Filed Dec 3, 2004 · Engine · 99,000 miles · VA

While driving my1998 durango the oil pressure gauge suddenly started to go up and down .with in a minute or two total engine failure I called a mechanic he stated this was a common problem with durangos said it would cost over 3000 to fix I have had this vehicle 1 yr and have replaced brakes AC compressor ball joints and tie rods I can not afford this kind of repairs I am a single mom and recently lost my job.

Filed Aug 3, 2004 · Engine · 70,300 miles · IN

I purchased a 1998 dodge durango, slt, brand new. Over the last two years we have had the oil pressure gauge drop to zero and twice have replaced the oil sending(?) unit. In july, 2004, while on vacation, the oil pressure drops to zero, it starts knocking and before we can get to an exit it gets loud and dies. We coast into a filling station and the oil is running out on the ground. My husband walks to a u'haul and rents a truck and trailer, goes to a hardware store and buys a come-along to get the durango onto the trailer to tow it home. After doing research on the internet, I find this is a common occurance among the dodge durangos. When we started out for vacation, the durango had 69,000 miles on it. I had to rent a vehicle to tow mine home, buy a new engine, rent a vehicle to get back and forth for the next few weeks and without even being close to finished with this nightmare, I am at the $3,000 mark. I also bought the extended warranty. Any recourse possible?

Filed Jul 3, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 60,000 miles · AL

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.

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Suspension, Transmission · 123,000 miles · VA

Consumer complained about a transmission problem. Vehicle hesitated when driving. *ak the front differential pin failed and seized to the pinion shaft the upper and lower ball joints were replaced.

Filed Jan 26, 2004 · Engine · 75,000 miles · WV

While driving 70 MPH the vehicle's oil pressure dropped to zero and there was a ticking sound coming from the engine. The dealer has informed the consumer that a new engine is needed. The manufacturer is aware of the problem.

Filed Oct 31, 2003 · Wheels · 55,000 miles · CO

4 of 6 right rear wheel studs seized/broke off during routine tire rotation. Nuts were correctly torqued to manual specifications.

Filed Jul 28, 2003 · Engine · 65,499 miles · AZ

Engine failure due to oil pump failure and sludge buildup. First incident happened on 2-11-02 at 65,499 miles. Engine replaced and second incident occurred on july 16, 2003 at 91,749 miles.

Filed Jul 22, 2003 · Engine · 107,700 miles · CA

Returning home from a business trip, the durango started making a loud noise, then quit within seconds of the original noise, with a loud clunk. The "check engine guages" light did not come on prior to the loud noise. I live in the mountains, and fortunately the engine quit next to a vehicle turnout. If the engine failure had occured a few seconds earlier, or a few seconds later, my life would have been in serious danger, and I would have endangered the lives of the people at risk of hitting my stalled vehicle. My mechanic found a used engine and installed it. New installed engine ran quite well for about 300 miles. This time, the failure was forwarned by a "check engine guages" light and bell. Checking the guages, I found nothing out of the ordinary - oil pressure and temp were ok. This happened with the second bell as well. The third bell, and I turned the engine off due to the oil pressure guage falling to zero. Towing the durango to a local mechanic, he advised that we should change the oil pump, but advised me that metal shavings were found in the oil pump screen, and that further damage was probbable. My mechanic told me that I should have the pump changed, and drive it to his shop for inspection - a distance of approximately 35 miles. The durango made it 15 miles before quitting. The catastrophic failure of this engine creates a definite safety hazard. The manufacturer should be allowed to do a recall on this engine. If the manufacturer does not think a recall necessary, the federal safety agency should force a recall. This engine will create serious harm to someone. It is just a matter of time....

Filed May 7, 2003 · Engine · GA

Oil pressure dropping....dealer told us that they thought it was the gauge...not to worry. The engine seized up that evening....we were slightly over the mileage on the warranty so was told that it would not be covered.....we had the engine rebuilt and the lines cleaned out (oil was sludge....lots of metal shavings) and when the pressure started dropping (about 10000 miles) again we immediately took it in for service.......again there was lots of sludge and metal shavings......we had the oil pump replaced and the durango functioned for a short time and is now in the shop again with the same problem.......the mechanic feels like it has spun a main bearing and that is the cause for the metal shavings that keep occurring......there is something seriously wrong with the engines in this particular model vehicle....