1998 Dodge Durango electrical system problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION LINES WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CEILING LIGHT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD ERRONEOUSLY TURN ON. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, A BANGING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.”

“WE ON THE ROAD DRIVING AROUND 7:30 AND I NOTICED MY TRUCK WAS LOSING POWER...I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE... I PULLED OVER AND MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE... THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE BOOT AROUND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LEVER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT... TRUCK DESTROYED.. *TR”

“I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AND I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM OLYMPIA WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT, HE WAS A SLEEP. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I SMELT A FUNNY SMELL AND IMMEDIATELY GOT MY SON OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS ENGULFED IN BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS SOON FILLED WITH FLAMES, ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAD 141,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. THE POLICE REPORT AND EVERYTHING STATES THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ORIGINATING FORM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE AND IT DOES NOT COVER WHAT HAPPENED. I JUST KEEP THINKING WHAT IF MY OTHER TWO CHILDREN WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME, THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN A SLEEP AND IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO GET ALL THREE OF THEM OUT 2,5 AND 7 ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SCENARIO'S LIKE THIS? THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED THE DASH, SEATS, ETC ALL MELTED AND BURNT. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS DISPATCHED AND THEY HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CAN PROVIDE POLICE REPORT, ETC. THAT WILL BACK…”

“WHILE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED UPPER BALL JOINTS FELL OFF. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK BRAKES WERE PULSATING WHEN VEHICLE TRYING TO STOP. IT WAS FOUND THAT ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. VEHICLE DOESN'T START OCCASIONALLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME. NO FAULTS ON TEST FOUND; THEREFORE, DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, MOLDING ON WINDOWS, DOORS, AND BUMPER. *LA”

“CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE CONSUMER SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING AND THE ACID WAS DRIPPING ON THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE FACT THAT THE ACID BURNED THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE. *AK *PH *NM”

“I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY WHEELS WERE GETTING READY TO FALL OFF AND THE TRUCK WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN AUGUST OF 2003. I BARELY HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES ON IT ARE TERRIBLE. WHEN IT IS RAINING I HYDROPLANE JUST ABOUT EVER TIME I PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW BROKEN. IT STAYS AT ZERO MOST OF THE TIME BUT WILL OCCASIONALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHEN IT LOCKS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHENEVER I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND GO OVER 60 MPH THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. *JB”