Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

1999 Dodge DurangoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 2,012 owner complaints for the 1999 Dodge Durango. Most complaints involve suspension (1,124) and engine and engine cooling (294). The EPA rates it 12–15 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
12–15mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Oct 2008
Owner complaints
2,012
Top: suspension
Fuel cost / yr
$4,150est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: hub

Free remedy

SKF IS RECALLING 2,805 HUB UNITS, PART NO. BR930361, SOLD AS A SERVICE PART FOR 1997-2004 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES AND 1999-2003 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2-WHEEL DRIVE & REAR AXLE ABS. DUE TO A SPECIFICATION ERROR, THE ROTOR PILOT FOR THE HUB UNIT MAY BE TOO LONG. THIS RESULTS IN THE WHEEL TO NOT BE SEATED FULLY AGAINST THE HUB FLANGE FACE DURING MOUNTING.

SuspensionReported Oct 20, 2008NHTSA 08E064000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 15, 2006NHTSA 06E024000

Air bags

Free remedy

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. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.

Air bagsReported May 8, 2001NHTSA 01V153000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

2,012 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 1998 – May 2022
  1. Suspension1,124
  2. Engine and engine cooling294
  3. Power train185
  4. Electrical system184
  5. Steering172
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic154
  7. Visibility58
  8. Air bags51
  9. Equipment51

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Durango model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998976
19992,012
20001,097
2001665
2002434
2003339
20041,115
20051,567
2006852
2007275
200897
200919
2011800
2012640
2013640
2014786
2015505
2016161
2017214
2018234
2019145
202056
2021208
202261
202339
202414
20258
202615
Crashes reported
108
Fires reported
22
Injuries reported
169
Deaths reported
100
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Suspension

1,124 reports10 crashes4 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2015Suspension, Seat belts, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10795231

Engine and engine cooling

294 reports6 crashes3 fires
“I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 60 MPH, OUT OF NOWHERE THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN AND A SEMI TRUCK WAS AN INCH FROM STRIKING MY VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. THE SEMI LEFT SKID MARKS THAT WHERE 25 FEET LONG. I HAVE REPLACED THE PCM, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THE IGNITION COIL AND STILL NO FIX. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I HAVE TO GET TO WORK EVERYDAY, I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. I FEEL THAT MY LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES SUCH AS THIS ONE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A SOLUTION IS FOUND? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 22, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10574196

Power train

185 reports19 crashes6 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER EITHER IN PARK OR NEUTRAL HOWEVER, ONCE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 249,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2020Power trainODI 11329114
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
3.9L 6-cyl · 5.2L 8-cyl · 5.9L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 7, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Durango 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131815$4,150592
Durango 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,450635
Durango 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
131714$4,450635
Durango 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.9 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
111613$4,800684
Durango 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121513$4,800684
Durango 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.9 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
111512$5,200741
  • Durango 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L
    13 city · 18 hwy · $4,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • Durango 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.2 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • Durango 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L
    13 city · 17 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • Durango 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.9 L
    11 city · 16 hwy · $4,800/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • Durango 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.2 L
    12 city · 15 hwy · $4,800/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • Durango 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.9 L
    11 city · 15 hwy · $5,200/yr
    12
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 7, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Dodge Durango as of Nov 7, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 7, 2026Vehicle 3977
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1999 Durango questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Dodge Durango have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 7, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1999 Dodge Durango problems?

Owners filed 2,012 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are suspension (1,124), engine and engine cooling (294), power train (185). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Dodge Durango get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Dodge Durango at 12–15 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 7, 2026