1999 Dodge Durango SLT from North America - Comments

ABS Sensor went bad around 75000 miles Replaced $132.

Ball Joints replaced at 85000 miles

Replaced $650.

Well my Durango has done OK for the most part. This is my second post on this site. The first when I purchased the Truck a couple of years ago. The ball joint issue I was ready for because of the post on this web site. Thanks to everyone for the information. That has been the only problem since the sensor situation shortly after purchase. I have had no problems with the engine or oil pressure so far. Hopefully that continues to be the case.

The truck has never let me down yet. I do take good care of it. Change the oil faithfully every 3000 miles, replaced the factory air filter with a K&N and I did see a difference in performance. I take it to goodyear in my area and they also use a engine flush every time they change the oil to keep the engine clean.

The next thing that I will be doing is replacing the shocks all around maybe in the spring time. I also plan to put some new rims on the truck. I have to say, a Durango with some nice rims on it looks amazing. Very unique look compared to the status quo! I don't really drive it rough either. That's just me! It is a truck though so you should be able to take it to the limit and not have to worry about it falling apart like some people have experienced. It fits the family well and can haul everything that I need.

Wrote this back a couple of years ago. Currently my 99 Durango has 104,000 miles on it and still running very well. Got my serpentine belt changed and new Goodyear Fortera tires. The ride is very smooth, but those tires are large and seemed to have hurt my mpg ave. I'm between 11-12 mpg in town and 13 on the high way. I was doing a little better before tire replacement. What I gave up in mpg I received in driving comfort and safety. In the snow in PA. I did not have to put my truck in 4 wheel at all. The new tires gripped very nicely and I have not spun out once. This was a problem before. I hope my luck continues. The truck is continuing to do well for me and my family and does not feel like a 99 in 2007.

I, too, am relatively well satisfied with my '99 Durango.

I have read about all the crying about ball joints. I checked mine at 170,000 miles and found the upper passenger side joint very loose. Tire wear was not abnormal. Replaced it with a unit purchased from Auto Zone at a price I believed exorbitant. Not a difficult job--grinding off the rivet heads, punching them out and installed the new unit with bolts (provided).

Replaced the lower passenger side joint two weeks later when it bean squeaking. Another overpriced AutoZone unit.

Bought joints for the drivers side from RockAuto. The two, including freight, were less than AutoZone's price for one.

Took two and a half hours to do both on a Saturday morning.

Front end realignment was the most expensive part of the project.

At 195,000 miles, still running the original brake shoes on the rear. Front pads replaced once. On the second set of replacement tires. Lost a water pump and multiple overpriced plastic sensors early in the cars life. Second set of replacement plugs--and from the appearance of the plugs I removed--I did the job for practice!

No leaking intake plenum on my vehicle--for which I am thankful.

195,000 miles on your truck!! That gives me hope for mine!!! I currently have 105,000 miles on mine now and I try hard to keep up with the preventive maintenance.

Vehicle now at 214,000 miles. Transmission locked up in January-a job I didn't care to tackle. Paid more to have it repaired than I had spent on maintenance since I bought the vehicle new in 1999.

Finally had a starter failure--well, erratic operation, last week. Bought a used starter with good solenoid contacts, good brushes, etc. for $20 and solved that problem.

I run car tires on my Durango as the original Goodyear truck tires were so noisy that conversation was nearly impossible. Mileage now improved because I run them overpressure to get proper tire wear due to the vehicle's weight. 70K miles on 35K guarantee tires isn't a bad deal. Driving sanely on the interstate, the 5.2 will get 20 MPG.

Front passenger side window motor hasn't worked in years. Gearbox is jammed. When I find one cheap enough on ebay, I'll replace it. Still running the original alternator. Original rotors still on the front wheels.

The previous post is mine.

I've never driven a vehicle as long as I have this Durango. I keep meticulous maintenance records on all my vehicles, including what work was done, the date, the mileage and the cost. Maintenance includes parts, lubrication, oil changes, filters and tires. When the maintenance cost begins to exceed 2 cents/mile, it is time to take a serious look at getting another vehicle. My Durango was at 1 cent/mile until the transmission failure at 197,000 miles and now I'm at 2.14 cents/mile.

As the cost of oil has tripled since I got the Durango in 1999 and the price of tires has doubled, I am going to be hard pressed to get back to 1 cent/mile.

"This is my second post on this site."

Which review is your first one?

Thanks.