The 1998 Dodge Durango has 6 recalls, with the most serious being two separate fire risks: a loose alternator cable connection that can arc and ignite the engine compartment, and fuel tank straps that can fail and allow the tank to leak fuel near ignition sources.
The alternator cable at the power distribution center may not be held tightly enough by its fastener, allowing the connection to work loose and generate electrical arcing that can start an engine fire. On the fuel system side, the tank mounting straps can fatigue and separate during normal driving, leaving the tank unsupported. A dropped tank can grind against the road surface or, on vehicles with a skid plate, wear against that plate until the tank develops a leak. Spilled fuel near any heat source or spark raises the risk of fire.
The remaining recalls involve the rear brake lines. The rear brake tube runs close to an underbody crossmember, and over time the two can rub together until the tube wears through. Once the tube is perforated, brake fluid escapes and rear braking force drops noticeably, stretching stopping distances without any warning to the driver. Because both the brake tube and fuel tank strap defects were each filed in multiple recall campaigns, the underlying problems are the same in each case, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issues for all affected vehicles.
