How Reliable is the Dodge Durango?

Front 3/4 view of a Dodge Durango

Durango owners have made 2873 complaints over 23 model years. It ranks 23rd in reliability out of 29 eligible Dodge models.

Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems. The average Dodge score is 20.65 while the Durango comes in at 40.58.

The 5 Most Common Durango Problems

We've pulled together a list of the problems Durango owners.

  1. AHR Randomly Deploys

    The active head restraints in some Dodge vehicles are handing out free concussions. A mechanical breakdown inside the restraint means they could deploy randomly at any time.

    Continue

  2. Dodge Vehicles With Recalled Takata Airbags

    Takata, a parts supplier, provided automakers with a defective airbag inflator responsible for 23 deaths and hundreds of injuries. It's one of the largest and most dangerous recalls in automotive history, affecting over 37 million vehicles …

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  3. Defective TIPM Causes Multiple Electrical Problems

    What is a TIPM exactly? And why is it giving so many Dodge owners headaches? We have details, plus news about recalls and a SETTLEMENT.

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  4. Stuck in Park

    Can't shift the car into reverse or drive! Now what? This is most commonly reported from Dodge Avenger owners, but there have also been similar complaints about other Dodge makes as well as other Chrysler and Jeep vehicles having a similar …

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  5. Oil Sludge in the 2.7L Engine

    Oil sludge buildup and sludge-related engine failure is a design DEFECT in Chrysler's 2.7L engine…

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What Durango Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks

Years to Avoid

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

Durango Generations

The Durango has 3 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 1st generation (1998–2003).

  1. 3rd Generation Durango

    Years
    2011–2021
    Reliability
    35th of 54
    PainRank™
    16.85
    Complaints
    634
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Durango

  2. 2nd Generation Durango

    Years
    2004–2009
    Reliability
    44th of 54
    PainRank™
    22.05
    Complaints
    829
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Durango

  3. 1st Generation Durango

    Years
    1998–2003
    Reliability
    51st of 54
    PainRank™
    33.59
    Complaints
    1410
    Continue

Durango Key Numbers

  1. 2,873 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 736 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 62 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Recent Relevant Lawsuits

The Durango has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Costa, et al., v. FCA US LLC, et al.

    The plaintiffs argue FCA should have told them about defects in the active head restraint systems, but instead the automaker concealed its knowledge about the headrests.

    Status
    pending
    Problem
    AHR Randomly Deploys
    Class Vehicles
    • 2010-2012 Caliber
    • 2010-2018 Caravan
    • 2011-2018 Durango
    • 2010-2018 Journey
    • 2010-2011 Nitro
    Location
    Massachusetts

  • Nuwer, et al., v. FCA US LLC, et al.

    A Chrysler headrest that deployed without a crash caused a 2014 Ram C/V owner and others to file a lawsuit that alleges the active headrests make driving dangerous.

    Status
    motion to dismiss read original case
    Problem
    AHR Randomly Deploys
    Class Vehicles
    • 2010-2014 Avenger
    • 2010-2012 Caliber
    • 2010-2018 Caravan
    • 2011-2018 Durango
    • 2010-2018 Journey
    • 2010-2011 Nitro
    • 2011-2018 Ram C/V
    Class Members
    All consumers in the U.S.,excluding California
    Location
    Florida
  • Settled

    Velasco, et al. v. Chrysler Group LLC.

    The lawsuit alleges the named vehicles have defective Totally Integrated Power Modules, also known as TIPMs. The TIPM controls and distributes power to all of the electrical functions of the vehicle, including the vehicle safety and ignition systems.

Recent Durango News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. A lawsuit concerning hacking vulnerabilities in Fiat-Chrysler’s (FCA) Uconnect system is headed to trial this October.

    The lawsuit was filed after researchers showed how a Jeep could be controlled remotely through the infotainment system. FCA has called the case meritless and tried to get it dismissed. When that didn’t work they turned to the U.S. Supreme Court. To FCA’s surprise, the court refused to even hear the appeal.

    It’s almost as if FCA thought the were in control of the situation and then suddenly they weren’t 🤔

    keep reading

  2. Like a rushed parent on Christmas Eve, Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) made a mistake when assembling the 3.6L V6 engine for the 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

    Some crossover tubes were damaged, and now they're leaking gas.

    "The problem was originally discovered in April 2016 when damage occurred to a fuel rail crossover tube on a 3.6-liter V6 engine. Engineers found 21 engines with damage to the crossover tubes out of 20,000 engines that were inspected."…

    keep reading

  5. Dodge Durango owners just can't seem to catch a break.

    That is, unless, you're talking about the break in their braking system.

    "Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling over 14,700 model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs because the front brake calipers can break. Chrysler blames the problem on a supplier that manufactured the caliper with the wrong materials."…

    keep reading

  6. The rear lower control arms in some Jeep and Dodge SUVs received the wrong heat treatment during manufacturing (and we're not talking about a day at the spa).

    The problem is bad enough that the control arms can break and cause a sudden loss of control.

    When Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) first recalled the vehicles in June 2015, they asked some owners to stop driving until the vehicles were repaired. With such a serious issues, you'd think FCA would make sure to get the fix right the first time.

    You'd be wrong. A second recall was issued for the same problem just two months later.…

    keep reading

  7. J

    ust a few days after switching its name, FCA US is issuing a massive recall for 3.3 million older vehicles with Takata airbag inflators.** The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been not-so-subtly suggesting automakers ditch regional recalls and expand nationwide. It looks like FCA US has listened.

    FCA US says it's aware of one injury related to exploding Takata airbag inflators, but that incident occurred in Florida. The automaker said there have been no other reports of accidents or injuries. In addition, FCA US says over 1,000 laboratory tests have been conducted on airbag inflators but no problems were discovered.

    The recalled vehicles include the 2004-2007 Dodge Ram 1500 / 2500 / 3500 / 3500 Chassis Cab, Durango, Charger, Magnum, and Dakota.

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  8. Dodge is part of a new recall of Takata airbag inflators in over 350,000 vehicles.

    The recall is currently limited to areas of high humidity, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    Chrysler says the vehicles have passenger frontal airbag inflators that are different from other metal Takata inflators used by other automakers. Chrysler says it has received no reports of accidents or injuries and even after laboratory tests on 600 inflators, none of the inflators were defective.

    Recall notices should be sent out around January 15th of next year.

    keep reading

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