10 Frustrating Problems Of A Dodge Durango

On paper, the Dodge Durango is a mid-sized SUV that seems like a great purchase. Classed as a muscle-UTE with a mighty towing capacity, the Durango is loved by some and considered iffy by others. It’s packed with enough technology to keep the geek squad entertained and has plenty of room for the whole family, but is this Dodge reliable?

The Dodge Durango has been affected by cruise control failure resulting in over-acceleration and compromised braking. In turn, the compromised ABS braking system has resulted in the loss of electronic stability control. The effectiveness of airbags deployed in an accident was compromised due to loose or missing side curtain airbag fasteners.

Looking past the sales blurb and the muscle-mystique reputation, the Dodge Durango has had its fair share of vehicle problems and 42 recalls. This article will scratch beneath the marketing blurb and macho image and look at ten recalls and red flags. This alone should make any prospective buyer a bit wary and wish to know more.

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1. Cruise Control Failure Recall

A speed cruise control system is a luxury feature built into a car to make for effortless and stressless driving, particularly on long distances, by maintaining highway cruising speeds without attracting the attention of the county sheriff. Though when the driver cannot disengage the cruise control, this is a cause for concern that any prospective 2014 – 2018 Dodge Durango vehicle owner should take note of. 

In 2018 a recall was issued under the NHTSA campaign number: 18V332000 for a short-circuit in the wiring loom of the Durango’s factory-fitted speed cruise control. This defect prevented the driver from disengaging cruise control when braking or via the dedicated steering wheel controls and affected the driver’s ability to slow down or accelerate further. This defect affected 4,846,885 vehicles, resulting in a potentially deadly situation, with the worst-case scenario being the increased accident risk due to compromised braking. 

The affected vehicles were inspected by Chrysler, who updated the ECM/PCM Software at no cost to the owners.

2. Cruise Control Unintended Continued Acceleration Recall

There seemed to be no end to the cruise control problems of the slightly older 2014 Durango.

The 2014 Durango is fitted with adaptive cruise control, allowing the vehicle to accelerate faster when using the gas pedal. While this sounds great in a sales blurb or on the open road, it is not so great when a defect causes unintended continued acceleration after the cruise control clocks the desired speed.

The Durango’s driver assistance module system (DAMS) failed to stop acceleration when the driver’s foot was lifted off the gas pedal, resulting in panicked situations and increased accident risk. Though this recall issued under recall number P31 and the NHTSA campaign number: 14V293000 affected a relatively small number of vehicles, 6120, it is still an area of concern and should not be overlooked. The defect seemed to be resolved by the dealer reprogramming the DAMS.

3. Vehicle Rollaway Due to ABS Malfunction Recall

Without an effective braking system, no driver will be able to bring their vehicle safely to a stop, especially in an emergency. Unfortunately, the Dodge Durango, 2018 -2019, has been plagued by problems with the ABS anti-skid braking system.

The Durango’s integrated braking system utilizes the incorporated ABS module to control the braking force preventing skidding in slippery and emergency braking conditions, and other safety features found on the car. 

One such safety feature is the vehicle remaining stationary when the brakes are applied, and the transmission is shifted in and out of park. A malfunction with the ABS control module caused the brake lights to illuminate without the driver depressing the brake pedal and allowed the transmission to shift in and out of park.

A second concern is that the driver could start the vehicle without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of vehicle roll-away and an accident.

Chrysler found the problem to be a defective HCU/ABS module that falsely read pressure in the primary circuit, which resulted in FCA US issuing a voluntary recall of the affected 270,904 vehicles.

An update to solve the faulty HCA/ABS module is still underway for the recall issued under recall number Z48 and the NHTSA campaign number 22V426000.Z48 and the NHTSA campaign number 22V426000.

4. ESC Malfunction and Recall

The 2021 – 2022 Dodge Durango has many driver aids and built-in safety features, but these are of no use when they malfunction. These models have a reported faulty ESC light that may not illuminate to indicate a malfunction caused by suspect ABS control module software.

So, what exactly is an ESC? The electronic stability control is a convenient safety feature that works with various sensors around the vehicle. It keeps you, the driver, from losing control on slippery bends or gravel roads. We may all think we are the greatest driver on the road, but behind the scenes, these systems quietly keep us safe and out of trouble.

A recall was issued under FCA recall number Z20 and the NHTSA campaign number: 22V140000 to update the ABS control module software. Though the remedy seems simple, one cannot underestimate the consequences of the risk to drivers, passengers, and other road users if no solution is sought.

5. Faulty EGR Valve with Power failure Recall

The muscle-car mystique of the Dodge Durango has always been a sales draw-card, with any loss of power deemed problematic.

A problematic EGR valve has been causing loss of power problems for the 2021 Dodge Durango equipped with the 3.6l engine. It is also affecting the acceleration capabilities of the vehicle. 

The exhaust gas reticulation valve (EGR) in your car’s engine is responsible for returning a small portion of the exhaust gasses from the exhaust manifold back into the car’s air intake and reducing exhaust emissions.

A faulty EGR valve sticking open will cause the car’s ECU, your car’s brain, to process a false reading and adjust the air/fuel mixture accordingly. This results in an unintentional loss of power that creates a potentially dangerous situation and further tarnishes the muscle-car mystique. 

A recall was issued in April 2022 under FCA recall number: Z31 and the NHTSA campaign number 22V284000 for the 1308 affected vehicles to replace the faulty EGR valve.

6. Steering Assembly Bar Failure and Recall

The newer Dodge Durango model years are not immune to some serious problems resulting in recalls. A recall was issued in March 2022 under the NHTSA campaign number 22V15400 because of the steering assembly bar bending inside the steering rack on certain 2021 -2022 vehicles.

So what does this mean to a prospective buyer? Any loss of steering in a vehicle, no matter the size or shape, is far from ideal.

In this case, the steering rack with teeth or linear gears that engage with the round pinion gear at the bottom of your car’s steering column may be defective.

During the manufacturing of the steering rack, the metal used in the manufacturing process was found to be insufficiently hardened. Failure of the steering rack by binding will result in a loss of steering control and most certainly result in a vehicle crash.

Owners were contacted in May 2022 under the NHTSA campaign number 22V154000 to replace the steering gear assembly at no added costs.

7. Missing Side Curtain Airbag Fastener Recall

Airbags and safety belts are considered safety-critical components on any vehicle; at minimum, we expect them to work effectively. The muscle-mystique lure of the Dodge Durango should not compromise the safety aspects of the car, and any recall should raise a red flag and cause prospective buyers to pause.

A customer complaint of a rattling noise in the C-pillar alerted Chrysler to a missing or loose side curtain airbag fastener. Chrysler maintains that it was not negligence but a manufacturing error affecting the 2020 – 2021 Durango. Whatever the cause, the installation error will prevent the airbags from effectively deploying during an accident.

Chrysler issued a recall in 2021 under recall number: Y16 and the NHTSA campaign number: 21V280000 for affected vehicles to be inspected and the fault tightened or replaced free of charge.

8. Voltage Regulator Chip Failure and Recall

The niggling issues plaguing Chrysler continued with the 2018 Dodge Durango experiencing powertrain problems. 

The power train control module was manufactured with a defective voltage regulator chip on the electronic circuit board. A failure of this chip will prevent the vehicle from starting or the engine from stalling while driving, increasing the risk of being stranded and an accident caused by a stalled car.

This is because the voltage regulator’s job is to keep the right amount of electrical power flowing between the components of your vehicle. Simply put, if the voltage regulator is faulty or broken, electrical components, such as the battery, will no longer charge while driving and die. 

Electrical problems in a vehicle are costly, and this is something any prospective owner should investigate before considering the Durango. Chrysler issued a recall in 2018 under recall number U87 and the NHTSA campaign number  18V524000 to replace the faulty powertrain control module at no charge. A total number of 12,779 vehicles were affected. 

9. Incorrect Automatic Transmission Park Rod Recall

The fourth recall issued in May under the NHTSA campaign number 18V280000 for the 2018 Dodge Durango should be enough to raise serious doubts about this vehicle.

During the manufacturing process, Chrysler fitted the 2018 Durango with the incorrect park lock rod, which means the transmission may not shift into park to keep the vehicle from moving.

Let’s break this down further without asking everyone to attend MIT and gain a degree in mechanical engineering.

Increased pressure from safety lobby groups has forced manufacturers to build safety features into vehicles. One such feature, such as the Park Lock Brake, allows the gearbox to be locked while in Park gear to prevent the car from moving. Installing the incorrect park rod part in the Durango does not allow this safety feature to engage. This increases the risk of the vehicle rolling away and increases the risk of a crash and injury to other road users.

10. Rearview Image Can Remain on the Display

 A rather handy feature on any modern vehicle these days is the rear camera which assists drivers with reversing and is usually displayed on the radio screen when the reverse gear is engaged.

Unfortunately, this is not so great for owners of the 2019 Durango. A software error caused the camera to remain on after the vehicle had shifted out of reverse. The vehicle, therefore, did not comply with requirement 111 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. 

Chrysler recalled a total number of 319,610 vehicles under recall number: W30-W37 and the NHTSA campaign number 20V191000. Owners could update the software remotely with Over-the-Air (OTA) or in the workshop by the dealers.  

It would seem that the muscle-mystique lure of the Dodge Durango as the all-American mucho vehicle has been tarnished by the safety recalls and that there are perhaps less troublesome vehicles available.