9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$100
Average Mileage:
138,750 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
  2. change tps (2 reports)
2003 Dodge Durango engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Dodge Durango Owner Comments

problem #10

Jan 242016

Durango SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 142,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. I'm honestly surprised that there haven't been any deaths yet as a result of this problem. Toyota got so much crap for unintended acceleration but Dodge has been doing it for years and nobody has said anything. Why haven't there been lawsuits?

I bought this car to drive my family around in and now I'm terrified to do just that. On several times I have completely lost throttle control and no matter how far I push the gas pedal down, the car won't move. This has proved to be incredibly dangerous while merging onto the highway! The engine also surges up and down with rpms racing around doing whatever it feels like. It accelerates downhill at crazy speeds and forces me to push the brake pedal to the floor. I drive with my foot on the brake pedal most of the time because the car takes care of acceleration for me. I'll be sitting at a red light, car stopped, foot on brake and I can feel and hear the engine pushing against the brakes, trying to push me forward. It has almost caused several accidents and honestly I'm scared to drive it.

The engine is constantly in high idle causing these dangerous behaviors and dismal gas mileage of 9 miles per gallon! NINE! That's worse than my uncle's Hummer H2 and honestly just ridiculous considering a similarly sized Highlander gets about 18-19 around town. I'm sick of this dangerous vehicle but I currently don't have the funds to replace it. So for now I'm stuck driving my loved ones around in this death trap. I've seen so many complaints about this online and if any of this has happened to you or you know something about how to fix it or if there's a recall that I've missed, please let me know. I would really appreciate that. Stay safe everyone, be careful in these cars.

- jake mcbride, Boston, Ma, US

problem #9

Jul 032014

Durango Sport/SXT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 153,106 miles

I was driving from Lincoln NE to Loveland Co for the 4th of July weekend to be with my daughters and grandchildren when the nightmare began. I had the cruise set at 75 mph when suddenly the cruise kicked off and the car started losing power. It was 10:30 at night and semi trucks and cars were heavy. I had the gas pedal to the floor and nothing. I coasted to the shoulder and shut vehicle off. Tried to start vehicle and it would turn over but not start. After trying for 30 minutes I tried to get a tow truck out of Cheyenne but the only place open was going to be at least 2 hrs out. I called my daughter who had to come get me. This came out of nowhere. And I was baffled with what was wrong so I started my quest for answers since I had owned a mechanic shop for 3 years and love working on cars. I started replacing parts that the diagnostic report suggested as possible reasons. I can tell you being a female stranded on an interstate late at night this is not a good situation to be in.

- Alice W., Lincoln, NE, US

problem #8

Oct 122011

Durango SXT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 142,000 miles

dont know where to start, the dodge durango is a nice riding suv motor wise they are junk . my wife bought this suv from a used car dealer a purchased an extended warranty for what . she had the suv for 3 months and in the 3 months it has had the motor changed. they gave her suv back to her and it started leaking oil so we called the people that installed the motor and they said bring it back so we did for them to put a dam drain plug in that wasn't the the problem in the first place they put a bad oil pan that was on the other motor. bs they told us the warranty company would ony allow them a new short block well ok do it we figured it would be new to come find out they put in a junk yard motor that still runs like sh*t and told us the top rad hose had to be replaced. asked how much they told us 95.00 plus labor thats bullshit to so now we have and are stuck with this suv and it runs like sh*t surges back and forth u name it it does it .thanks dodge for the lemon. rad hose is on this suv are a pain in the ass along with the moti-or to u name it its wrong with it and the warranty companies dont care about you.

- Edaward S., Watertown, NY, US

problem #7

May 282010

Durango 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine is screwed up idles high and low and shuts off. Sometimes i think the same problem is causing both symptoms.

Update from Nov 11, 2010: problem solved it was the tps (throttle position sensor)runs great now roughly a $30.00 fix took 15 min

- Josh T., Catawissa, PA, US

problem #6

Apr 302009

Durango SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

Well this seem s to be a model flaw. I bought this car used, I see why it was traded in. I have a 2003 dodge durango slt 4.7 liter v8. When I am at a light, or drive thru it revs up and down, or it will cut off, sometimes the rev up tries to pull me foward. I have had this thing in the shop 15 times for this problem. They have cleaned the throttle body checked everything, but it wont do it for the mechanics. So finally I took them for a drive and it did it mildly for one of the mechanics. He had some ideas, short in the computer wire,, crank sensor etc... So while this problem happens and continues, it has problems shifting from 2-3rd gears, thought this was a seperate problem, but after experimenting with it, another problem started to occur that might ihave it on the right track.80% of the time when I put it in reverse now it will die. Annoying yes, but might have answered this mystery for many. I talk to the mechanic and told him I think it isnt the engine at all but the transmission might be having an error and putting a drain on the engine. He said a while back he had a simular problem with a DURANGO. It was a short in one of the wires from the transmission. This could possibly be the answer I have been looking for. I wont know for sure till my appt but for those of you having problems heres a new direction

- izrail, Evansville, IN, US

problem #5

Nov 222009

Durango SXT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

I called dodge and the only recall they have for my vehicle is for the windshield and

I feel that is bullshit. I have unintended acceleration which is going to cause me to have a crash. My vehicles has all of the defects that most of others are having this is really pissing me off. I don't know what to do. I pulling out my dam hair over this vehicle it has safety issue and no one seems to freaky care about me and my kids safety. I have idling of the engine when I'm in park what the hell is that. I can't use the heat or A/C or it acts stupid and cuts off on me or even getting on the highway.

- keekee30, Minneapolis, MN, US

problem #4

Jan 012010

Durango SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

have had this vehicle in for repair 5 times, each time the experts tell me it's fixed, well maybe..the engine starts surging in the parking lot. idles up really high, low and suddenly dies out. i can restart immediately but this is really dangerous. i have had the crank sensor replaced, idle air control replaced, the throttle cleared of sludge, a cracked pipe replaced and the PCM reprogrammed. probably time to get a new car huh?

- ebumphus, Wichita, KS, US

problem #3

May 092006

Durango SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 466,028 miles

everything and anything went wrong that could go wrong. It would cost me an average of $500.00 to repair this vehicle. It was constantly in the shop. I drove it for 5 days and 2 days in the shop. Between the car payments and the repair costs I could not pay my mortgage and feed my family. I finally abandoned this piece of crap and walked away from it. This vehicle is not fit for the purpose it was purchased for. I called Chrysler and told all of the headaches I had with this vehicle, and asked them why there is no recall on it. They told me that I was the only one having this problem and there was no need for recall. I have a stack of maintenance bills that I could bind them into a book.

- Domenic L., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

problem #2

Nov 302005

(reported on)

Durango

  • 30,000 miles

engine spikes when stopped. been in shop 11 times for this problem. they think it is in the emission control system

- Joe S., Columbus, OH, US

problem #1

Feb 122005

(reported on)

Durango SXT

  • 3,000 miles

I have had my durango in to the dealer 2 times already. On both occasions I was told there was nothing they could find. I told them to drive it until it happened again but they only put 43 miles on it. I was told when it happens again to bring it straight to the dealer again, but I dont see what good it will do

- andy2639, St Helena, SC, US

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