CarComplaints.com Notes: The second generation Durango was introduced in 2004 and instantly came under fire for, well, catching on fire.

From 2004-2006 electrical overloading in the driver's side instrument panel caused numerous reports of interior fires. The interior infernos became so commonplace that Chrysler eventually issued a recall.

The problems didn't stop there, however. Owners of the recalled vehicles complained about being treated unfairly and given take-it-or-leave-it low ball settlement offers. "They offered me $2000 under NADA retail as a settlement," said one owner, "and have been rude and hostile to deal with." Nothing says awesome service like treating your customers rudely after their cars have caught on fire.

Have we mentioned all the reports of complete engine failure due to oil sludge?

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
22 / 2
Average Mileage:
50,389 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Dodge Durango seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2004 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 7 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #16

Aug 182014

Durango

  • miles

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

The air bag light for both the passenger and driver side of the vehicle come on and off during driving.

- Sedro Woolley, WA, USA

problem #15

Jan 072014

Durango 8-cyl

  • 187,000 miles
We involved in a roll over we where hit from rear and rolled over a couple times and no air bags deployed oe even when front end hit the wall that we went up before rolling over.

- Clinton Township , MI, USA

problem #14

Mar 252013

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
Any and all times the battery cables are removed from the battery for routine maintenance on a 2004 Dodge Durango, the airbag light illuminates after reconnection of the battery. The airbag system becomes inoperative and must be recalibrated by a dealer at a cost in excess of $100. This is the 2nd time this has occurred.

- Chadds Ford, PA, USA

problem #13

Aug 142012

Durango

  • 145,000 miles

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

I have owned my 2004 Durango for three years and love this truck. Unfortunately, the passenger airbag light and instrument panel light keep coming on and off at will. The clockspring is not broken because the radio and cruise control still work while the light is illuminated. As someone else mentioned, the light will go off if you move the wires under the passenger seat. I have read several posts about the seat weights, control module, low battery voltage, clockspring and ECU as possible culprits. The car has also had two recent accidents prior to the lights appearance and the airbags did not deploy either time? my auto body shop and insurance company found this very strange. This manufacturing defect is very dangerous and Dodge has had this problem with several earlier model Durango and recalled them for defective airbag repair. Durango owners need to keep posting complaints to demand action be taken immediately!

- Hull, MA, USA

problem #12

Jan 292010

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 76,000 miles
I do not know what happened this feels like this dream. One day my truck is running great and then bam oil every where. One day I started my truck up after about two weeks of letting it sit in the drive way and it had a ticking noise so I immediately turned it off. I called a mechanic he checked it and said it was a sticky lifter.I then called Dodge to get professional advice because my mechanic is not a certified Dodge mechanic. A service adviser at Dodge dealership on rt 112 in medford and he told me that if the problem started while the truck was sitting, to just start the truck and let it run for a while. So I did and maybe five minutes of it being on and ticking I heard a noise and saw oil on the ground. Now what do I do.........I have a hole in the engine block and a fully paid piece of junk. I have records of all my regular oil changes this truck was my baby I took great care of it, I loved it and its dead. I'm not the only one with this truck and this problem when will Dodge own up to its responsibility and recall the 5.7 motor.it breaks my heart every morning walking by my 2004 Dodge Durango to start up my old beat up 97 Nissan pathfinder with 246K its sad to say that this rusted old piece of junk gives me no problems with its motor or transmission, but my new truck crapped out at 116,000 cars not are suppose to die after 100K especially heavy duty trucks. I never even got the opportunity to carry a load or tow something. Dodge made it seem like this was something that was suppose to happen because the truck has 100K...that makes no sense to me and I wish I would have done more research on this truck. But right now I just pray that Dodge helps me out with this problem. This is my family vehicle that I invested hard earned cash into and now it is just sitting in my driveway rotting away. Can someone please help?

- Patchogue, NY, USA

problem #11

Oct 112011

Durango

  • 93,000 miles
At 93000 miles wheel indicator light stays on replaced tire at normal time to change, but light does not go out. Also having other inside problems, engine is making bad noises, wipers don't work half the time, air conditioner not blowing cool air even having it filled with freeon, center panel over heats. Air bag light come on and off while driving with no one else in truck.

- Elmore, AL, USA

problem #10

Oct 152010

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles

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

Any and all times the battery cables are removed from the battery for routine maintenance on a 2004 Dodge Durango, the airbag light illuminates after reconnection of the battery. The airbag system becomes inoperative and must be recalibrated by a dealer at a cost in excess of $100.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #9

May 262010

Durango

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving at 70 mph, the driver's side air bag independently deployed. The contact was unable to see the road due to the air bag blocking her line of vision. The vehicle proceeded across the median where a semi-truck crashed into the contact's vehicle. The contact sustained severe injuries, as well as two other passengers. A police report was available. The vehicle was towed from the scene by the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer advised they were not liable for the air bag independently deploying because it was caused by an undercarriage failure. The failure and current mileage was 110,000.

- Elgin, TX, USA

problem #8

Oct 152008

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 620,000 miles
Dodge Durango SUV, model slt 4WD 4.7 8 cylinder engine needs a new clock spring to meet Massachusetts inspection requirements after vehicle accident. Auto body shop located in andover MA (woodsworth motors). Cannot find replacement for clock spring after almost 3 weeks of effort. Please advise asap for potential source, new or used. Have been w/O an vehicle, except for relatives loan vehicle--auto body shop still searching for part. Please respond asap!

- Andover, MA, USA

problem #7

Jan 012001

Durango

  • 79,800 miles
I along with hundreds of other people have a vehicle with the airbag light on. I am not sure why Dodge hasn't issued a recall on whatever component is causing this problem. I think because the airbag is a "life saving" device, they should be made to issue a recall immediately. I hope you guys can find a solution to this potentially deadly problem. There are hundreds of complaints in dozens of forums about this particular vehicle.

- Hopewell, VA, USA

problem #6

Dec 182007

Durango 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

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

I hit a telephone pole with the frond end of my Dodge Durango, and my air bag never depolyed.

- Sheldon, VT, USA

problem #5

Aug 162004

Durango 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,000 miles
I hydroplained off the road, and hit a telephone pole at about 60 mph. I smashed the driver side fender into the motor, and broke the frame. Also, I broke both seats in the front back.the Dodge investigator totaled it. I asked Dodge what the were going to do, they said that I had to hit the pole directly in the front. I guess the front fender isn't front enough, or breaking the frame in the front isn't enough. The seats broke back and my seatbelt didn't keep me in my seat, I ended up in the back. I am still having problems with my broken wrist, L and my shoulder. The hood is smashed against the windshield, the front bumper tore off.

- Mankato, MN, USA

problem #4

Sep 012004

Durango

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Not even making my first payment yet, my car has seen the shop several times and still not fixed. My brake line was "cross treaded" in the assembly line. There for I had very little brake fluid left (only 2 weeks after buying the car) and the fluid leaked on my rim which now has to be replaced but is on back order till "whenever". I was with out my new car for over a week for this problem. Then I have to get the bumper replaced due to fading which the service dept says has happened to several Durango's and PT CRUISER. This will be a 2-3 day process once Chrysler figures out how they are going to repair since they have stopped replacing. (this will be more time with out my new car.) then it was in the shop because the radiator cap was not put on correctly during assembly and it loosened. All the coolent leaked and caused the car to overheat. Last but not least the air bag light came on and they said that they have to replace the impact sensor switch...which you guessed it... is on backorder. This might or might not be the problem but they can't go any further until this is changed out. So once again I will be with out my car. I have talked to another service department and they warned me that I shouldn't be driving this car because with out the impact sensor switch, the airbags won't deploy on imact. This car has been too much trouble and not worth the hassle.this is my first Dodge and I would never recommend buying one. I understand that sometimes there are just bad apples in the bunch, but Chrysler and the dealership hasn't made efforts to fix problems. I just get the typical run around.

- Ladson, SC, USA

problem #3

May 302004

Durango

  • miles
The vehicle's radio stopped working. When the consumer tried to change lanes, he noticed a delayed reaction from the time he pressed the accelerator to the response of the vehicle. On another occasion, the check engine light illuminated and the transmission down shifted for a few seconds. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and explained all the problems he had experienced and after a diagnostics test was done, the dealer stated the computer displayed a code and they did not know what it was so they erased it. One month later, the consumer experienced the same problem with the radio and when he attempted to place the vehicle in park, the gear shifter did not go into the park position it stayed in the reverse position. The vehicle went back to the dealer and it was discovered that 2 bolts and a bracket were missing from the transmission shifter. The consumer stated the cruise control did not and a new problem had surfaced. There was a warning light on the dashboard that read pass air bag off.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #2

Jun 242004

Durango 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles
I was involved in an accident on June 24, 2004 in which my 2004 Dodge Durango was totalled. I was traveling at approximately 60 mph and hit another vehicle broadside - I hit the drivers side of their vehicle straight on. There was significant front end damage, the front doors were not able to be opened, the engine was damaged and the front axel snapped on impact. The airbag did not deploy. We contacted Chrysler and they did an "investigation" and we were told that the accident was not severe enough and the rate of deceleration was not high enough to cause the airbag to deploy. They sent us a pamphlet with airbag information in it and in the booklet it states that the airbag is set to deploy in accidents similar to mine at 28 mph. We haave not been able to get a straight anwer from them as to why in our case the airbag did not deploy. I went from 60 mph to 0 in about 20 feet.

- Rockford, MI, USA

problem #1

Mar 122004

Durango 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,791 miles
When turning steering wheel to the left or right steering wheel does not return smoothly. The dealer replaced the steering arm but that didn't correct the problem. During the time the consumer owned the vehicle the air bag light illuminated and the rear wiper fell out.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

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