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.
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.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that after shifting into neutral, the vehicle would restart immediately. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic test but was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 105,397.
After pulling out on to a street the engine made a loud bang and clunking noise. I pulled over to find a hole in the lower drivers side of the engine block. I do regular oil changes at 3000 mile intervals with synthetic oil and only use high quality oil and filters, this vehicle has been very well taken care of. I have read many complaints about this on the 04-05 models. My mechanic has informed me that he cannot find a replacement motor for a reasonable price due to the demand of replacing this motor. Also, he has informed me that the usual warranty that he would get with a motor of any other kind is not available for the 04-05 motors due to the well known issue.
I have a 2004 Dodge Durango limited with the 5.7 hemi. I woke up today to go to work and started it and it was making a really loud noise. I turned it off and found alternative transportation. My husband had it towed to a garage and they said that the engine was blown. How does an engine blow up sitting in the driveway? I am extremely upset with the quality of these engines and feel that with all of the other complaints I have seen on these that Dodge should be issuing a recall on these! the engine has 120,000 miles on it! the garage is quoting me between $4000 and $5000 to put an engine in it!
The car stalls out in rainy conditions and completely dies in car wash. Problem can be reproduced every single time in wet conditions.very dangerous at high speeds and could cause accidents.
I went out one morning to due my daily running for the day and when I turned the key and the vehicle started it made a sound like the starter was stuck. I turned it off and called my husband and when I started it again there was a loud pecking in the motor. I took it to a local garage and the man listened to it and told me that the noise was coming from inside the motor and that he did not do motor work. So I found another garage and took it to them and they told me that it was the starter that was bad and that they wouldn't be able to get to it for a week or so. So I called the lot that the vehicle was bought from and he sent me to his garage and the man there told me that he would take a look at it and get back to me. Well he called the next day and told me that all of the noise was coming from the transmission and that it was the fly wheel so he replaced the fly wheel and the called me back and told me that the torque converter was what was making the noise. That the veins in it was bad and rattling around so I had to wait another three days for the part to come in. After he replaced that part and put it all back together and called me and told me that it was done and that it was still making that noise, and that he could not figure out where it was coming from. He started that he called the Dodge garage and talked to the about it and they told him that the crank was bad. And that there was nothing that they could do about it. So I asked them about rebuilding the motor and he laughed at me and told me that if I could find someone that would attempt to rebuild it that he would shake their hand that no one will attempt it. All I could do is have another motor put in it. We have had that 2004 Durango 5.7 for only a year and we still owe the bank for the vehicle. And an engine is going to cost us $3400 not to mention labor fee for putting it in.
- Grafton, WV, USA
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My 2004 Durango has always had the familiar issue of stalling when it rained or went through a car wash, but on March 10 that all ended. My husband went out to take my car to a meeting and heard loud clunking sounds. The car would not start. We eventually learned the engine was shot--just like that. There was no warning whatsoever. Now we are now stuck with replacing the engine for around $5000. This is crazy!! I can't believe all of the problems this model has faced--and no recall!! I am just lucky I wasn't driving with my young daughter when it happened. Something needs to be done before someone is hurt badly.
I started my car to go to work and the car was making a knocking sound. I had my husband check the oil and other fluids and they were fine. Towed my car to a dealership repair shop and they said the engine threw a rod and was no good any more. I just paid 15,000 for this car 6 weeks before and now I have no vehicle. The warranty company said they would not cover it because there wasn't enough miles. I have been on a lot of different sites and they have numerous complaints for this. They have recalled other cars for this same reason. When you call Dodge they just give you the run around.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that after starting the engine, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue. The failure mileage was 105,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was a loud noise and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that a rod bearing had malfunctioned and the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 120,000.
These vehicles have serious engine problems. (hemi 5.7L) the engine shut off while driving and almost caused an accident with me and my seven children inside because ethe driver behind me didn't see that my vehicle came to a stop and steering wheel locked up. In heavy rains water gets inside somehow and stalls the engine. The engine finally locked up after taking my truck to numerous of places to see what was wrong and mechanics never seen that the engine was going bad. Looking at reports, a lot of people are experiencing engine failure and this is dangerous. Please do something before somebody gets hurt.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle there was a loud knocking sound and a rod blew out of the right side of the engine. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told there was no assistance for the repair because the engine was out of warranty. The failure mileage and current mileages were 127,000. Updated 04/30/13
I was sitting at a stop light at 11pm heard a loud sound and the car wouldn't go any more I managed to get the car to a lot not knowing the oil had leaked out all over the ground I was stuck for 3 hours in the dark and rain waiting for my family to come looking for me I was on my way home from work so I knew the would come lookin for me just so happens I walked off and left my cell on my way to work had the car towed the next day found out something came lose and put a hole in the engine block I guess that made the oil leak out all at once I bought this car used traded my Ford in for it drove it for 7months and haven't used it since im still paying notes on it and cant afford to get it fixed cost sooo much begging for rides to and from wok every day bout to go nuts this should be recalled its happened to alot of theses brand of car love my car but its a piece of junk its just apretty boby I need my car fixed!!or I my lose my job somebody do something please!
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the engine failed to start. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was unsure of what the exact cause of the failure was. The approximate failure mileage was 78,500 and the current mileage 79,000.
Had driven truck earlier in day had no issues at all. Drove and sounded like it always did!! went to start it that evening to get daughter from school event and it made a horrible noise and wouldn't start! mechanic said it was starter. After 2 days of waiting for a starter that noone keeps in stock! put it on and nothing! mechanic said it was stuck flywheel. He got it to turn over but the motor was knocking very loud!! now I'm without a car because I do not have the money for a new motor!!
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango hemi. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the 4X4 light illuminated without warning. The vehicle started to shake violently and then there was a loud noise. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home where it was inspected by an independent mechanic, who advised that a rod had blown through the engine. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 115,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostics. The technician stated that the engine would have to be replaced because the connecting rod had detached from the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.
Vehicle started to run a little rough. Wife was at a stop light accelerated upon green and heard a loud noise and a jerk. She nursed it home about a mile or so. Pulled into the driveway and shut it off and oil was everywhere. I looked around and discovered a hole in the engine block behind the passenger side tire about the size of my fist. Have had the Durango since it was brand new. Its always ran great. We love our Durango. Very upset that this happened. We do not have much money to spare at months end, but we needed a car so we were forced to go buy another. Would like to maybe get the Durango fixed. But that might take a little while to get the money now. Be nice if Chrysler could send me a new engine or something. I have owned a total of 5 Chrysler brand vehicles.
Went grocery shopping night before. Woke up next morning to go to breakfast. Went to start Durango. Heard loud knocking and then it stalled got out and oil was spewing from under the engine. Took it to mechanic and had to get a $5500 loan to replace the entire engine due to a thrown rod.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact started the ignition and a loud noise emitted from the engine area. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where they advised the contact that the connecting rod fractured, which caused internal damage to the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem and did not offer any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000...updated 03/18/13 the consumer stated there had been no prior problems other than a check engine light, which the dealer maintained was a vaccuum leak. There was also a rough running problem that the dealer attempted to repair by changing plug wires. That problem was not repaired. Updated 04/26/2013
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bangor, PA, USA