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 already caught on fire.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
132,300 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.
When I unlock the doors with the remote or open unlocked doors, the shift motor activates, I can hear it engaging and disengaging. There is a delay upon starting my truck before the drive gear kick in and I can proceed to drive vehicle. When I make a sharp turn going forward or backing...the rear tires lock up. The AWD lights flickers on/off. Constant smell like something is burning.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. While the vehicle was being operated, the vsc sensor warning light illuminated and the power steering suddenly failed. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to maneuver. In addition, the transmission switched to all wheel drive and the speed drastically reduced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000.
While driving, turning, parked, vehicle on or off, the 4WD selector will switch between AWD, 4lock and 4lo. The svc4wd light sometimes blinks after start up, sometimes while driving. This happens in park, neutral or drive and the transfer case motor can be heard switching under the vehicle. See issue described exactly here: www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T4148_ds482593 this is not a one-off issue, this is affecting multiple Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler 4X4 vehicles over multiple years with both the 2wd-4WD and AWD options. Can be hazardous when traveling at highway speeds and causes loss of control during turning while on hard surfaces due to locked axles. Even the manual warns against running in 4 lock/4lo on pavement or blacktop, this can cause damage to the powertrain.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph and when making a turn, the steering wheel seized. In addition, the transmission made a clicking noise. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
In my 05 Durango, the 4WD keeps clicking on and off randomly. I could be driving down the highway or just turned the car off. The engine has not been able to go in drive, reverse, etc. I had a mechanic look at the transmission, spending a ton of unnecessary money when the whole time the 4WD has been stuck in neutral. Dodge knows about the problem, why isn't there a recall" apparently the switching into 4lo at high speeds can cause serious damages -- even death to me or my children or other innocent people on the highway. What am I supposed to do???"
- Villa Ridge, MO, USA
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Vehicle started showing an intermittent "svc 4WD" light and vehicle would shift itself into low 4WD while making low speed turns. Had it checked by dealer, who said codes showed "unequal tire pressure". tires were within 1 psi of each other. Drove vehicle again, and codes said "unequal tire speed". dealer advised we replace all four tires, which we did. During our next trip (yesterday), the "svc 4WD" light came on and off several times, then vehicle suddenly lost all forward momentum while driving at highway speeds. Vehicle's transfer case had shifted itself neutral, leaving vehicle stranded in highway with no shoulder. While starting the car to try to troubleshoot the problem, it suddenly and without warning shifted itself into low 4WD and lurched forward. I have researched the issue online in various Dodge forums, and have found dozens of similar cases where there have been vehicles stranded in the highway due to the same problem. Several Dodge dealers evidently have had problems diagnosing the problem, replacing all possible parts only to have the issue recur within days. There are others who say they have filed complaints here and urge us who experience the same problem demand a recall. Please investigate and force Dodge to fix this obvious safety flaw that could easily cause a loss of life accident.
The vehicle tries to shift into 4 wheel drive on its own while traveling down the road. Depending on speed it is sometimes successful causing difficult steering on dry pavement. It also sometimes sounds like it is trying to shift into 4 wheel drive when the vehicle is parked and not running; especially right after unlocking the doors with the key fob.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the transfer case shifter would shift automatically without warning. The four wheel drive warning light illuminated whenever the transfer case shifter would shift independently. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, who attempted several repairs. However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,661.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop light, the service four wheel drive warning light illuminated as the vehicle independently shifted into four wheel drive. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to move forward. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.
While driving my 2005 Dodge Durango limited at low speeds in my neighborhood, the 4WD automaticly engaged with the selector switch still in the AWD position and no indicator lights on the dash stating that the 4WD was engaged at all. It make it very difficult to turn the corners even at low speeds sometimes even binds up enough to even stop the vehicle if I turn too sharp. Very unsafe and is starting to happen more and more frequently. When I park it in the garage and with the key out and no power, I have started to notice you can hear the 4WD trying to engage and disengage multiple times while just sitting there.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. While driving various speeds, the vehicle goes into wheel high mode svc 4WD. The rear end was in low gear, but the front gear was high. The vehicle shifted into either gear randomly and caused the vehicle to hop. While driving at approximately 60 mph, the engine stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The failure occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 195,000.
Transfer case motor engages by itself while driving and while parked. 4-lock light flickers on and off can hear the motor trying to engage. While driving it will engage and lock up the power train. Have to have a person push the neutral reset button while rocking vehicle to free. Have had vehicle stop in middle of intersection on a city street in front of on-coming traffic. Motor has tried to engage while driving at 35 mph. Told by mechanic that the transfer case could explode if the motor tries to engage while vehicle is moving at high speed. First happened approximately four years ago and had to wait over a year for the part. Had to disable 4WD until part arrived. Same thing is happening again.
The Durango is flashing on the dash either 4lock or 4lo while driving down the road. It will switch from AWD to 4lock when turning. It randomly switches from AWD to either 4lock or 4lo while idling and when no one is in the car and you use the key fob. It has not switch into 4lock or 4lo at a high rate of speed but has at slow speed. Very concerned that I will happen, as have read other owners have had it happen going 55 mph.
I am experiencing the same exact issues with my 2005 Dodge Durango as other posts. The 4lo and svc 4WD warning lights on the instrument panel periodically flash on and off, and frequently when I slow down to pull into a parking spot or driveway I hear a clunking sound and the transmission actually shifts on its own into 4 wheel drive. The wheels will lock and when I accelerate it actually jerks the car and drags the tires. Recently I heard a loud thump as if something broke and it shifted into 4WD on its own. In addition, when I shut the car off it will occasionally start clicking as if its locking and unlocking the car doors. This will continue for 10-15 seconds before stopping. I have had the vehicle into the local Dodge dealer numerous times for service but they claim to have not heard of the problem before and seem baffled as to what's causing it. Clearly this is not an isolated incident because of the hundreds of reports I've seen from people experiencing the same issues. After waiting 6 weeks for an aftermarket instrument panel the dealer replaced it, but that made absolutely no difference and I am still experiencing the same exact issues as before.
The Durango switches into 4 wheel drive on its own. Sometimes you can get out of the car use your key fob to lock the car and you can hear it engage in to 4 wheel drive. It also does this while you are driving down the street. It is really bad when it switches into 4 lo. I have read so much about so many people having these issues, yet nothing is being done. It is a real safety issue that needs to be resolved! this has been happening on and off for 3-5 months now and it is just getting worse.
AWD will change to 4 wheel lock without selecting it. Happens intermittently while driving, making it hard to make turns. I just bought it used, with no warning from seller.
About six months ago 4lo light started flashing then when I shut the car off I can hear shifting into and out of 4WD. Had it checked for codes and they found none. Now as I was driving it locked into 4lo vehicle made a popping sound and stalled.right in the middle of a busy intersection. I was able to start it back up but now I can't drive this car due to fear of it doing this again.
2005 Durango AWD 5.7; the transfer case motor is switching on its own regardless of the vehicle being on or off. It occasionally actuates when unlocking the vehicle with the remote. Most of the time it actuates while driving down the road. Sometimes the dash light will blink 4lo other times 4lock. Usually after a bit of blinking the svc 4WD light will come on. Once it is in 4WD, it is hard to steer. A couple of instances, it has shifted out of gear, once I was at an intersection. I had to get help just to get it off the road. I have read countless blogs about this issue online, the majority of them are for the 2004 and 2005 models. If this isn't grounds for a recall I don't know what is.
It is switching between AWD 4X4 lo and high on its own. Backing up it felt like a spring propelling me forward. Fearing that I could lose control on the highway. Mechanic is looking into lower the transmission for the issue but online I found a forum under topix and the issue was very clearly a $200 part that can be purchased and installed in under an hour of labor. Its the transfer case switch which has all the symptoms my vehicle is experiencing.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Phoenix, AZ, USA