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 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,954 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.

2005 Dodge Durango engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Dodge Durango:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2005 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #113

Sep 082022

Durango

  • miles

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

I almost died, I escaped my car moments before it completely exploded into flames. I was driving down the interstate and it said it was overheating for a couple seconds and then the car went completely dead going 70 miles per hour. My steering wheel locked up so I fought to pull it off the road and stop it, I had a bad feeling so I checked the front of the car but it was inflamed once I got out and my seat was consumed in fire

- Gulfport , MS, USA

problem #112

Mar 022022

Durango

  • miles
Was driving 2005 dodge Durango when it stalled and stopped running at a bottom of a hill. Would not start. Replaced idiole control sensor, starter, battery, crank shaft sensor and relays. Started ran for 30 minutes again just died in the middle of the road. Will not start. If someone would of come over the hills could of hit us with sever injury or possibly death. Still wont run crank over wont run.

- Blue Mound, KS, USA

problem #111

Jun 112021

Durango

  • miles
Engine is intermittent stalling when driving or taking a sharp corner at Low speed. The vehicle engine has just stalled when driving at different speeds. No check engine lite on at all the engine just stalls and I can restart the engine almost all the time right away the repair facility has no idea what is going on. Need to get this figured out before an accident happens

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #110

Aug 012020

Durango

  • 200,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up. Additionally, the sun roof was leaking water into the electrical system and also water into the engine. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Chattanoga, TN, USA

problem #109

May 132020

Durango

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that his battery had died upon start of his vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who was able to recharge the battery. Months later, the contact stated that the same failure recurred. The contact had the vehicle jump started and taken back to his independent mechanic who charged the battery again. Due to the ineffectiveness of the charge, the mechanic replaced the battery. Upon research, the contact discovered that the change over motor linked to the four-wheel drive feature could engage independently while the vehicle was turned off. The contact then linked his failure of his vehicle due to the fact that he could hear an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle once the vehicle was turned off. The contact also stated that the svc 4WD service light would illuminate intermittently upon start of the vehicle. Gill Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (1100 S madera ave, madera, ca 93637) was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #108

Feb 082020

Durango 8-cyl

  • miles
Hola el vehculo tiene problema con la bolsa de aire del pasajero, por su excesiva presin de esta. El motor del limpia parabrisas tambin tiene problema. Y el motor de admisin del escape en nmero de vino ES : [xxx]. mi correo electrnico ES : [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- ViÑA Del Mar, CA, USA

problem #107

Jan 012017

Durango

  • 99,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. While driving at low speeds and making turns, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that there was a small vacuum leak due to the retention pump. The contact called turnersville Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram located at 3100 NJ-42, turnersville, NJ 08081; phone number: (856) 316-7958 but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage 99,000.

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #106

Oct 182019

Durango

  • 120,000 miles
Engine stalling while low speed driving, when deceleration, while making a stop sign or waiting at a red light. This issue has occurred persistently in different occasions and settings. Although the majority of the times the vehicle's shutting off occurs frequently at low speed, it has happened while driving at a higher normal speed. Chrysler company does not have this issue listed on some vehicles of the same year 2005 that evidently shows certain defects, therefore, owners are immediately dismiss or ignored and left with a life threatening vehicle on their hands.

- Mount Clemens, MI, USA

problem #105

Aug 012014

Durango

  • 78,000 miles
'takata recall' there are several things that are going on with my 2005 Dodge Durango slt 4.7 liter V8, 4 wheel drive SUV that are alarming. Every single time I fuel the vehicle it shoots gasoline right back on out of the gas tank where you insert the fuel nozzle and covers me with gas! plus I have replaced the throttle position sensor several times, along with the idle air control valve, and map sensor just to try and correct the stalling while either slowing down to come to a stop, or it also occurs quite frequently when the vehicle is at normal operational temperature and just idling. The RPM gauge inside the vehicle starts fluctuating irratically before stalling. You lose all power and control over the vehicle when it stalls! another problem that's present is hard shifting, or the vehicle fails to shift until it almost pegs out the RPM gauge. It's like both idle and shift are affected creating a safety issue. The transmission has been serviced regularly, tuneups, etc. However despite staying on top of all vehicle maintenance requirements the vehicle still runs poorly and has been doing this since I have owned it at 78,000 miles. It's now got 113K on it and I honestly think the vehicle is a safety hazard and needs the manufacturing company to address all of these issues! this is an ongoing issue that no matter how many times I have the vehicle repaired and the parts replaced it continues to stall out and shift incorrectly there's 18 trouble codes that keep coming up including the air bag on the passenger side, which really doesn't seem to fit what's really going on. No trouble codes for the fuel tank shooting gas out of the inlet pipe that leads to gas tank. This stalling and loss of power happens at all speeds on the freeway, city driving, or literally parked or slowing down from any speed. Any kind of weather condition. Problem started 8/01/2014 to present day.

- Centralia, WA, USA

problem #104

Feb 202019

Durango

  • 190,000 miles
2005 Dodge Durango ltd with a 5.7L hemi. Stalls out in traffic often when it rains whether stationary or moving. According to people on youtube, this is a common problem and needs to be addressed by the manufacturer. This has happened on a few occasions, but I am reporting the most recent. The problem is that water drains onto the manifold and somehow causes the vehicle to stall.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #103

Mar 082009

Durango

  • 130,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the fuel tank leaked when attempting to top off the fuel tank. In addition, the vehicle stalled often, would not restart, and the headlights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to gettle Dodge Ram and Chrysler (2323 tamiami trail, punta gorda, fl 33950, (941) 347-6706), but the cause of the failure could not de determined. However, the dealer replaced an unknown fuse in the engine and the vehicle restarted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failures. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- North Point, FL, USA

problem #102

Mar 172018

Durango

  • 121,990 miles
My Durango was serviced on 2/23/2018 with regular upkeep stuff like new battery, oil change, ect. About a week later, my rpms would jump and drop while on the highway. On 3/10/2018, I started my car and drove a few blocks and it did just fine, later that evening, I drove about 4 blocks and my engine died. No check engine light, I was able to start right back up and make it about a block before it died again, able to restart it and make it home before my engine died again. I took it to the shop and they told me that no codes could be pulled and that my car was shorting out due to my radiator and water pump. We replaced those and my thermostat and they said it should be fine. Drove the car about 15 miles or less and it died again. So I took it to the next shop and they could not tell me anything because it never died or acted up in their care. So they told me to drive it until it does it again. The [xxx] thing died two blocks away from the shop. The guys at the shop told me to go fill up my gas tank and put fuel injector cleaner in it. I didn't have any problems making it home or to work the next day. I was headed to lunch the next day and it dies before I even leave the work parking lot. I drive home and it dies twice, all able to start right back up. I live maybe 5 minutes away from my job and my gas tank went from full to half a tank just by going to work and home. Today, I left work and made it a couple of blocks from home when it died and would not start back up!! I had to tow my car home. The Dodge house says its $150 dollars to just pull the car into their bays and when it doesn't show codes or the engine light is not on, they can not do any thing further and send me on my way. They obviously have a problem with this death trap and they need to fix it. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #101

Mar 052018

Durango

  • 150,000 miles
The transfer case make clicking counts when driving and while car is idle. It also makes these clicking noises while the car is off putting the car into 4 lo on its own. The car will sometimes shut off while driving low speeds and attempting to make a turn. The battery dies frequently after a week of not is use.

- Fair Oaks, CA, USA

problem #100

Feb 162018

Durango

  • 100,000 miles
My car caught on fire from the hood area (I have photos) and air bags never deployed. I took my car in and the air bags were replaced but never deployed and car is a total lost due to fire.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #99

Dec 222017

Durango

  • 83,900 miles
After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign and allowing children to cross in the crosswalk, my vehicle try's to accelerate/jump forward even though my foot has the brake pedal completely pushed down. The schools in my town get packed with traffic and you have to kinda of stop and go at a slow pace for long periods of time. My 2005 Dodge Durango try's to nudge forward on its own when slowly stopping and going in traffic. Very dangerous for this to be happening around elementary schools with children around. I hope this known safety issue is able to be resolved. This is a daily occurrence, whether I'm picking up or dropping off kids at school, or I'm creeping along very slowly stopping and going looking for a parking spot, or at a red light or slowing down before entering a driveway, or anytime I'm in a driverhru and I have to creep along and stop and go. Would love for this to be resolved. I will even pay for it, I just would like it to be fixed because it's dangerous.

- Ripon, CA, USA

problem #98

Nov 292017

Durango

  • 100,000 miles
It is a AWD car but sometime the 4lo light comes on with a very annoying noise from the bottom of the car or engine, then the speed being slowed down significantly, the car becomes hard to keep going. The streaking sound and the speed being reduced like the break being stepped on abrubtly makes me pull over for safety.

- Cave Creek, AZ, USA

problem #97

Mar 152016

Durango

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. On several occasions, the vehicle idled excessively. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently. While stopped at several traffic lights and construction work zones, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to napleton Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (located at 1460 E osceola pkwy, kissimmee, fl 34744, (855) 437-9197) to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted or made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #96

May 162017

Durango

  • 149,500 miles
For no reason the vehicle shuts off with no warning. No lights on the dash or anything, shuts off and no steering. Not safe to drive. It has happened while driving and while sitting at a light, no warning signs. Acts fine, both times during city street driving.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #95

May 012015

Durango

  • 150,000 miles
The transfer case shifts by its self.the vehicle shifts into lock all on it's own, then the svc 4WD light comes on. Sometimes when the vehicle is turned off you can hear the transfer shift back and forth from AWD to 4 lock now its stuck in 4lo this happens stationary and in motion.

- Blackwood, NJ, USA

problem #94

Feb 252017

Durango

  • 150,000 miles
I was about to enter a storage facility and was slowly easing my foot off the brake when when the engine revved loudly my SUV lurched forward and accelerated out of my control tore through the storage gate that didn't finish opening totally destroying the facilitiy main gate. The SUV kept accelerating as I was hitting the brake then finally stopped.

- Voorhees, NJ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?