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:
6 / 2
Average Mileage:
93,903 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #63

Mar 072013

Durango

  • 107,973 miles

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

My passanger airbag light is on all the time even after recall was done. My 05 Dodge Durango stalls randomly while backing up, pulling into parking spaces, making turns sometimes driving down the road. No accident as of yet been going on the hole time I've had this vehicle I am sick of it 2013 to 2020

- Penn Yan, NY, USA

problem #62

May 262013

Durango

  • 87,000 miles
My 05 Dodge Durango will engage in 4 wheel drive while driving on the highway, and engage while truck is in park and engine off.

- Paragould, AR, USA

problem #61

Feb 012019

Durango

  • 167,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the four wheel drive engaged independently. Also, when the vehicle was slowed down, the steering wheel seized. The failures were experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who believed that the four wheel drive engaged independently due to an electrical switch failure. The contact inspected the vehicle himself and believed that the four wheel drive engaged independently due to a failure in the wiring harness behind the dashboard. The contact also stated that the heater blower motor failed. The heater blower motor remained on the high setting. The contact replaced the heater panel himself, but it did not correct the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.

- Dedham, MA, USA

problem #60

Apr 262018

Durango

  • 221,000 miles

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

2005 Dodge Durango goes dead while driving on any type of road doesn't matter if on interstate or dirt road it just dies and you don't even know it as all lights and radio work. Results in lose of ability to steer, breaks, and speed. Have to put the Durango in park once it rolls to a stop than cut it off and back on for it to work again. Sometimes it will go 25 miles with out problem at other times 5 feet. No check engine light is on and took to an automotive shop and no codes reading on the diagnostic computer. Stalls while moving on highways, dirt roads, & interstates!

- Clarkesville, GA, USA

problem #59

Aug 042016

Durango

  • 217,000 miles
When in motion, vehicle's RPM will drop to 0 (randomly, no way to tell when coming), along with a loss of power steering and various electronics within the vehicle. Problem is usually fixed by restarting vehicle, but it has been very dangerous - especially on the highway. Has happened at least 5 times during my ownership of the vehicle (4 years)

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #58

Jul 012016

Durango

  • 180,000 miles
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.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #57

May 252016

Durango

  • 175,000 miles

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

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.

- Ofallan, MO, USA

problem #56

Jan 072014

Durango

  • 100,000 miles
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.

- Tonca City, OK, USA

problem #55

Oct 132015

Durango

  • 140,000 miles
While driving at variable speeds my 2005 Dodge Durango slt 5.7L truck, without warning, will shut-off making it hard to stop & steer to safety. This has happened several times but the most recent & severe time was yesterday, I was at a speed of 55 mph on 695 when my Durango shut-off without warning. I was able to pull onto the shoulder without causing a accident. My Dodge was able to restart without warning lights flashing or indication but will randomly shut-off without warning at least 4-6 times a week while driving.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #54

Aug 192015

Durango

  • 73,497 miles
I turned left sharply into a parking spot and the vehicle completely stalled on me upon doing this. I lost all engine power, steering and brake control. I was able to restart the vehicle immediately and park the vehicle. For the previous 3 weeks or so the vehicle has sputtered and been sluggish when turning sharply into parking spots or around sharp corners but has never stalled. 8/19/15 was the first incident of the vehicle completely stalling.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #53

Jul 232015

Durango

  • 140,000 miles

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

Durango quit runing wile going 45 mph

- Granville, NY, USA

problem #52

Aug 162005

Durango

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. While driving at 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and the steering wheel seized. The failure recurred twice per week. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Baltomore , MD, USA

problem #51

Jun 012015

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 183,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. While driving at various speeds, the contact noticed an abnormal clicking noise from beneath the vehicle. The svc, 4WD, and 4lo warning lights illuminated. The engine revved independently. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. When making a turn, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the tie rod and front end suspension, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,000. Updated 09/25/15 updated 11/14/2017

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #50

Jun 122013

Durango

  • 39,000 miles
Engine stalls with no warning, affecting braking and steering while moving, has happened in heavy traffic, is intermittent and is a huge safety concern.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #49

Nov 032014

Durango

  • miles
My 2005 Dodge Durango hemi has started to behave oddly. First...it started with not being able to lift the gate in the back? just locked up and we could not open it for months. It then progressed to an issue with the remote not working to unlock anything. We took it to the dealership who quoted us at $350 + to fix the remote...ummm no. Since then I have been opening my door using the key. Late last year I began to notice that the tires would lock up and not move forward or backwards when completing a sharp turn (ie: Turning into the driveway) this was followed by the 4lo light flashing on and off on the dashboard while driving. Then I started hearing the truck actually attempt to switch itself in and out of AWD! this creates a crazy clicking and shifting sound in the wheel well area on the drivers side. This occurs randomly while I an driving as well as when the car is parked and off" we took it to pep boys whom could not find anything wrong with it" I am concerned that I will attempt to make a fast sharp turn into traffic and the tires will lock up leaving me screwed. I have been reading online that there are thousands of people having this same exact problem and whenever anyone has the dealership replace something...it continues to happen. I think Dodge needs to recall all of these vehicles as they are a safety threat to families!!

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #48

Feb 172015

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
This has happened on multiple occasions!!!!! it happens at any speed, the truck will lose all power and shut off without warning. I can't steer or do anything but put the truck in park and restart the truck. I have taken it in the be looked at and nothing can be figured out as it does it randomly. I have four children and this last time we were turning and the truck just shut off while another vehicle was coming down the street. I have researched this and sees others are having the same issue. I have had some of the suggestions done such as replacing the egr valve and flushing the system. I need an answer as I do not feel safe!!!!!!!!!!

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #47

Sep 092014

Durango

  • 78,000 miles
The Dodge Durango 2005 model in my case will shut off very often now when the steering wheel is turn...this often times happen when pulling in or backing out of a parking lot and the vehicle would take up 5-20mins to restart.this happen when the vehicle is cold or warm it doesn't matter.I have seen online this is a wide spread problem with the Durangos and I'm wondering why are folks allowed to suffer through this issue in the mean time the dealership pretend as if they're not aware of the issue which is clearly a lie from all the complaint I've seen online about this very issue...going back for years....

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #46

Nov 052014

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
Ignition switch locked up this is the 10th time that it has done this and I don't know what to do the dealership said there is a recall on my car but I don't know.

- San Marcos, TX, USA

problem #45

Aug 252014

Durango

  • 89,122 miles
My 2005 Dodge Durango shifts back and forth between 4WD and AWD randomly. The 4WD light will come on and the vehicle shifts into lock without warning, making driving difficult and backups jumpy and jerky. It will shift back and run properly, but does not stay functioning long. There is a 'drag'' feeling to the vehicle when it slips into 4WD. This has made driving the Durango a concern and nearly tripled the amount of gas used for similar mileage. I am concerned that this could be a real safety issue. It goes into 4WD-lo and the tires lock up. If this were to happen at 70 mph, this could cause a spin out. When stopped at a light waiting to turn left the car occasionally 'shifts' without notice and then it is difficult to make the turn. When expecting the car to move properly on a busy road, this ''sluggish' response is a serious problem. Pulling out with plenty of time to turn before the light changes isn't a guarantee that you will actually make the turn before the light turns red. I want to be able to trust my vehicle, which I used to be able to do. I have read numerous accounts online about this same problem occurring for other 2005 Durango owners. Clearly, this is not an isolated incident unique to my vehicle. I have also seen reports that people having this same issue are also having remote door lock issues, which makes me wonder if there is also an electrical issue with the vehicle.

- Clinton Township, MI, USA

problem #44

Apr 162014

Durango 4WD 8-cyl

  • 137,000 miles
Vehicle switches to 4lock automatically while driving at high and low speeds. Vehicle becomes sluggish and makes it impossible to turn. At this point I fear for my life. After reading so many complaints of the same issue. I see I'm not alone.

- Clinton Twp, MI, USA

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