CarComplaints.com Notes: When the 3rd-generation Durango was introduced in 2011 owners almost immediately started having a wide range of issues -- from water pump failure to stalling engines. Turns out the TIPM is to blame and those problems carried into the 2012 model year.

TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Modules) is responsible for controlling and distributing power to all the vehicle’s electrical functions. So when the TIPM starts acting up, so do all sorts of problems in the vehicle.

The problems have been so bad -- and replacement parts became so hard to find -- that a class-action lawsuit was filed against Chrysler focusing on the 2011-2012 Durango. The lawsuit accuses the automaker of ignorning the problem until it spiraled out of control.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,903 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.

2012 Dodge Durango engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Aug 072019

Durango

  • miles

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

I purchased my 2012 Dodge Durango two years ago and it has been one of the most stressful issues I have ever hadz. Two days after purchasing it all the lights lit up my dash board the head lights wouldn-€™t go on the heater or air wouldn-€™t work and my windows in front would not roll down. This usually happens when I start it in the morning but it also will happen when I-€™m driving I almost got into a accident on the HWY at 530 in the morning coming to work when my head light just shut off. It has been back to the deal shop I bought it 3 dodge dealer ships and my personal mechanic and they can not find out what the issue is. Over the past two years it has been in the shop bout 10-15 times It has been parked more than I have been able to drive it. I am in a loan I can not get out of.

- Greeley, CO, USA

problem #22

Jul 222021

Durango

  • miles
Vechile stalls and unable to shift to drive freely

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #21

Dec 202019

Durango

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V813000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called three unknown dealers and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle independently decelerated from 30 mph to 10 mph. The contact stated check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle resumed normal operation after the vehicle was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and the mechanic retrieved the fuel failure detection code. The dealer was contacted, and stated that currently there was no fix for vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. (recall related incident)

- Ordway, CO, USA

problem #20

Feb 162018

Durango

  • 110,000 miles

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

Well there's several issues main ones being the self accelerations, not to mention major factor scary one is my vehicle goes from P to D without my foot on the brake found this out while car was off my 3yr old moved the shaft from park to neutral while climbing across to me and car began to role.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #19

Apr 092018

Durango

  • 100,500 miles
The check engine bulb is functional (lights up initially when turning on the vehicle), but does not illuminate when there is an engine code reported. I've encountered 2 different problems where the check engine light didn't illuminate. The electronic throttle control was malfunctioning, and the car occasionally went into limp mode, usually on highways while driving straight, sometimes at high speeds, risking a rear end collision. Fortunately the throttle control light illuminated, but there was no check engine light. The cruise control is malfunctioning, disengaging at random times at high speeds on a highway, again risking a rear end collision. No indicator lights illuminate, and there is no check engine light. An engine code read reports error P0572, which indicates a problem with the cruise control, but there is still no check engine light illuminated.

- Lehi, UT, USA

problem #18

Feb 272018

Durango

  • 109,850 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle decelerated and then stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called South county Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram at (314) 487-1010 (7127 S lindbergh blvd, St. Louis, mo 63125) and was informed that they were not accepting recalls. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V435000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 109,850.

- San Luis, MO, USA

problem #17

Dec 152017

Durango

  • 70,000 miles

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

T38 recall: I've taken my vehicle into prestige Chrysler Dodge, las vegas on three separate occasions concerned about loss of power and stalling while turning and have been informed that no parts are available to fix the problem for the T38 recall. Yesterday I was almost rear-ended because my vehicle lost power during a turn off the interstate. They have however, charged me for other issues like an oil pressure sensor (see attached) that has not fixed my loss of power. I called fca recall and they have sent me to an alternative dealership for a replacement alternator. Prestige Chrysler Dodge of las vegas is refusing to fix known safety issues and advised me that they had tested my alternator and knew it was faulty, yet could not repair it without the recall parts. Their dealership is placing people's lives at risk because they do not want to do the temporary fix and then have to complete the recall again when the replacement alternators are issued. This is unethical, irresponsible, and negligent. The recall was issued in July--they have had my Durango 3 times, known about the stall and refused to assist me. I also have an extended warranty and asked to have the alternator replaced with that--they refused again saying the warranty wouldn't touch a known defect. Please take action before this dealership places another family in danger for refusing to comply with NHTSA safety regulations.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #16

Apr 192017

Durango

  • 94,624 miles
As I turned right, the vehicle once again stalled. The engine turned off, but all the electrical systems continued to work. I placed my foot on the gas to demonstrate that it would not move while the vehicle was still in drive. Then I did the same with the break to demonstrate that it wouldn't respond. I put the vehicle in park with my foot on the brake and the vehicle restarted. My children were in the vehicle and my oldest son recorded until we reached the intended stopping point. The mileage on the vehicle was 94,624. The vehicle had a trigger box / flight recorder, but it quit functioning the previous week when the car also stopped last week.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #15

Apr 112017

Durango

  • 94,017 miles
Our Dodge Durango stalled as I was turning left. When I went to push the trigger box, it did not work and will not come back on. I restarted the car and waited, but the trigger box no longer works. This is of course strange because once again, nothing can be recorded. The key fob battery is brand new and the push button was in use. I have a video for documentation. The mileage is 94,017. We have recorded via trigger box daily jerks with the Durango and now the major issue we needed documentation of can't be captured because the device no longer operates.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #14

Mar 302017

Durango

  • 93,322 miles
I came to a stop at a stop light to turn right and the vehicle stalled. I didn't have time to record it because there were cars coming down the exit behind me. I immediately kept my foot on the brake and placed the vehicle in park and restarted it. The mileage is at 93,322. The flight recorder the dealership placed on the vehicle didn't work so there was nothing to capture.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #13

Feb 012017

Durango

  • 89,947 miles

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

Around 7:20 am I had just exited a ramp to go beneath the underpass to turn left. The mileage change was 60 mph to 35 mph. Before the car could come to a complete stop applied by brakes, it stalled. There were other vehicles behind us who had to go around. My children were with me and one recorded to show that the vehicle was still in drive and that the brake and the gas would not receive a response from the car. This is the third day in a row that vehicle has stalled since we received in back from the dealership.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #12

Dec 082016

Durango 8-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
I was taking my children to school. We were in morning traffic on a major highway going North. We were in the second farthest left lane. I was driving about 65 mph when the car suddenly began to slow down on its own. The steering wheel locked up. This time we were in a bulk of traffic and an 18 wheeler was behind us. I turned on our emergency lights, looked to the left and had to stick my left arm out the window to signal to the other cars behind us to let us over to the left shoulder. I was able to guide the vehicle to the left shoulder. The radio was still playing. I turned the car off, sat for a moment to calm down and called my husband. I then restarted the car and continued taking my children to school.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #11

Nov 032016

Durango

  • miles
I was taking my children to school. I had just exited the freeway and slowed down to about 25 mph. As I slowed down the steering wheel locked up. There was no where to veer off in this situation because we were in the farthest left lane that had to turn beneath the underpass. Because we were at a stop light, I was able to turn the emergency lights on, turn the vehicle off and turn it back on. The car shook a little and we continued to school.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #10

Oct 162016

Durango 8-cyl

  • miles
My son and I were driving to a friend's home. We stopped at a red light and the air in the car became warm. When I tried to push the gas pedal, nothing happened. The steering wheel also locked up. We turned on the emergency lights and restarted the car. The car continued normally.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Jul 162016

Durango 8-cyl

  • miles
We were driving about 65 mph an were approaching a major highway intersection. The air in the car began to get warm and the steering wheel locked up. We were blessed to be near a shoulder where we could pull over. I turned on the emergency lights and we pulled over to the right side of the freeway. We turned the vehicle off, waited a moment and then turned it back on. The engine shook when the vehicle restarted. We were able to drive home without any additional stopping.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #8

Feb 072016

Durango 8-cyl

  • miles
I was taking my son to tutorials. I turned right and the steering wheel locked up. To keep from having an accident, I had to slowly veer to the left upon the median. I turned on the emergency lights. The radio was still playing, but the car had simply stopped moving. I pressed the engine button to turn the vehicle off. Then I pressed it again to restart it. It started with no problems and I continued to take my son to tutorials.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #7

Jul 082014

Durango

  • 52,000 miles
Several times while driving, the electronic throttle light comes on along with the check engine light and immediately begins to jerk while on the freeway/surface streets. It nearly caused an accident once due to the drastic reduction in power and speed. Service people found nothing wrong and were no help. It has repeated this several times with my kids in the car. When it first happened, we were on a road trip 2200 miles away from home...limited options. Each time we had to stop and rest by turning off engine, waiting/or restarting in neutral. Truly a danger/safety issue and major inconvenience.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #6

Jan 062015

Durango

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the vehicle crashed into trees and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V1540000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was 25,000.

- Eagle River, AK, USA

problem #5

Sep 022014

Durango

  • 65,000 miles
I have been experiencing issues with vehicle not starting with both the inside push button, and the remote start. It has lost power while driving twice, however I was able to maintain control of the vehicle. Yesterday however, it lost power, I still had control of the vehicle while it was shutting down, then it "powered" back up, during which there was about three seconds in which I had no control over the vehicle. I simply lost all control.I believe that the vehicle may be experiencing problems related to the fuel pump relay, possibly the tpim, alternator, or a combination of all three. I am taking vehicle in Monday to have two recalls done for brake booster, and vanity light wiring issue. At that time they are going to do a diagnostic on it to see what the issue is.

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #4

May 262014

Durango

  • 24,000 miles
While traveling on I-75, had the vehicle on adaptive cruise control, the vehicle slammed the brakes and then accelerated back up to 75mph. No vehicles in front, not debris, no reason why it did it. Vehicle has had constant issues with the forward collision system alerting to brake when nothing is in front, turning itself off and on by itself, and the console giving the message that the back sensors are blocked when no debris is present or even when driving. Multiple other "computer" issues that they can't figure out, from lights turning on/off, to the wipers not activating when they need to and the opposite. Dvd player acting funny. It has been endless

- Washington, DC, USA

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