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:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,632 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2012 Dodge Durango Owner Comments

problem #19

Jul 212022

Durango

  • miles

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

My 2012 dodge durango sxt, rear turn signal stop flashing, front turn signal works, but not the rear.no turn signal or brakes lights

- Hill City, KS, USA

problem #18

Feb 212022

Durango

  • miles
My 2012 Dodge Durango has been experiencing reaccering issues associated with the tipm and fuel pump relay. The truck will stall, hard crank or simply not crank at all; leaving me stranded sometimes. This electrical issue also affects the fog lights, front lights, brake lights and turn signals; causing them to not work; putting me in danger of a collision on the highway or city street. This tipm and fuel pump relay have been under several recalls over the past 8 years and Dodge actually lost a class action lawsuit in 2015 in reference to this issue. They were ordered to replace these parts free of charge; labeling the parts defective. See link to tipm/relay article here (https://www.classlawgroup.com/chrysler-totally-integrated-power-module-tipm-lawsuit/ and here https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/dodge-jeep-faulty-fuel-pump-class-action-settlement/ ) They-??ve replaced both of these parts twice for me over the past 6 years. Now I am experiencing issues where the car won-??t start for 20 minutes after I turn it off. The signal lights won't work correctly; and the foglights are totally inoperative. I-??ve taken it back to the dealer for a diagnostic and also called the corporate office but no one wants to take accountability and acknowledge what the issue is. I have attempted to contact the lawyer who started the class action lawsuit to consult about this matter but he says he can't sue them again. I-??m looking to see if I have any legal recourse or what my best course of action could be in order to hold Dodge accountable for replacing my tipm and fixing this defective part for good. Thanks! REPAIR TIMELINE: 2016 fuel pump relay 2017 Tipm 2018 Rewired the tipm, replace 2020, fuel pump relay - september 2022, fuel pump PS - I have a video of the dealer technician recording the issue with his mobile phone.

- Stonecrest, GA, USA

problem #17

Aug 072019

Durango

  • miles
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 #16

Feb 222021

Durango

  • 161,210 miles

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

While my wife was driving the Durango the battery light came on. Soon after the battery light came on everything shut off. Weren't able to start it or do anything. Checked to see if my vehicle was one with an alternator recall and it isn't. replaced the alternator twice a new battery and still can't drive the vehicle because the put the voltage regulator in the PCM and I guess when it all shut down on my wife it messed that up. She was in motion while the light came on and was driving on a city street but luckily she wasn't far from home.

- Lathrop, MO, USA

problem #15

Apr 012018

Durango

  • 120,000 miles
Car not starting acts like not getting any fuel or may start and die like not getting enough fuel. Auto headlights will shut off while driving or may not come on at all

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #14

Jan 032018

Durango

  • 32,000 miles
With the headlight switch in the auto position the light shut off while driving, causing a slight panic to get they switch to the manual position

- Marcellus, NY, USA

problem #13

Sep 272017

Durango

  • 74,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. After the contact opened the front driver's door, she noticed that the front passenger side was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and informed the contact that the electrical wiring from the mirror caused the fire. The vehicle was towed to orange park Dodge (7233 blanding blvd, jacksonville, fl 32244). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V879000 (electrical system, interior lighting) days before the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #12

Oct 102017

Durango

  • miles
Headlites are shorting out..passenger has a short somewhere in ground..drivers corroded..cleaned it..but code saying there's a problem..now remote start..starts and shuts off car after 2 it 3 seconds.its all stationary..I have no hi or lo beams on passenger side and remote I

- Forked River, NJ, USA

problem #11

Oct 062017

Durango

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While the vehicle was parked, the alternator caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to tempe Dodge (8005 S autoplex loop, tempe, AZ 85284, phone number: (480) 598-2329) where it was diagnosed that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V879000 (electrical system, interior lighting) and 17V435000 (electrical system). The parts needed for the repairs were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer stated that the parts would not be available until January of 2018 and did not recommend an interim remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #10

Apr 012016

Durango 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
My 2012 Dodge Durango purchased brand new has been having major electrical issues since the motor was power washed at covert Dodge dealership in North austin. They had an inexperienced car washer clean up the oil that was on the motor from a hose change. He used a very high pressure, pressure washer and it shorted the electronics causing the vehicle to shut down unexpectedly with no warning. This has happened multiple times within the last 6 months. I have had the car at 3 different Dodge dealers trying to resolve the issue. On 9/22/2016 the battery light came on while going 75 on the highway. I smelled a strong odor of electrical burning and all the lights on the dash board came on, the blind spot alert system was stating it was inoperable, the ac stopped working, the seat belt light and buzzer stated to go off even though my belt was fastened and then the Durango just shut off, right in the middle of the toll road highway stranding me in the middle lane. The hazard lights did not even work. I put the car in park to try to restart it but it was totally dead, nothing worked and the car was stuck in park! I could not put the vehicle in neutral to move it out of the highway, several cars did not realize I was stopped and locked up their brakes nearly missing me. I was so afraid someone was going to run right into the back of me and the car. Major safety issue. I called the mopar warranty road side assistance and 1 hours later I was able to get the car off the 102 degree highway. As a result of all of these issues, which seem to have started when covert Dodge power washed the engine bay, I am no longer confident the vehicle can be trusted and be reliable not to mention the safety factor. As you can tell from the vehicle history, I feel I have been patient and cooperative in allowing Chrysler and the dealerships to find a resolution. Updated 08/07/2017

- Liberty Hill, TX, USA

problem #9

Sep 302015

Durango

  • 50,000 miles

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

Dealer states tools & parts not available for sun visor resistance short

- Philipsburg, PA, USA

problem #8

May 012016

Durango

  • miles
Dash lights started flashing car shut off, charged battery, alternator started smoking, replaced alternator, replaced battery, battery is still draining.

- Goose Creek, SC, USA

problem #7

Oct 072015

Durango

  • 23,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving 55 mph, the headlights stopped illuminating. The contact switched the lights on manually in order for them to work. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact notified the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.

- Woodberry, MN, USA

problem #6

Jan 182016

Durango

  • miles
Iwhen driving vehicle in wet or long periods of damp weather dash lights will go out and when moving turn signal on dash lights come on and head lights go out.I will not drive this vehicle at night. Dealer can't duplicate this this problem

- Clearfield, UT, USA

problem #5

Feb 052015

Durango

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 29 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate past 29 mph. In addition, the passenger side turn signal and the driver side tail light intermittently operated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the failure was due to cold weather and no repairs were needed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

- Liverpool , NJ, USA

problem #4

Sep 262014

Durango 6-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
Right turning signal turns on by itself and is hard to turn off, could cause an accident by having a car pulling out in front of us believing we are turning. Cruise control does not maintain speed.

- Fort Madison, IA, USA

problem #3

Nov 152012

Durango

  • 5,000 miles
Automatic headlights will shut off unpredictably at night, requiring the driver to reach down and turn the headlights on manually. Potentially very dangerous as it is a distraction to the driver even if he knows where the light switch is. Very dangerous if you are driving in the dark and do not know where your headlight switch is. This problem has happened at least 20 times.

- Jackson, , MI, USA

problem #2

Nov 052013

Durango

  • 4,800 miles
I was setting at a traffic light when my headlights came on and all dash lights went out, another occasion parked and map light came on and would not shut off also dash lights went out this is happening to often I have had it in the dealer with no luck I will not drive this vehicle at night because to me it is unsafe.this has happened five times.

- Clearfield, UT, USA

problem #1

Dec 182013

Durango 6-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
I normally drive w/the headlights in the auto on position and all of the sudden the headlights and my dash light turned off, when I switched to manually turn them on they came on. This has been happening intermittently but I have not yet contacted the dealer.

- Galesburg, MI, USA

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