2018 Dodge Durango Reliability Report

Most reports involve the ABS hydraulic control unit and recall 24V-838, also called 94B. Owners describe ABS and brake warning lights, a pedal that locks hard, ABS that fails on ice, and false brake alarms with unwanted automatic braking. A failed module can also shut off AWD, cruise control, and ParkSense. Many complaints say the recall repair is stalled because parts are unavailable or the dealer wants paid diagnostics. One crash at 25 mph followed a pedal that did not respond. Separate complaints cite worn pads at 9,000 miles, squealing, and a pop when stopping.

The transmission drops into neutral while driving, including at highway speed. The engine revs but the vehicle does not move until it is shut off and restarted. Some reports start before 4,000 miles. Related complaints describe a gear selector that will not stay in park or gets stuck in neutral, a blinking reverse indicator, harsh engagement, slipping, and being stuck in first gear. Several cases involve water. On one SRT, water in a harness connector shorted the axle actuator twice. Another vehicle shut down on the highway in rain. One stall at 65 mph was traced to a failed PCM.

Camshaft and lifter failure on the 3.6L V6 causes a misfire, a flashing check engine light, and loss of power with shaking, sometimes at highway speed. Valvetrain ticking or knocking often comes first and may only be noticeable on cold starts. Shops have found metal debris in the oil. Head gasket failure is the second pattern, with coolant entering a cylinder and causing misfires, reported at 47,000 and 120,000 miles. Owners also describe oil pan gasket and coolant leaks, a failed tensioner and pulley, and camshaft parts on backorder that left vehicles parked at the dealer.

Serious crashes end with no deployment in the most severe reports here. They include a rear-end collision at 70 mph that crushed the front end and a slide on ice into a guardrail, poles, and a tree. Three crashes and three injuries are on file. In one case, a manufacturer inspector said the type of impact would not trigger deployment. Most other complaints in this category describe front active head restraints firing on their own while parked or driving. One owner reports the airbag warning light turning on and off during drives.

Shocks and struts wear out early. Knocking starts around 20,000 miles, and some shocks are completely failed or have blown seals by about 50,000. Owners describe rear clunking, more body roll, and rear sway over bridge joints that forces steering corrections at highway speed. Replacement parts are often backordered for weeks, and one dealer quoted $500 per shock plus labor. One rollover crash with an injury followed a failed stop from 70 mph. Another vehicle had ABS and stability lights stay on after a battery jump.

At low speed, the vehicle surges forward while the driver is easing off the brake or creeping ahead. Both crash reports follow this pattern, one pulling into a garage and one leaving a car wash, and pressing the brake did not stop the vehicle in time. Another report describes adaptive cruise control raising speed from 70 to 80 mph on a downhill. Owners also report a brief delay when accelerating from a stop and fuel pumps repeatedly clicking off while filling.

Handling in standing water is unstable. The vehicle pulls to one side or darts in shallow water, and one driver crashed in water flowing over the road after finding the VIN was not covered by a stability control recall. Another report describes the vehicle continuing straight briefly when turning right, starting around 10,000 miles. That problem continued after a steering recalibration, and the voltage gauge also fluctuated. Reports in this category are few.