2019 Dodge Durango Reliability Report

Coolant lines running to the rear get rubbed through by a factory clamp, dumping coolant and overheating the engine. One case came at 40,000 miles. One report covers a 30 mph side impact where the airbags did not deploy and the occupant was injured. Two injuries come from sharp edges: a peeling coating on the driver's door handle and a pointed tail light edge. Other complaints include a loose rear spoiler, engine shutoffs on the freeway, Uconnect weather alert pop-ups that cannot be disabled, and radio volume failures.

Transmission faults dominate. Owners describe stalling, getting stuck in third gear, slipping into neutral unexpectedly, hard winding shifts, and sudden loss of power. One vehicle rolled backward into traffic after water entered the transmission through a loose vent tube. On the 3.6L V6, oil cooler failure leaks coolant and can ruin the engine to the point of replacement. Other reports include a cylinder 4 misfire diagnosed as a blown head gasket at 77,000 miles and a flickering dash followed by unintended acceleration. Dealers sometimes decline repairs when the VIN is not covered by a recall.

Coolant loss leads to sudden overheating and power loss on the road. The usual cause is unsecured coolant lines to the rear rubbing through, and in one report this happened twice in 6 months. Water pump failure at 61000 miles and oil cooler failure also cause leaks. A strong fuel smell inside and outside persists after the fuel tank and canister are replaced, and an EVAP vacuum leak triggers the engine light. Isolated reports describe stalling on a steep grade and the engine racing to about 4000 RPM during a slow turn.

Electric power steering cuts out with a "Power Steering Unavailable" message, sometimes at 70 mph. In some cases the wheel locks or snaps straight mid-turn, which nearly causes collisions. The fault is intermittent, so dealers often cannot reproduce it and simply reset the system. The fix is a new steering rack or gearbox, and parts are frequently back-ordered for weeks. One quote ran upwards of 4,000 dollars. One failure came just over 40k miles on a certified used vehicle.

Airbags fail to deploy in serious crashes. Three crash reports include 4 injuries, among them back and neck injuries expected to need surgery. One vehicle was totaled at 500 miles, and another was destroyed at 13,000 miles, with no deployment in either case. In one case the manufacturer recovered the crash data recorder but never shared the findings. Other owners see an airbag malfunction warning light, sometimes alongside a start/stop unavailable warning.

Coolant leaks come from a hose that rubs against a hot metal pipe or a factory clamp mounted too close, wearing a hole in the line. One failure came at 62,180 miles. The hose sits behind underbody panels, so reaching it means removing parts. Leaks can stall the engine with smoke from under the hood. In one case overheating and an oil leak continued after the radiator and hoses were replaced.

Only two reports. One owner was notified of a recall in Nov 2024 and still has no fix a year later, which blocks a legal sale or trade-in. The other says the rear drops sharply and braking feels inadequate when towing a combined 6000lb boat and trailer on the factory towing package.