Last updated: 2026-10-10

2023 Dodge Durango
RELIABILITY SCORE: 75/100 (GOOD)

2023 Dodge Durango Reliability Report

The 2023 Dodge Durango rates good, but owners report shifter and transmission warnings that can leave it without gear or drive power.

Recalls

2

Complaints

27

Complaint Rate

3.9per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$675

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,850–$5,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity74/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity82/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Final third-generation year, with mid-pack reliability, fewer complaints than 2022, and shifter and transmission warnings as the main problem.

Top Issues to Watch

  • POWER TRAIN (7)
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING (6)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Final Year

2023 is the last model year of the Third generation (WD; 2011).

  • Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
  • 9 years after the last refresh (2014).
  • 3rd generation Durango (US).

What this means for buyers

Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.

2011: Third generation (WD; 2011) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2014: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2021: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2023: This Model Year

2023 is the last model year of the Third generation (WD; 2011).

Should You Buy the 2023 Dodge Durango?

Good reliability, and above average among 2023 SUVs. This year lands in the middle of nine scored Durango years, and it is the last of the third generation. Owners filed 27 complaints, fewer than the 47 on the 2022, which rates worse. The 2024 rates better with 6 complaints, but it has had less time to collect them. Estimated repair costs run $675 a year against $784 for the class.

The main trouble is the drivetrain. Owners report a "Service Shifter" or "Service Transmission" message, then no gear or reverse, usually between 32,000 and 55,000 miles. A few describe sudden loss of drive power, once at 60 MPH. Dealers often find no codes and return the car unrepaired. Daytime running lights that go dark are common too, and the fix is a whole headlight assembly. Two brake complaints describe a pedal sinking to the floor, one ending in a rear-end crash. Federal records show 2 recalls, covering power train and structure.

Check that both recalls were completed, and ask for any shifter or transmission service history.

Compared to the 2024 Dodge Durango, which scored 3 points higher. See also the 2022 Dodge Durango for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Acceptable reliability score
  • +$109 cheaper to maintain than avg fullsize SUVs
  • +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
  • +Low major repair risk (13%)

Cons

  • −POWER TRAIN: Shifting fails without warning (7 complaints)
  • −EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Driver-side daytime running light goes dark, often within 3 years (6 complaints)

Compare 2023 Dodge Durango With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • POWER TRAIN (7)
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING (6)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

2

recalls on record

The 2023 Dodge Durango carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

3.9

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 11.3

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 4/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2023 Dodge Durango Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Dodge Durango. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

23V6400002023-09-18

POWER TRAIN

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit vehicles equipped with an instrument panel mounted shifter. The shifter may experience an interference with the shifter boot and come out of gear while driving, which can result in a sudden loss of drive power.

Consequence

A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the instrument panel mounted shifter boot, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 94A.

23V1150002023-02-23

STRUCTURE

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Dodge Durango vehicles. The rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, resulting in damage to the spoiler during liftgate use.

Consequence

A damaged rear spoiler can detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the rear spoiler, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 20A. This recall is an expansion of recall number 21V-842.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2023 Dodge Durango? Check its history first

Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2023 Dodge Durango, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2023 Dodge Durango NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 19.8%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (None)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (None)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Not Available)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Dodge DurangoRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$675

vs $784 avg for fullsize SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.2

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

13%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Durango
$675
Category Avg
$784
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Dodge Durango Resale Value

The Dodge Durango is estimated to retain about 65.2% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Dodge Durango model overall and is not specific to the 2023 model year.

Value Retained
65.2%

after 5 years

Depreciation
34.8%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
179

U.S. used-car listings

Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Dodge Durango depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

13–21 MPG

Running cost: $3,550–$6,000/yr

Fuel + repair

12–19 city / 17–26 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2023 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Durango AWD 3.6L 6-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic 8-spd182521$2,850
Durango RWD 3.6L 6-cylRear-Wheel DriveAutomatic 8-spd192621$2,850
Durango AWD 5.7L 8-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic 8-spd142217$4,400
Durango RWD 5.7L 8-cylRear-Wheel DriveAutomatic 8-spd142217$4,400
Durango SRT AWD 6.4L 8-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic 8-spd131915$4,600
Durango SRT AWD 6.2L 8-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic 8-spd121713$5,300

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2023 Dodge Durango.

  • Turn on the headlights and check that both daytime running lights and both front LED turn signal strips work.

  • Look inside both rear tail lights for condensation, standing water or water stains.

  • Shift through park, reverse, neutral and drive several times and watch for a "Service Shifter" or "Service Transmission" message.

  • Check the coolant reservoir and oil fill cap for milky residue, a sign of a failed oil filter housing.

  • Have a dealer scan for stored codes, including module communication and transmission faults, not just active ones.

  • Press the brake pedal firmly with the engine running and walk away if it feels soft or sinks.

  • Use the Uconnect screen for several minutes and listen for unexplained chimes with no message.

  • Inspect the windshield corners and top edge for bubbles or delamination.

2023 Dodge Durango Common Problems by Component

27 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

7
6
5
POWER TRAIN (7)EXTERIOR LIGHTING (6)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)SERVICE BRAKES (2)STRUCTURE (1)VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1)AIR BAGS (1)Other (2)

POWER TRAIN

7 complaints

Shifting fails without warning. A "Service Shifter" or "Service Transmission" message appears, and the SUV won't go into gear or reverse. Several reports describe sudden loss of drive power, once at 60 MPH, which is a real crash risk in traffic. Dealers often find no active codes and send the car back unrepaired, even when owners show video. Some cars also lose wipers, turn signals and braking systems at low speed. Police fleet reports point to oil filter housings that fail and mix oil with coolant, leaving the engine unusable.

7 complaints total

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

6 complaints

The driver-side daytime running light goes dark, often within 3 years. Dealers say the only fix is replacing the entire headlight assembly, an expensive repair, and owners report that extended warranties refuse to cover it. Rear tail lights collect water, and one dealer proposed drilling a weep hole as the fix. LED turn signal strips also malfunction. One report describes children cut by a sharp, protruding edge of the tail light while reaching into the cargo area, with 1 injury recorded.

6 complaints total1 injury

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 complaints

Power can cut out completely while driving. In one case the SUV stopped abruptly at 25-30 MPH, would not restart, and left the doors locked. The dealer traced it to loose C10 power wiring through the PDC and called it a manufacturing defect. Other reports describe repeated Uconnect box failures, constant chiming with no error message, intermittent no-start problems with module communication codes, and early fuel pump failure. Daytime running light failures turn up here too, at 40,000 miles in one case.

5 complaints total
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

The windshield delaminates. Bubbles form in both corners and along the top edge of the glass, starting while the vehicle is still new. Repeated dealer visits do not fix it, and the manufacturer says glass is not covered by warranty, even at 8000 miles. A separate report describes a sunroof that shattered with no apparent cause. There are only 2 complaints in this category, so neither problem shows a clear pattern yet.

2 complaints total
SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaintsSafety-related

The brakes lose most or all of their stopping power. In one report the pedal went straight to the floor at a red light and the Durango rear-ended a stopped vehicle. A state trooper then confirmed the pedal still sank to the floor. A second report blames a failed brake vacuum boost pump, which left very little stopping power while driving. With only 2 complaints this is a small sample, but both describe sudden failure while moving, and one ended in a crash.

2 complaints total1 crash
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)

STRUCTURE

1 complaint
2026-02-01

The spoiler on my liftgate fell off when driving 40mph

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint
2025-11-15

FRONT COLLISION SENSOR WILL BLINK RED AMD RING A LOUD ALARM WHEN NO VEHICLE IS IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY GOING 80 mph OR SIMILAR AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND ME ABOUT TO CAUSE A CRASH. BUT WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF ME, THE FRONT COLLISION SENSOR WARNING DID NOT WORK AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO ISSUE BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.

AIR BAGS (1 complaints)

AIR BAGS

1 complaintSafety-related
2025-04-27Crash reported1 injury

A light was coming on and off shortly after my husband and I purchase the vehicle from Landers in covington tn. On 10/24/24 I showed the manger of store AJ. And he advise me to make sure I address this with the service department. Misty was the lady that did my oil change and tire rotation that day. I showed her the picture, she couldn't tell me what it meant, but she started that it was probably a dirty sensor. My husband was involved in a car accident on [XXX]. He left the road way due to a deer striking a light pole. Our biggest concern is when he first hit a driveway culvert the emergency breaking did not engage and after striking the light pole. Not one air bag deploy, which could have resulted in less injuries to him. And this is the 2nd crash this vehicle has been in. The first one is when I struck a deer head on. And again the emergency braking did not engage. And from the body shop that repaired that I quote " the air bags should have deployed since you hit the deer head on" INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHEELS (1 complaints)

WHEELS

1 complaint
2025-03-19

Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Willoughby, Ohio. I traded in my 2022 Ram 1500 V8 HEMI Midnight Edition, which was in mint condition with only 8,800 miles, because I needed a vehicle with more space after the birth of my child. I chose a Dodge Durango GT Premium, effectively trading down, and I expected not to come out of pocket for anything. While I was willing to cover the taxes, I did not expect any further expenses—especially not for basic safety or cosmetic issues. Right after leaving the lot, I noticed that all four tires on the Durango were severely worn, and one had a deep cut, making it a legitimate safety hazard that could result in a blowout. I immediately returned and showed the salesman, who refused to replace the tire, even the damaged one, instead offering new tires at what they claimed was “dealer cost”—$271 per tire. However, I quickly found the exact same tires available from major retailers like Walmart and Amazon for $198–$226, proving that the dealership was not being transparent about their pricing. In addition to the tire issue, I also noticed numerous paint chips all over the front end of the Durango while I was still at the dealership. At first glance, I assumed they were just dead bugs. It wasn’t until I took a closer look that I realized the paint was chipped in many spots. Rather than offering to fix it or even acknowledge the issue, I had to ask for a paint chip marker myself. They never offered to repaint the area or do anything beyond handing me the pen. This is a vehicle I had just agreed to purchase, and this level of poor presentation and lack of attention to detail is unacceptable

FUEL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaint
2023-07-18

The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that fuel started to pour out of the vehicle while refueling the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel tank was not yet filled prior to the failure. The following day, the vehicle was driven to the dealer and inspected. The contact stated that based on the preliminary inspection, there was no fault found. The contact then drove the vehicle back to the gas station with the service tech. While at the gas station, the contact was unable to duplicate the failure, and was informed to monitor the vehicle and to return to the dealer should the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

When Do 2023 Dodge Durango Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

32,000–55,000 milesShifter and transmission service warnings

Best & Worst Dodge Durango Years

Best Dodge Durango Years to Buy

Top Pick
78
Good

2024

0Recalls
6Complaints
75
Good

2023

(Current Model)

2Recalls
27Complaints
72
Good

2020

3Recalls
62Complaints

Dodge Durango Years to Avoid

Dodge Durango Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Dodge Durango reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201864/100Good
201967/100Good
202072/100Good
202165/100Good
202271/100Good
202375/100Good
202478/100Good
202578/100Good
202682/100Excellent

Dodge Durango Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202682/100+4Excellent00
202578/1000Good05
202478/100+3Good06
2023(selected)75/100+4Good227
202271/100+6Good647
202165/100-7Good7159
202072/100+5Good362
201967/100+3Good4128
201864/100—Good5219

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2023 Dodge Durango reliable?
Yes, it has good reliability and is above average among 2023 SUVs. It sits in the middle of the nine scored Durango years. Owners filed 27 complaints, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $675 against $784 for the class. Shifter and transmission failures are the main concern.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Dodge Durango?
Power train trouble leads, with 7 complaints about shifter and transmission warnings and loss of drive power. Exterior lighting follows with 6, mostly daytime running lights that go dark and tail lights that collect water. Electrical complaints come next with 5, including power cutting out while driving.
Does the 2023 Dodge Durango have transmission problems?
Some owners report them. A "Service Shifter" or "Service Transmission" message appears, and the SUV will not go into gear or reverse. Reports cluster between 32,000 and 55,000 miles. Dealers often find no active codes and send the car back unrepaired, even when owners show video of the fault.
Does the 2023 Dodge Durango have recalls?
Federal recall records list 2 recalls for this year, in the power train and structure areas. That is far fewer than the 6 listed for the 2022. Before buying, confirm with a dealer, using the VIN, that both recalls were completed on the specific vehicle.
Is the 2023 Dodge Durango better than the 2022 or 2024?
It beats the 2022 on the numbers, with 27 complaints and 2 recalls against 47 and 6. The 2024 rates better, with 6 complaints and no recalls. Part of that gap is time, since newer years have had less opportunity to collect complaints.

Don’t buy a 2023 Dodge Durango without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2023 Dodge Durango

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2023 Dodge Durango does best on how many systems draw complaints (82/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Dodge Durango.

No spam. Only data updates for this model.

See incorrect data? Report an issue