Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Dodge Durango?

No. The Durango comes out clearly ahead. Both rate good, but the Explorer has 117 recalls to the Durango's 27 and more owner complaints per vehicle sold. The Explorer also has more serious drivetrain and engine complaints, including crash-linked shifting and power loss reports.

Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Durango?

The Explorer has far more. Federal recall records list 117 across nine model years, against 27 for the Durango. Explorer owners also report long waits for rear camera recall parts. Durango owners report the same kind of wait for brake hydraulic recall parts.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Explorer or the Durango?

The Durango is a little cheaper. Independent repair-cost data shows $675 a year for the Durango and $732 for the Explorer. That adds up to about $285 over five years. Shop-visit frequency is the same for both at 0.2 a year.

What goes wrong most often on the Ford Explorer?

Power train complaints are the biggest group. Owners describe harsh or delayed shifting, skipped gears, and power loss while driving. Structure complaints come next, including loose trim and A-pillar molding that blows off at highway speed. Engine failures are fewer but costly, with replacement quotes of $11,000 to $12,000.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Dodge Durango

Good

Ford Explorer

Good

Reliability favors the Dodge Durango over the Ford Explorer by a clear margin. Federal recall records show 27 recalls for the Durango against 117 for the Explorer. Both sit in good standing, but the Explorer draws heavier transmission and engine complaints and costs a little more to keep running.

How Do the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer Generations Compare?

Older designs make up much of what you will find used for both models. Ford's fifth-generation Explorer (U502) ran from 2011 through 2019 and had a facelift in 2016, so 2018 and 2019 are late-cycle cars. The sixth generation (U625) began in 2020, and its first two years, 2020 and 2021, are the Explorer's weakest. Dodge's Durango stayed in one long third generation (WD) that began in 2011 and is listed through 2023, with facelifts in 2014 and 2021. That puts 2018 through 2020 in the older stretch of the design, and 2021 was the facelift year. Both 2018 and 2021 are among its weakest years.

Verdict

The Dodge Durango is more reliable than the Ford Explorer, scoring 72/100 vs 67/100.

Fewer recalls and fewer complaints decide this one in the Durango's favor, and the edge is clear. Both models sit in good standing, and both average the same 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year. The gap is in volume and severity. Federal recall records show 117 recalls for the Explorer against 27 for the Durango, and owners file more complaints per vehicle sold on the Explorer. Repair cost and major-repair odds also lean toward the Durango, though only slightly. The Explorer's shifting and engine failures are the most serious problems in either profile.

Key Differences

1Dodge Durango has 90 fewer total recalls
2Dodge Durango costs $57 less per year to repair
3Dodge Durango scores 5 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

5Dodge Durango

—

1Ford Explorer

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
Reliability Score	72/100	67/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	27	117
Complaints per 10k Sold	5.4	6.8
Annual Repair Cost	$675/yr	$732/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk	13%	14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	7 (1 tied)	1 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer?

Drivetrain and engine failures weigh heaviest on the Explorer, while electrical and lighting faults lead on the Durango. Explorer owners report gears slamming in from a stop, skipped gears, power loss while driving, and engine failures with quotes of $11,000 to $12,000. Loose trim, including A-pillar molding that blows off at highway speed, adds to the list. Durango owners report leaking racetrack tail lights that need a $1,500 to $2,000 assembly, and brake hydraulic recall parts that dealers lacked. Crash-linked reports are heavier on the Explorer: 12 in the power train, 3 in the engine, and 6 in rear camera complaints. The Durango has no crash-linked engine reports, though its brake complaints include 2.

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer common problem areas comparison
Component	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
POWER TRAIN	0.5Very Low	1.6Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.3Low	0.7Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	1.3Low	0.1Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	1.1Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	1.1Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SEATS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Dodge Durango or Ford Explorer?

Independent repair-cost data puts the Explorer at $732 a year and the Durango at $675, a gap of $57. Over five years that comes to about $285 in the Durango's favor. Both models average 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, so neither takes you to the shop more often. The chance that a repair is major is 14% for the Explorer and 13% for the Durango. The difference is small, but it points the same direction as the recall and complaint counts.

How Does Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	70/1004R / 0C	Dodge Durango
2025	78/1000R / 5C	72/10014R / 65C	Dodge Durango
2024	78/1000R / 6C	73/1006R / 14C	Dodge Durango
2023	75/1002R / 27C	71/10012R / 84C	Dodge Durango
2022	71/1006R / 47C	65/10021R / 208C	Dodge Durango
2021	65/1007R / 159C	62/10022R / 354C	Dodge Durango
2020	72/1003R / 62C	54/10029R / 1066C	Dodge Durango
2019	67/1004R / 128C	69/1004R / 252C	Ford Explorer
2018	64/1005R / 219C	64/1005R / 651C	Tie

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Dodge Durango scored 78/100 and the 2024 Ford Explorer scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Durango vs the Ford Explorer?

Pick the Durango if you want the lower-risk used purchase. It has fewer recalls, a lower yearly repair bill, and no crash-linked engine complaints. Skip 2018 and 2021, its weakest years. Check that the brake hydraulic recalls and the tail light condition are sorted before you pay, since dealers lacked parts for the brake recalls and a tail light replacement is costly. Pick the Explorer if you need what it offers and will accept more risk. Avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. Test drive for harsh or delayed shifting from a stop, and ask for proof of any engine or rear camera recall work. Some owners paid for engines because their VIN fell outside an engine recall, so a service history matters. Newer years of both models look cleaner partly because they have had less time to collect complaints, so treat that as a reason for caution rather than a guarantee.

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer: Common Questions

Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Dodge Durango?: No. The Durango comes out clearly ahead. Both rate good, but the Explorer has 117 recalls to the Durango's 27 and more owner complaints per vehicle sold. The Explorer also has more serious drivetrain and engine complaints, including crash-linked shifting and power loss reports.
Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Durango?: The Explorer has far more. Federal recall records list 117 across nine model years, against 27 for the Durango. Explorer owners also report long waits for rear camera recall parts. Durango owners report the same kind of wait for brake hydraulic recall parts.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Explorer or the Durango?: The Durango is a little cheaper. Independent repair-cost data shows $675 a year for the Durango and $732 for the Explorer. That adds up to about $285 over five years. Shop-visit frequency is the same for both at 0.2 a year.
What are the common problems with the Dodge Durango?: Electrical faults and failing racetrack tail lights lead the list. Water leaks into the tail light and burns out the LEDs, and a replacement assembly runs roughly $1,500 to $2,000. Owners also report brake hydraulic recall parts being unavailable, and a few report engines shutting off while driving.
What goes wrong most often on the Ford Explorer?: Power train complaints are the biggest group. Owners describe harsh or delayed shifting, skipped gears, and power loss while driving. Structure complaints come next, including loose trim and A-pillar molding that blows off at highway speed. Engine failures are fewer but costly, with replacement quotes of $11,000 to $12,000.

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How we score the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer

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.

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