Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Dodge Durango problems

Owners filed 665 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Durango with NHTSA between Feb 2001 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is suspension (265).

Complaints
665
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
60
Reported by owners
Fires
20
Reported by owners
Injuries
55
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension265
  2. Power train105
  3. Electrical system91
  4. Engine and engine cooling53
  5. Steering48
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic45
  7. Air bags43
  8. Seats29
  9. Equipment26
  10. Visibility24
  11. Exterior lighting18
  12. Vehicle speed control17
  13. Engine13
  14. Wheels11

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200126
200247
2003137
2004163
200577
200626
200721
200833
200927
201020
201120
201216
20138
20148
201513
20167
20176
20182
20192
20201
20213
20220
20231
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

265 reports15 crashes2 fires2 related recalls
“WHILE I LOVE MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO RT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS / SAFETY ISSUES THE VEHICLE HAS. NUMBER ONE IS THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT IS VERY LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING WHICH COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A WRECK, WHIPLASH ETC. IN DOING MY RESEARCH THE AVERAGE FIX THAT THE DEALERS WILL DO COSTS BETWEEN 600-800.00 WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE LINKS ON VARIOUS FORUM FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO FIX YOURSELF FOR ABOUT 40.00 OROVOODMG A BETTER FIX THAT THE DEALERS WILL NOT PROVIDE, BUT IT IS COMPLICATED AND VERY LABOR INTENSIVE. MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS TO BE SAFE AND HAVE SAFE PASSENGERS! TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS INTO DODGE AND GET THIS PERMANENTLY FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. THERE ARE UNTOLD AMOUNTS OF DODGE DURANGO OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, WHICH DODGE CURRENTLY WILL NOT RECALL. THE OTHER TWO ISSUES ARE INCREDIBLY DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. SINCE DODGE RECALLED THESE TRUCKS FOR THE BALL JOINTS MANY INCLUDING MINE PREVIOUS TO ME BUYING IT, WE'RE BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR IN 2006. PLEASE NOTE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS COMPANY CALLED "MOOG" FIXED THIS DODGE ENGINEERING…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2019Suspension, Seats, Service brakesODI 11183811

Power train

105 reports9 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Durango. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN); but the failure occurred. The contact stated that the vehicle unexpectedly shifted out of park(P). After several attempts, the gear shift lever was shifted to park(P) and remained in park(P). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2026Power trainODI 11728540

Electrical system

91 reports2 crashes13 fires1 related recall
“IN THE PAST YEAR MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS GONE HAYWIRE. FIRST MY PASSENGERS ALL LOST THEIR ABILITY TO USE WINDOW CONTROLS, ONLY THE DRIVER HAS CONTROL, BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL WORK, PRETTY RANDOM. THEN MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. NOT THE BULB, THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING, AND IF I SWITCH TO MY HIGH BEAMS THE RIGHT ONE WON'T WORK. AND NOW MY READ PASSENGER BREAK LIGHT WON'T COME ON. ALSO AFTER I TURN OFF MY CAR COMPLETELY, ONCE IN A WHILE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE RADIO WILL COME BACK ON BY ITSELF! WE CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX ANY OF IT. WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING! ALL OF THIS HAPPENS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, PARKED AND STATIONARY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2021Electrical systemODI 11407991

Engine and engine cooling

53 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELT VIBRATION WHEN SHE ACCELERATED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS AN EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM LEAK. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10435501

Steering

48 reports8 crashes2 fires
“The entire underneath and some panels of the vehicle are completely rusted to the point that the vehicle cannot be safely driven. The vehicle has never been in an ocean front town. Has been in Frankfurt, Germany and Atchison, Kansas.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2021Steering, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11437414

Service brakes, hydraulic

45 reports4 crashes1 fire
“VEHICLE WOULD GIVE OFF A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE ABS SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DRIVER NEED TO APPLY NORMAL BRAKING ACTION FOR TRAFFIC. VEHICLE PULLED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. DRIVER CORRECTED, THEN VEHICLE WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLED SLIDE WHERE REAR OF VEHICLE SLID TO LEFT OF DRIVER UNTIL VEHICLE WAS TURNED 180 DEGREES OPPOSITE ORIGINAL DIRECTION, AND PROCEEDED TO SLIDE OFF HWY COMING TO REST IN FIELD. VEHICLE STAYED UPRIGHT AND INCURRED NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLE APPROX. 5-6 MILES AFTER THAT WITHOUT INCIDENT AND ABS LIGHT WAS OUT DURING THAT REMAINING TIME. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR TECHNICIAN RAN CODES FROM THE VEHICLE COMPUTER AND ASCERTAINED THAT BOTH THE THE ABS MODULE AND SPEED SENSOR OF REAR WHEEL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ORIGINAL PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10416976
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.