Problems · by component

2002 Dodge Durango engine and engine cooling problems

50 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Durango cite engine and engine cooling, 12% of all 434 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
50
12% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS IDLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10451625
“I WAS COMING DOWN A DRIVEWAY FROM A STORE AND I ATTEMPTED TO STOP BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND MY DURANGO LUNGED FORWARD TOWARDS THE OTHER VEHICLE AND IT DID IT TWICE BUT THE SECOND TIME I HAD BOTH MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE.I HAVE NEW TIRES AND BRAKES AND ALSO THE PAVEMENT WAS WET BUT IT DID NOT SLIDE. IT WAS LIKE THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OR SOMETHING. MY WORRY IS THAT I COULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS. I HAD NO DAMAGE TO MY DURANGO BUT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS THE FIRST ACCIDENT I'VE HAD IN YEARS AND I HAD A GOOD DRIVING RECORD UNTIL NOW. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2012Engine and engine coolingCrash reportedODI 10444807
“WHILE DRIVING A BURNING ODOR COULD BE DETECTED FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE ENGINE AND NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM COULD BE SEEN. AFTER DRIVING FOR TWO BLOCKS I NOTICE THAT THE ODOR WAS GETTING STRONGER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER ONCE MORE OPEN THE HOOD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICE FLAME AT THE FIRE WALL WITHIN SECONDS THE WHOLE ENGINE COVERED IN FLAMES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 24, 2011Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10441172
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE RESERVOIR AND THE TEMPERATURE ERRATICALLY RACED TO HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10425545
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10418173
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS LOCATED THE FAILURE TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR ELECTRICAL WIRES. NO CODES WERE DISPLAYED REGARDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE GARAGE, BECAUSE THE FRONT TIRES FELT UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THE FRONT HUB CAP CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FEEL UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WASN'T REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2010Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Air bagsODI 10362414

Showing 6 of 50 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 15, 2006NHTSA 06E024000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

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