Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Dodge Durango problems
Owners filed 339 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Durango with NHTSA between Sep 2002 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is suspension (91).
Complaints
339
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
29
Reported by owners
Fires
18
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension91
- Electrical system57
- Engine and engine cooling40
- Exterior lighting39
- Service brakes, hydraulic26
- Power train24
- Visibility22
- Steering20
- Tires17
- Air bags16
- Wheels14
- Equipment13
- Engine12
- Seats10
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 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
26
63
46
14
31
19
14
18
15
20
14
15
10
13
5
4
2
5
0
1
0
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 63 |
| 2005 | 46 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
91 reports8 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND FELT IT THROUGH THE DRIVESHAFT. IN ADDITION, THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LAKE CITY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (4325 W US HWY 90, LAKE CITY, FL 32055, (386) 755-3444) TO VERIFY THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,297.”
Electrical system
57 reports9 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the battery had been replaced after being drained due to an unknown electrical failure. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the alarm would inadvertently sound while the vehicle was turned off. Additionally, the lights would flash on and off intermittently. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would only restart while in Neutral. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would be an out of pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
40 reports1 crash3 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE VALVE SEAT CAME OUT OF THE HEAD GASKET CAUSING IT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DECARBONATING THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,571.”
Exterior lighting
39 reports1 related recall
“The obd reader on my 2003 Durango brings up code for central timing module and eeprm checksum error were the safety recall is in order but the vin number is not in the list of recall. It has all the specification of recall but vin number isn't in the list of recalls. I'm driving around in a unsafe vehicle due to manufacturing error that my vin number is the only thing why they won't fix it. Why do they not care if I kill myself or others from this that the recall is”
Service brakes, hydraulic
26 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE BRAKE LINES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 8/12/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED RUST RESISTANCE LINES WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/05/13”
Power train
24 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE HIS MOTHER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING TEMPORARILY AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. LEITH CHRYSLER JEEP (5500 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616, (919) 867-5907) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.