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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension91
  2. Electrical system57
  3. Engine and engine cooling40
  4. Exterior lighting39
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic26
  6. Power train24
  7. Visibility22
  8. Steering20
  9. Tires17
  10. Air bags16
  11. Wheels14
  12. Equipment13
  13. Engine12
  14. 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
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
20021
200326
200463
200546
200614
200731
200819
200914
201018
201115
201220
201314
201415
201510
201613
20175
20184
20192
20205
20210
20221
20230
20241
20251
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

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2019SuspensionODI 11288916

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2022Electrical systemODI 11456631

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10442486

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2025Exterior lighting, Structure, EngineODI 11673302

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2013Service brakes, hydraulic, Service brakesODI 10520636

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2020Power trainODI 11382937
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.