Problems · by component

2004 Dodge Durango equipment problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Durango cite equipment, 2% of all 1,115 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
2% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the equipment

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DURANGO SLT 5.7L HEMI. NEVER HAD ANY BIG ISSUES WITH IT UNTIL IN 2014 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND LOUD KNOCKING NOISES FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY AN ABRUPT SHUT OFF. I TRIED IMMEDIATELY TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT WHEN I LOST POWER STEERING FROM THE ENGINE CEIZING AND COULDN'T CORRECT MYSELF ENOUGH SO I WENT DOWN THE HILL OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRYING TO BREAK WITH NO BRAKE BOOSTER ANYMORE AS WELL. I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO A COUPLE SMALL TREE'S AND FINALLY STOPPING . AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I ONLY JAMMED MY FINGER AND HURT MY BACK SOME BUT I ONLY MISSED A LARGER GROUP OF TREE BY INCHES. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS RIPPED OFF, MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS BROKE AS WELL AS MY GRILLE AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE "HYDROLOCKED" AND A PISTON ROD PUNCHED THROUGH MY ENGINE AND BROKE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS INTERNALLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE ENGINE IS GONE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE PEOPLE THAT HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEIR 04 AND 05 DODGE DURANGO WITH THE 5.7L HEMI. APPARENTLY THE WATER RUNS RIGHT DOWN ONTO THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 10763307
“2004 DODGE DURANGO, 5.7 HEMI. THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FAILING AND THE SERVICE 4WD LIGHT STARTING OFF BLINKING HERE AND THERE. THEN WENT STEADY AND LOCKED IN 4WD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2014Power train, EquipmentODI 10652713
“OEM CD PLAYER HAS BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO BATTERY CHANGE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF DCC. EVEN NEW 2013 AND 2014 MODELS. DCC REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. DEALERS CHARGE BIG BUCKS TO RE-FLASH CONTROL MODULE SO THAT CD PLAYER IS AGAIN RECOGNIZED BY COMPUTER. WHY SHOULD A VEHICLE HAVE TO BE RE PROGRAMMED EVERY TIME A BATTERY GOES DEAD? THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN SOFTWARE AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2014Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10574105
“I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ON MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO. THE TRUCK STARTED OVERHEATING AND I HAD THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED, NOW I CAN NOT ACCELERATE, THE TRUCK IS MAKING A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE. FOR THE FIRST 3 YRS OF OWNING MY TRUCK, IT WORKED WONDERS, IT NEVER GAVE ME ANY PROBLEMS. AND THEN JUST ONE DAY IT OVERHEATED, IT KEPT CUTTING OFF ON MY WHILE IN IDLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 CHILDREN AND NOW I HAVE NOT VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH. DODGE CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAULTS IN THEIR VEHICLES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2011Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10418428
“KEY FOB POORLY DESIGNED WHICH LEADS TO SMALL INTERIER METAL PRONG BREAKING CAUSING THE KEY TO BE NO GOOD. ONCE THE KEY IS NO LONGER WORKING YOU HAVE TO OPEN THE DOORS MANUALLY BY INPUTTING THE KEY INTO THE DOOR LOCK WHICH SOUNDS THE ALARM UNTIL THE CAR IS STARTED. THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR HOLDING TWO INFANTS AND TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR AND STOP THE ALARM FROM SOUNDING. I WAS ALSO APPROACHED BY OFFICERS AS THERE HAD BEEN CAR BREAK INS IN THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION AND THEY BELIEVED I WAS STEELING THE VEH BECAUSE THE ALARM WAS SOUNDING AND I WAS LEANED OVER ATTEMPTING TO GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO STOP THE ALARM FROM SOUNDING. I'VE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP HAS EVEN ADVISED ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT MOPAR WHO MANUFACTUERS THE KEYS FOR DODGE HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE FOR THOSE WITH KEYS ALREADY BROKE AND IS NOT WILLING TO REIUMBURSE FOR THE KEY COST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2011EquipmentODI 10393662
“I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DURANGO SLT WITH THE HEMI 5.7 L. IT HAS 127,000 MILES ON IT. WE'VE TAKING GREAT CARE OF IT! THE LAST TIME THAT IT WAS DROVE IT WAS A GREAT RIDE, THEN WITH OUT WARNING WENT STARTED IT UP THERE WAS LOUD BANG!!! AND IT STARTED SHAKING. HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND IT THREW A ROD!! I HAD NO WARNING OF THIS. YES I'VE HAD SMLL PROBLEMS WITH IT OVER THE YEARS PUT A NEW THERMOSTAT IN IT CAUSE OF OVER HEATING NEW BRAKES IT DIED OUT ON ME A FEW TIMES WITH NO REASON SO I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS SO I STARTED PUT THE HIGHER GRADE IN IT AND THAT SEEMED TO STOP THAT. BUT THIS NO WARNING!!! I HAVE BEEN READING AND THERE IS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. DODGE NEEDS TO DO SOMTHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OT KILLED!! I WAS LUCKY I HADNT EVEN LEFT MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED!! NOW I AM GOING TO BE OUT THOUSNADS OF DOLLARS THAT I DONT HAVE TO EITHER GET THIS FIXED OR A NEW CAR. I CANT AFFORD THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS. UNTIL THIS HAPPENED I DIDNT KNOW ALL THE RECALLS THAT HAS BEEN ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY. NOW I KNOW WHY I DONT HAVE INSIDE LIGHTS WE UNHOOKED THEM CAUSE THEY WOULDNT GO OFF. COME ON DODGE DO SOMTHING BEFORE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2011Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10390473

Showing 6 of 25 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

Equipment

Free remedy

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

EquipmentReported Dec 21, 2017NHTSA 17V824000
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.