Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Dodge Durango problems
Owners filed 1,567 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Durango with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Feb 2025. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (539).
Complaints
1,567
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
38
Reported by owners
Fires
21
Reported by owners
Injuries
35
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Fuel system, gasoline539
- Power train217
- Engine and engine cooling216
- Fuel/propulsion system203
- Electrical system198
- Engine113
- Air bags111
- Steering70
- Vehicle speed control43
- Structure21
- Service brakes21
- Visibility18
- Suspension14
- Fuel system, other14
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
76
66
77
60
137
191
197
171
84
104
130
86
74
21
40
16
13
9
12
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 76 |
| 2006 | 66 |
| 2007 | 77 |
| 2008 | 60 |
| 2009 | 137 |
| 2010 | 191 |
| 2011 | 197 |
| 2012 | 171 |
| 2013 | 84 |
| 2014 | 104 |
| 2015 | 130 |
| 2016 | 86 |
| 2017 | 74 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 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
Fuel system, gasoline
539 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the contact became aware that gasoline was spilling out of the fuel filler neck. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V003000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Power train
217 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“This vehicle will slip in and out 4 wheel drive on its own. This can occur when driving and I’m concerned it will create a dangerous situation, especially if driving at high speeds. When this issue is occurring, making tight turns (parking, neighborhood driving) becomes very dangerous as the wheels become locked and you have to press the accelerator down creating a lot of power and the vehicle becomes dangerously uncontrollable. This is very common while parking, when often pedestrians are present and the vehicle becomes unpredictable due to this issue. This will also occur at a 2 way stop when turning right in front of on-coming traffic. The vehicle will again be unpredictable and can’t turn smoothly impairing traffic coming from behind.”
Engine and engine cooling
216 reports3 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN EMISSIONS LEAK AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MT. EPHRAIM CHRYSLER DODGE RAM (620 N BLACK HORSE PIKE, MT EPHRAIM, NJ 08059 (856) 931-2000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A VERY SMALL EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW O-RING, LOCK RING, AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,680.”
Fuel/propulsion system
203 reports1 crash2 fires
“My car is having identical symptoms to a recall for it, but dodge is saying my vehicle is "Not affected", despite having identical symptoms from an identical cause. The check valve on my fuel tank has failed, and it overflows when I fill it with gas”
Electrical system
198 reports3 crashes14 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster was not operating properly. The speedometer displayed 50 MPH while the vehicle was parked and the odometer turned blank, and the vehicle was stuck in FWD. The contact stated that the interior lights failed to turn off upon depressing the light switch. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally strong electrical wiring burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the burning odor was coming through the A/C vents on both sides of the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a nearby independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V092000 (Electrical system). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the recall repair was previously completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 252,000.”
Engine
113 reports3 crashes2 fires
“I almost died, I escaped my car moments before it completely exploded into flames. I was driving down the interstate and it said it was overheating for a couple seconds and then the car went completely dead going 70 miles per hour. My steering wheel locked up so I fought to pull it off the road and stop it, I had a bad feeling so I checked the front of the car but it was inflamed once I got out and my seat was consumed in fire”
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.