The best Durango years to buy are 2019 and 2023. Avoid the 2012 and 2014: TIPM electrical failures, fuel pump relays, tail light failures and headrests that deploy on their own give them very high complaint rates.
Best years: 20192023 Years to avoid: 20122014
Every Durango year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Durango problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | - | 0 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 39 | - | 2 | Exterior Lighting | Good buy |
| 2022 | 61 | 110 | 7 | Exterior Lighting | Good year |
| 2021 | 208 | 315 | 8 | Exterior Lighting | Average |
| 2020 | 76 | 131 | 2 | Exterior Lighting | Good year |
| 2019 | 145 | 215 | 4 | Exterior Lighting | Good buy |
| 2018 | 233 | 353 | 5 | Electrical | Average |
| 2017 | 214 | 311 | 2 | Exterior Lighting | Average |
| 2016 | 161 | 234 | 3 | Exterior Lighting | Good year |
| 2015 | 505 | 787 | 4 | Exterior Lighting | Watch out |
| 2014 | 786 | 1,221 | 11 | Exterior Lighting | Skip this year |
| 2013 | 640 | 1,054 | 11 | Electrical | Watch out |
| 2012 | 640 | 1,503 | 10 | Electrical | Skip this year |
About the Durango
The Durango is Dodge's three-row SUV, built on the same design since 2011. The early cars had serious electrical problems from the TIPM fuse box and fuel pump relay, and 2014 cars drew a flood of tail light and active headrest complaints. From 2016 the complaint rate falls to below average.
- 2011-2013: Early third generation. TIPM electrical and fuel pump relay failures.
- 2014-2024: Facelift. Tail light and headrest complaints on 2014; much better from 2016.
Durango warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Dodge files with NHTSA. 1,695 Durango bulletins are on file in total.
Liftgate Tail Lamp Assembly Not Illuminating Or Partially Illuminating XE2 Warranty Extension Customers may comment on the following: SYMPTOM: The center liftgate "racetrack" tail lamp assembly LED does not Illuminate, or parti...
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment - X88 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting the sled bracket striker pin and possibly replacing a front seat AHR that has inadvertently deployed.
Front Outboard Seat Belts May Not Retract Properly - X90 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting both of the front seat belt retractor D-rings for cracks, whitening or witness marks on the plastic overmolds.
MIL Illumination: P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 (X56 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves checking for excessive cylinder leakage and replacing the cylinder head if necessary.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Durango
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2018 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Preliminary evaluation PE19011 · 2014, 2015 · opened Sep 2019, closed May 2021
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation to investigate complaints alleging improper retraction of the front seat belts (driver or passenger) due to the plastic guide of the D-ring cracking in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles.
Preliminary evaluation PE19014 · 2012–2020 · opened Sep 2019, closed Feb 2026
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.Whe...
Preliminary evaluation PE16014 · 2014–2017 · opened Dec 2016, closed Jan 2024
Basis – On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to Park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents.
Preliminary evaluation PE15030 · 2014 · opened Aug 2015, closed Feb 2016
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE15-030 on August 20, 2015,to investigate 14 complaints alleging incidents of rollaway after intended shifts to Park in Model Year (MY) 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees vehicles.
Recall query RQ15004 · 2014, 2015 · opened Jul 2015, closed Jan 2016 · led to recall 15V508000
On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 20...
Recall query RQ15003 · 2012–2014 · opened May 2015, closed Jul 2016 · led to recall 15V879000
In response to this investigation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is conducting a recall to address headliner fires that occur post 14V-391.On December 22, 2015 FCA notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of safety recall 15V-879 to remedy potential headliner fires occurring in 389,252 model year (MY) 20...
Defect petition DP14004 · 2012, 2013 · opened Sep 2014, closed Jul 2015
In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV's, trucks, and vans beginning in the 20...
Engineering analysis EA14001 · 2012–2014 · opened Jan 2014, closed Aug 2014 · led to recall 14V391000
On July 1st, 2014 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy a wiring-related fire hazard on the headliner of approximately 661,888 model year (MY) 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured between Janua...
Preliminary evaluation PE13027 · 2012, 2013 · opened Aug 2013, closed Jan 2014
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has identified 5 reports of vehicle headliners catching fire at the front of the vehicle near the sun visors on Jeep Grand Cherokees.Customers reported a range of fire conditions ranging from minor overheating to an open flame at the headliner and/or sun visor material while...
Durango vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Dodge Durango?
2019 and 2023. The best Durango years to buy are 2019 and 2023. Avoid the 2012 and 2014: TIPM electrical failures, fuel pump relays, tail light failures and headrests that deploy on their own give them very high complaint rates.
Which Dodge Durango years should I avoid?
2012, 2014. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Dodge Durango average.
What is the TIPM problem on the Dodge Durango?
The totally integrated power module (TIPM) is the main fuse box. On 2011-2013 Durangos its fuel pump relay can fail, causing no-starts and stalling, and other electrical faults. A replacement TIPM costs about $800 to $1,200; some were covered by recall.
Based on 3,722 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.