Dodge comes up as the first few options when we think about chunky and muscular American cars, and the Dodge Durango certainly lives up to that too. The truck-based SUV has had a successful run for several years; however, the reliability issues along with the introduction of newer and better rivals have put the vehicle in a tough situation. The 2014 Dodge Durango has seen a total of 11 recalls and 667 complaints to date along with 7 investigations from the NHTSA as well. The electrical systems, powertrain, safety system, and the exterior lighting departments of the Durango have collected the maximum number of complaints from the owners. The Dodge Durango challenges the Honda Pilot, the Hyundai Santa Fe, and the Nissan Pathfinder in the segment.
Dodge Durango user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Engine stalling and refusing to start: This duo has been plaguing plenty of 2014 Dodge Durango owners. The affected owners report that their vehicles refused to start on multiple occasions. Moreover, while driving, the vehicles stalled suddenly as well, resulting in crashes in a few cases. The brand issued more than a couple of recalls regarding this problem which provided the replacement of the alternator as a fix.
- Accidental engagement of the transmission: Several owners report that the transmission of their vehicles engaged automatically. While the affected vehicles were parked, the transmissions engaged to drive mode on their own due to the failure.
- Engine starting on its own: In one report, the owner states that on several occasions, his Durango’s engine started on its own. The failure occurred while the vehicle was parked inside the owner’s garage.
Safety problems
- Airbag failures: Airbag failure during collisions has been reported by plenty of owners. The reports mention that during the collisions, the airbags failed to deploy completely, causing injuries as a result.
- Braking system issues: stiffening brake pedal A couple of issues with the braking system of the Durango have been troubling several owners. According to the reports, several cases of brake failure with the brake pedal going all the way to the floor and the cases where the brake pedal got extremely hard after the vehicles were parked for a few days. The stiffening of the brake pedals also occurred while driving too in some cases.
Exterior problems
- Rear “racing” tail lights accumulating water: A plethora of buyers have faced this issue with the 2014 Durango. All the buyers report that due to the water seepage inside the tail light units, the LEDs would blow and the risk of a short circuit is there too.
Miscellaneous problems
- Power steering failure: A handful of owners have faced power steering system failures in their 2014 Durango SUVs. The steering failures occurred while driving, making the SUV hard to control.
2014 Dodge Durango recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
April 1, 2014 |
14V154000 |
Loss of Power Brake Assist |
The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a water diverter shield to the booster after the booster has been tested to confirm it can hold an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure. If the booster inspection confirms an unacceptable loss of vacuum pressure, the booster will be replaced. Repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. |
|
2 |
June 4, 2014 |
14V293000 |
Cruise Control Unintended Continued Acceleration |
The unintended continued acceleration may increase the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will re-flash the Driver Assistance System Module (DASM), free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. |
|
3 |
July 2, 2014 |
14V391000 |
Vanity Lamp Short may Result in Fire |
If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair any damaged wiring, and install a new sun visor that properly routes the wire, free of charge. |
|
4 |
October 8, 2014 |
14V634000 |
Alternator may fail, resulting in an engine stall |
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. |
|
5 |
October 8, 2014 |
14V636000 |
Steering Software may Disable Stability Control |
If the ESC is disabled during certain driving situations, the driver may not be able to adequately control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the SCCM software, free of charge. The recall began on November 24, 2014. |
|
6 |
October 14, 2014 |
14V643000 |
Airbags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled |
If the frontal airbags, seat belt pretensioners, and side airbags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates the use of the passive restraint system. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC module, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2015. |
|
7 |
July 23, 2015 |
15V461000 |
Radio Software Security Vulnerabilities |
Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification, and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on August 25, 2015. |
|
8 |
July 10, 2017 |
17V435000 |
Alternator may Fail Resulting in Engine Stall |
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2018. |
|
9 |
September 18, 2017 |
17V572000 |
Incorrectly Installed Brake Booster Shield |
If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. |
|
10 |
November 21, 2017 |
17V741000 |
Alternator may Fail Resulting in an Engine Stall |
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2018. |
|
11 |
May 17, 2018 |
18V332000 |
Cruise Control cannot be Canceled |
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 4, 2018. |
Should you buy a used Dodge Durango?
The Dodge Durango still ranks among the most proper 7-seater SUV in its class which also appeals to the masses with its upscale cabin that is spacious and feature-rich too. Despite its decent popularity, the SUV has been facing several reliability issues over the past couple of years and the current model joins that group too. Getting a used example might involve several risks along with having a hard time finding one example free from the aforementioned issues. Alternatively, the Honda Pilot makes a great option owing to its much better reliability and the low number of complaints as compared to the Durango.
