2001 Dodge Durango Interior & seats Problems

WHILE I LOVE MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO RT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS / SAFETY ISSUES THE VEHICLE HAS. NUMBER ONE IS THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT IS VERY LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING WHICH COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A WRECK, WHIPLASH ETC. IN DOING MY RESEARCH THE AVERAGE FIX THAT THE DEALERS WILL DO COSTS BETWEEN 600-800.00 WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE LINKS ON VARIOUS FORUM FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO FIX YOURSELF FOR ABOUT 40.00 OROVOODMG A BETTER FIX THAT THE DEALERS WILL NOT PROVIDE, BUT IT IS COMPLICATED AND VERY LABOR INTENSIVE. MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS TO BE SAFE AND HAVE SAFE PASSENGERS! TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS INTO DODGE AND GET THIS PERMANENTLY FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. THERE ARE UNTOLD AMOUNTS OF DODGE DURANGO OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, WHICH DODGE CURRENTLY WILL NOT RECALL. THE OTHER TWO ISSUES ARE INCREDIBLY DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. SINCE DODGE RECALLED THESE TRUCKS FOR THE BALL JOINTS MANY INCLUDING MINE PREVIOUS TO ME BUYING IT, WE'RE BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR IN 2006. PLEASE NOTE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS COMPANY CALLED "MOOG" FIXED THIS DODGE ENGINEERING PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL WITH THEIR OWN SPECIALLY DESIGNED BALL JOINT. AS FAR AS THE BRAKES GO THIS A VERY HEAVY SUV, IN WHICH IF ONE NEEDS TO STOP QUICKLY AND THE BRAKES FAIL OR SKID THE WHEELS DUE TO LOCK UP THIS AGAIN LIKE THE SEATS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT DODGE NEEDS TO CORRECT. I HAVE FAITH THAT DODGE WILL TAKE CARE OF MORE CONSUMER ISSUES THAN FORD EVER WILL.

NHTSA ID

11183811

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

192,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS INDEPENDENTLY MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DEPENDABLE DODGE, LOCATED AT 21415 ROSCO BLVD, CANOGA PARK, CA 91304) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY WAS DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8.

NHTSA ID

11006751

Incident

Oct 23, 2001

Mileage

8 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW DECEMBER 2000. WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE UP AND DOWN MOTION, WHEN CAR STOPS, THE SEATS COME AT REST. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS WORSE THAN DRIVERS SIDE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DINGS & ILLUMINATES AND THEN GO BACK OFF..

NHTSA ID

10764455

Incident

Aug 7, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FORWARD IN A ROCKING MOTION WHENEVER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE SEAT WOULD RESET TO THE CORRECT POSITION AFTER RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10744162

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

PURCHASED USED FROM DODGE DEALER. FRONT ELECTRIC SEATS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) ROCK WITH EVERY MOVEMENT. CHECKED RECALLS LIST AND MANUFACTURER HAS NEVER ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT OTHER OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL READING COMPLAINTS. CURRENT MILEAGE 117,000. DID NOT NOTIFY MFR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633558

Incident

Jun 14, 2007

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK EVEN AFTER THE LOCK HAD BEEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR APPEARED TO BE PERMANENTLY LOCKED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE SLOW, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. UPDATED 11/10/14. *JB

NHTSA ID

10633385

Incident

Jun 16, 2008

Mileage

136,000 mi

THE POWER FRONT SEATS AFTER TIME COME LOOSE IN THE 20001 DURANGO AND MOVE BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRACKS. SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE MOVING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY. I READ SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE. ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH IS COMMON IS THE WIRING BURNING UP CONNECTED TO THE RESISTOR PACK ON THE BLOWER MOTOR. I READ STORIES ABOUT HOW PEOPLE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR PACK AND PLUG AT THE END OF THE HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD HAVE USED THICKER WIRE TO HANDLE THE CURRENT DRAW FOR THE MOTOR THAT IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE BEEN USING THE ORIGINAL MOTOR FOR 2 YEARS NOW I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY SPEED CONTROL NOW, BUT THE MOTOR IS FINE. THE RESISTOR PACK IS ALSO FINE JUST NEED TO REPLACE ONE OR ALL OF THE WIRE THAT ARE BURNT UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543568

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN TURNING INTO A CHURCH PARKING LOT FOR A WEDDING. THE DURANGO WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND (AT ABOUT 40 MPH) AND THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE AND I WAS LAID BACK UNABLE TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL OR STEERING WHEEL. THE DURANGO TRAVELED APPROX 20 FEET BEFORE HITTING A PARKED JEEP. THE PASSENGER AND I BOTH RECEIVED INJURIES AND CURRENTLY UNDER CARE. DODGE NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE FAULTY PARTS IN THE DRIVER ELECTRIC SEATS THAT ARE CAUSING THE ROCKING BACK AND FORTH CAUSING THE MOUNTING BRACKETS TO FAIL AND BRAKE. I HAVE SEEN NOT POSTS OF DEATHS OCCURRING BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT DOES. WE WERE VERY LUCKY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10488806

Incident

Apr 28, 2012

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE NOT STATIONARY AND WOULD MOVE OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE ELECTRIC MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR BOTH SEATS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

10484632

Incident

Jan 5, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHEN STOPPING THE SEATS JOLTS FORWARD. WHEN GOING THE SEATS JOLTS BACKWARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468276

Incident

Jan 4, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE POWER DRIVERS SEAT SHIFTS IN POSITION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHEN A RAPID DECELERATION IS REQUIRED TO STOP SHORT. THE POWER SEAT DOES NOT MOVE ALONG THE SEAT TRACKS, BUT SHIFTS FRONT TO REAR OR LATERALLY WHILE IN THE SAME POSITION ON THE SEAT TRACKS. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THIS HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AT THE DURANGO "ROCKING CHAIR" PROBLEM. IT IS QUITE DISCONCERTING WHEN IT HAPPENS AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONCENTRATION WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT WILL ONLY GET WORSE WITH TIME, INEVITABLY RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461981

Incident

Jul 28, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

2001 DURANGO PASSENGER SEAT JUST STARTED SLIDING FREELY BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRACK. THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC SEATS. DEFINATELY A SAFETY CONCERN AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN FROM THE POSTS I HAVE BEEN READING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454912

Incident

Apr 11, 2012

THE PASSENGER SEAT SLIDES UP AND DOWN ON THE TRACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452864

Incident

Mar 3, 2008

MY POWER LOCKS ARE CONSTANTLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING, ALSO WHILE CAR IS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430684

Incident

Oct 7, 2011

THE POWER SEATS, WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE, AND SLIDE BACK AND FORTH IN THE TRACK, WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE OR STOPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430578

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT ENGAGING ON THE SEAT TRACK, IT SLIDES FORWARD & BACK WITH THE MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS, OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE 12 & 16!!!! THEY CAN EASILY SLAM INTO THE DASH BOARD WITH THEIR LEGS OR WORSE WITH ANY SPEED. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND READ ABOUT MANY OTHER DODGE DURANGO OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAEFTY ISSUE!!! PLEASE HELP! *TT

NHTSA ID

10427675

Incident

Sep 16, 2011

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. BOTH FRONT SEATS ARE LOOSE AND HAVE JUST ABOUT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS BECAUSE EVERYTIME I BRAKE, THE SEATS SHIFT FORWARD. BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN ONLINE WITH COMPLAINTS AND FORUMS, THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON WITH DODGE SEATS. WHY WON'T THEY DO A RECALL ON SOMETHING THAT IS SO WIDESPREAD AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10380048

Incident

Feb 3, 2011

BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HAVE BECOME LOOSE - SLIDING FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR OVER A YEAR AND IS CONSTANT - THE SEATS ARE NO LONGER FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE OR SUB-STANDARD PARTS USED IN THE SEAT STRUCTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365893

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT, IT WAS RAINING, WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, AND DASHBOARD JUST WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WAITING A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THEY STILL WOULDN'T WORK. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT IS RAINING, OR EVEN LOCK MY DOORS. THEY TRIED REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STILL NO LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339305

Incident

Jun 14, 2010

Mileage

47,500 mi

MULTIPLE REPLACEMENT NEEDED OF UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, SWAY BAR, CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING FRONT END BED SPRING NOISE - SOUNDS LIKE JUNK, TOLD THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT IS LOSE AGAIN. ALSO THE HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE FRONT DRIVER;S SEAT WENT OUT -COST TO REPAIR OVER 700.00! VEHICLE IS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO 4 X 4. ONLY 86,000 MILES ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS VEHICLE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED, BUT DESPITE THAT CONSTANTLY HAVING FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIRS AND BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10299782

Incident

Jan 14, 2010

Mileage

86,000 mi

SEATS HAVE PLAY SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. THEY DON'T HOLD IN PLACE. THEY SLIDE ON RAILS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240791

Incident

Jan 16, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

PASSENGER SEATS AND DRIVER SEAT ON 2 2001 DODGE DURANGO DO NOT HOLD ON RAILS THEY HAVE PLAY AND SLIDE BACK AND FORTH EACH TIME YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD .IT SLAMS YOUR KNEES INTO THE DASH BOARD. COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO DODGE CORP FILED COMPLAINT CASE#17864244. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240789

Incident

Jan 6, 2004

Mileage

38,000 mi

MY DRIVERS BUCKET SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH DUE TO A BROKEN BRACKET OR RAIL. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL MENTIONS OF THE EXACT SAME CONDITION OF OTHER 1999 TO 2001 DODGE DURANGO OWNERS AND CHRYSLER DENIES HEARING OF OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS EXACT SAME CONDITION. I HOPE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE POSTED THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET ARE REPORTING TO YOU AS WELL BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE SERVICE CENTERS ARE ASKING FOR $600 TO $900 TO FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228794

Incident

Apr 20, 2008

MY 2001 DODGE DURANGO STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS NOT OPERATING, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ON, AND HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND ALL WERE GOOD. DISCONNECTED/RECONNECTED BATTERY AND ALL RETURNED TO NORMAL. TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE MY 16 Y/O SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR AND DASH LIGHTS (LATER TO LEARN THE HEADLIGHTS) WERE FLICKERING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT FOR A TEST RIDE AND ALL SEEMED NORMAL FOR FIRST FEW MILES, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER RAPIDLY. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY FOR APPROXIMATELY 5-7 SECONDS AND CAME BACK ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 7-10 SECONDS WITH INTERMITTENT INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS FLICKERING. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, REMOVED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND AGAIN ALL RETURNED TO "NORMAL". THIS 'DEFECT' IS WELL KNOWN ON THE INTERNET WITH THE CAUSE BEING THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) AND ALL LOCAL DODGE DEALERS I CONTACTED ARE WELL AWARE OF THE CAUSE AND THE FIX (AVG. COST FROM LOCAL DEALERS $690.00) YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ANOMALY. WHY? HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING'AM I THE ONLY PERSON WHO SEES A SAFETY PROBLEM HERE? ALSO, ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE AT CHRYSLER'S 1-800 CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, THIS IS ONLY AFFECTING A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES. SO WHAT. MY THOUGHTS ARE: ONE VEHICLE IS ENOUGH, AND IF THIS IS REALLY A TRUE STATEMENT FROM CHRYSLER, IT SHOULDN'T COST THE CORPORATION THAT MUCH TO FIX THOSE 'FEW' VEHICLES. MY CONCERN CONTINUES WITH THE BELIEF THAT BOTH CHRYSLER AND THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS FAILURE - WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE - AND NEITHER HAVE TAKEN ANY POSITIVE ACTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. THIS SITUATION ALSO LEAVES ME WITH ONE HAUNTING QUESTION: DOES IT REALLY TAKE A DEATH BEFORE ANYONE TAKES ACTION??? BTW: WHAT DOES THE 'S' IN NHTSA STAND FOR AGAIN? *TR

NHTSA ID

10220747

Incident

Mar 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HARNESS IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LATCH OPENS ON ITS OWN WHEN THOSE SEATS ARE OCCUPIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,946 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 10-08-08 *BF UPDATED 10/08/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10215668

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

99,000 mi