RoadVitals

2002 Dodge Durango Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
423
Latest Jun 23, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
48
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 12, 2002

What this page shows

Our database holds 423 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Dodge Durango. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 423 · page 1 of 17

Suspension
Filed Jun 23, 2025

I have had my front wheel hub replaced 12 times yet my car isn't part of any recall

NHTSA ID
11668686
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Suspension
Filed Jan 3, 2025

The hub on my 02 Durango has had to be replaced 8 times since I bought it in 2018 but everyone says my car isn't part of recall.

NHTSA ID
11633843
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Driver assistance
Filed May 29, 2021

While pulling a travel trailer I got onto the freeway. As I have been pulling the trailer for a while now with this vehicle my comfort speed is around 45mph but will push up to 50mph maybe 55mph at the most. Anyways while entering the freeway I accelerated and as I got ready to merge I let my foot off the gas but the peddle stayed down and the vehicle continued to accelerate until around 80mph to 85mph when I finally got the peddle to release and stop acceleration. I quickly got off the freeway to calm myself as I was terrified I was going to crash. During this incident the first thing I did was tap the brakes lightly which did absolutely nothing and the car kept accelerating next I grabbed the floor mat thinking that maybe it was obstructing the peddle, it was not. Then I quickly used my foot to wiggle under the peddle and pull up multiple times until it finally released and came up stopping acceleration and luckily to my relief I did not crash although I had come very close had there been any more traffic or if I had got going g any faster I may not have been so lucky. This only happened the one time where I got to dangerous speeds but since then the peddle has started to stick two other times but this times it was much easier to get the peddle to release and I wasn't towing a trailer. I read that this happened in another model in freezing temperatures fro. The same manufacturer but couldn't find anything to it without freezing temperatures. I think it is a manufacturer defect that maybe affects other 2002 Dodge Durango I dony know if pulling the trailer triggered this or not as I said it has happened twice since and that was without a trailer attached. Definitely scary and should be looked at.. I don't have the funds to take it to a shop so I haven't had it professionally looked at yet

NHTSA ID
11418981
Incident
Mar 15, 2021
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2020
Fire reported

WHEN DRIVING TO THE STORE I SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND WENT IN . WHEN I CAME OUT I CRANKED IT OVER AND IT STARTERED AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE BY FIREWALL AND WAS INGOLFED IN FLAMES

NHTSA ID
11376450
Incident
Nov 19, 2020
Mileage
180,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 2, 2020

WHEN DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND THE CAR DIES. IT HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I'M ON THE ROAD. REPLACED CAMSHAFT SENSOR BUT IT IS STILL DYING. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH YOU WILL FIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS DANGEROUS AND MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS CAN BE AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326992
Incident
May 27, 2020
Mileage
207,239 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 16, 2020

THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. HAVE REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS. AT THIS TIME WE CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT.

NHTSA ID
11309475
Incident
Oct 1, 2019
Mileage
102,000 mi
Filed Feb 16, 2020

AFTER STARTING MY DODGE DURANGO AND TRY TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN PARK, IT WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING AROUND WITH IT UNTIL IT MOVES OUT OF PARK. IT DOES THIS OFF AND ON, JUST STATED THIS ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. TODAY IS 2/16/2020. YESTERDAY, I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON YOU TUBE, AND FOUND OUT THAT I COULD TAKE THE BOOT OFF AT THE COLUMN BY THE SHIFTER AND SPRAY WD40 ON THE GEAR LOCK TO UNSTICK IT. I DID DO THAT AND IT WORKED. BUT WHAT IS MAKING IT DO THAT TO BEGIN WITH?

NHTSA ID
11309471
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
102,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 13, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER WAS CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE HOLDER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ID
11288895
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Mileage
92,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 29, 2019

WHILE DRIVING, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUTTER, LOSES POWER AND WILL STALL. I WAS LOW ON GAS, AND TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL GAS STATION FOR FUEL. AFTER PUTTING $10 IN MY CAR WAS RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH. I WAS DOING ABOUT 20 MPH, WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF. BRAKES GOT REAL HARD. AFTER RE STARTING THE VEHICLE ALL SEEMED NORMAL. THEN, I DROVE ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS AND IT DID IT AGAIN AT A RED LIGHT. I TRIED PUSHING THE GAS TO SEE IF THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING, IT DIDNT. I DROVE ALL IN , ABOUT 3 MILES, AND THE CAR STALLED 7 TIMES. WHILE IN THE DRIVE THROUGH, IT STALLED 3 ABD AT ONE POINT JERKED SO FAR I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. VEHICLE SPEED DOES NOT MATTER , AS IT WILL SLOWLY LOSE POWER AND TURN OFF. I WAS DRIVING LOCALLY ON A CITY STREET. MY BEST GUESS TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE EVAP SYSTEM, QUITE POSSIBLY THE PURGE VALVE BUT IM NOT 100% SURE BUT THIS SITUATION IS VERY UNSAFE, I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. DURING MY TRIP THE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 20-45 MPH

NHTSA ID
11282838
Incident
Nov 29, 2019
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 20, 2019

MY VIN TAG: (XXXX) I REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR, AND PLUG MULTIPLE TIMES ON MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO AND IT KEEPS MELTING/BURNING UP. IF I LEAVE IT ON LOW OR MEDIUM FAN SETTING EVENTUALLY IT WILL CATCH FIRE, I'M FINALLY COMING TO YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP. OWNERS OF THE 1998-2007 DODGE DURANGO'S & DAKOTA'S ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM MANY WILL HAVE FIRES DUE TO IT AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY FROM IT! I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER SNOW PLOWING AND NEEDED TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS SO I PUT IT ON MEDIUM AND WITHIN 6 MINUTES SMELLED A STRONG BURNING SMELL. GO HOME AND THE WIRING HAD MELTED THE FAN, PLUG AND HARNESS. I'VE CHANGED THIS PART NOW ABOUT 12 TIMES IN ABOUT A YEAR, LOW & MEDIUM SETTINGS CAUSE IT SO NOW I CAN ONLY USE HIGH FOR ANY USE UNLESS I WANT ANOTHER FIRE, 9TH TIME IT ALMOST CAUGHT BECAUSE IT WAS DRIPPING PLASTIC ABOUT TO CATCH WHEN I SPRAYED WATER ON IT AND PULLED CONNECTION ON BATTERY. MILD TO WILD ON RTE-34 IN ORANGE, CT WORKED ON IT AS WELL. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11256772
Incident
Dec 5, 2018
Mileage
114,365 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 6, 2019

HEADLIGHTS FLICKING ON AND OFF AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11241964
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2019

HAPPENED TWICE SINCE DEC. 2018 WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT SPEED OF APRX. 35-45 AND ABS WAS DEPLOYED IT IMMEDIATLY UNLOCKED AND JUMPED FORWARD CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. CAME VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD I BEEN CLOSER.

NHTSA ID
11191233
Incident
Mar 5, 2019
Mileage
230,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBAORD. IN ADDITION, BOTH REAR WHEELS SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. *DT UPDATED 12/06/18*JB

NHTSA ID
11141886
Incident
Oct 9, 2013
Mileage
117,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 25, 2018

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, GEAR SHIFT IS LOCKING IN PARK. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND TRYING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE. HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN LAST TWO WEEKS. AFTER "PLAYING" WITH GEAR SHIFT, TRYING TO GET IT TO MOVE, I HEAR A CLICK AND THEN IT IS OPERATIVE. ON THE 3 OCCASIONS, TOOK FROM APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 3 MINUTES BEFORE HEARING CLICK. LOOKED UP ON LINE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING ISSUE AND SEARCH LED ME TO A RECALL FOR2002 DODGE DURANGO ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2007. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT THAT TIME. NHTSA ID # 07V555000 RELATED TO IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM BECOMING INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
11131143
Incident
Sep 12, 2018
Mileage
126,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY THAT REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, CAM SHAFT SENSOR, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE READING AND INDICATED THAT THE PCM OR TIPM MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO INDICATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION FOR THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11123406
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Suspension
Filed Jul 19, 2018

THE HUB UNIT BROKE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE STEERING WAS OFF. THERE WAS A POUND CLANKING NOISE RIGHT AFTER I STARTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THEN IT BROKE.

NHTSA ID
11112349
Incident
Jul 9, 2018
Mileage
165,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 10, 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES I TRIED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE ENGINE STARTED AND I CONTINUED ON MY WAY.

NHTSA ID
11084305
Incident
Nov 17, 2017
Mileage
146,242 mi
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Dec 18, 2017
1 injury reported

DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS SLIDE BACK AND FORTH IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE MANNER WITH ACCELERATION, BRAKE AND TURNS. SEAT BELTS DO NOT ENGAGE TO LIMIT FORWARD/SIDE MOVEMENT OF HUMAN BODY. SEAT SLIDING/MOVEMENT HAS ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE INTERRUPTION OF CONTACT WITH VEHICLE'S GAS/BRAKE PEDALS. FORCEFUL FORWARD MOTION OF SLIDING SEAT HAS ENOUGH MOMENTUM ON DRIVER'S SIDE TO CAUSE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN A HARD STOP/BRAKE ENGAGED. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SLIDES WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE HEAD TO IMPACT WINDSHIELD ON SUDDEN/HARD STOP. SEAT BELTS DO NOT ENGAGE TO STOP FORWARD OR SIDE MOTION OF HUMAN BODY WHEN EITHER SEAT SLIDES BACK/FORTH. 02/2015 CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM REPAIRED SEAT FRAME WITH A NEW SWITCH (TECH NOTES 545 AND 579) AT MILEAGE: 116,616. 2017 CURRENT MILEAGE: 124,674. DRIVERS/PASSENGERS AT OR BELOW AGE/GENDER APPROPRIATE BMI.

NHTSA ID
11055225
Incident
Dec 16, 2017
Mileage
124,668 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 22, 2017

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WITH OUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED INCLUDING IN PARK AND WHILE IDLING. WHEN THIS OCCURS POWER STEERING IS LOST, GAUGES FREEZE IN LAST POSITION, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT BACK UP WITHOUT HESITATION. DURING MY 7 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK IT MAY STILL ONCE OR NOT AT ALL UP TO 7 TIMES. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP GARAGE WHERE THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT DUE TO VEHICLE NOT GIVING AND CODES EVEN WITH IT STALLING FOR THEM MULTIPLE TIMES. I ALREADY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND IT DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. MY OPTIONS ARE TAKE MY CAR BACK STILL STALLING OR REPLACE THE PCM $500-$900 WHICH MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM THEN I'M OUT THE MONEY. I GUESS FINGERS CROSSED SINCE NO ONE AT THIS GARAGE HAS EVER SEEN A VEHICLE NOT THROW A CODE WITH THEM WITNESSING THE ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11047962
Incident
Nov 9, 2017
Mileage
149,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS POSITIONED IN A LOPSIDED MANNER WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10985728
Incident
May 12, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 8, 2017

TRUCK WILL NOT GO IN RIGHT GEAR IT SKIPS FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND NOW THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WILL START BUT IT WILL NOT GO IN PARK.

NHTSA ID
10971250
Incident
Mar 19, 2017
Mileage
104,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Mar 3, 2017

WHEN I SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR IT MAKES A TICKING NOISE AND ALSO WHEN I TURN THEY'RE ALWAYS KIND OF A THUMP FEEL TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I ALSO CAN TAKE MY KEY OUT OF IGNITION NO MATTER IF ITS IN DRIVE, PAR, REVERSE ETC...

NHTSA ID
10958341
Incident
Jan 20, 2006
Mileage
58,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 2017
Fire reported

DASH AND UNDER NEATH AND STEERING COLUNM AND SPEED CLUSTER CAUGHT FIRE TODAY.TRUCK WAS PARKED AND RUNNING.

NHTSA ID
10949565
Incident
Feb 4, 2017
Mileage
65,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.

NHTSA ID
10944559
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Mileage
193,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE UPPER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND IMPACTED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE CAUTIOUSLY HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION) UNTIL AFTER EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,453. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10944187
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Mileage
208,453 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .