2003 Dodge Durango Owner Complaints

The seatbelt is locking up and won't pull out for the driver and the front passenger.

NHTSA ID

11751252

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

The obd reader on my 2003 Durango brings up code for central timing module and eeprm checksum error were the safety recall is in order but the vin number is not in the list of recall. It has all the specification of recall but vin number isn't in the list of recalls. I'm driving around in a unsafe vehicle due to manufacturing error that my vin number is the only thing why they won't fix it. Why do they not care if I kill myself or others from this that the recall is

NHTSA ID

11673302

Incident

Jul 14, 2025

Clogged or leaking A/C drain hose. This hose is responsible for draining condensation from the A/C evaporator, the condensation pools in large quantity on the passenger floorboard. This constitute a hazard for the electrical systems near it and a risk of corrosion not to mention potential toxic mold and basically the car self flooding. A few videos document the issue and it is due to bad design where the drain hose is oriented upward and/or the seal blocking water from penetrating the passenger cabin is cracked or falls away in time. Cars from 20+ years ago like my Dodge Durango would certainly experience a degradation of such a seal. The seal itself is very difficult to get to but the issue is pressing. This is an example of a video documenting the issue where the narrator describes this as bad design. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11603935

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the battery had been replaced after being drained due to an unknown electrical failure. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the alarm would inadvertently sound while the vehicle was turned off. Additionally, the lights would flash on and off intermittently. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would only restart while in Neutral. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would be an out of pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11456631

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE HIS MOTHER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING TEMPORARILY AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. LEITH CHRYSLER JEEP (5500 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616, (919) 867-5907) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11382937

Incident

Nov 18, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER ST. LOUIS AUTO SALES LOCATED AT 2727 DELMAR BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63103, WAS CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 226,000.

NHTSA ID

11377928

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

Mileage

226,000 mi

HELLO YESTERDAY I LEFT WORK WASN'T IN MY TRUCK FOR 5 MINUTES AND IT STARTED SMOKING WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT AND I SEEN ANTIFREEZE SPRAY EVERYWHERE I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENGINE LOCKED ON ME OR THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN EITHER WAY WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS ALSO BEFORE THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT RAINS MY TRUCK WILL SPIN IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS THE TIRES LOOK GOOD

NHTSA ID

11341817

Incident

Jul 27, 2020

Mileage

11,400 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL, HUB ASSEMBLY AXLE BEARING FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE OFF. COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SERIOUSLY DANAGED

NHTSA ID

11322213

Incident

Apr 23, 2020

Mileage

157,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 10/2019. SINCE THEN I HAVE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP FOR VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR AT A STOP, LET ALONG WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP. THEN RPM'S DROP! I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THIS, WITH MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IN CAR!!! THE SHOP I'VE TAKEN TO CAN NOT FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. GRANTED WE TRIED REPLACING HOSES, VALVE GASKETS TUNE UP. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIND AND FIX THIS BEFORE A SERIOUS INJURY HAPPENS. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART. THE STREETS AND ROADS I HAVE TO TRAVEL ARE USUALLY ALWAYS BUSY. ALSO THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS SLIDE BACK AND FORTH, THEY ARE NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL SAFE... FOR I BELIEVE THE RULES ARES TO CHECK MIRRORS, ADJUST SEATING, WEAR SEAT BELTS TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL BE DRIVING SAFELY. I COULD BE WRONG BUT I'M PRETTY POSITIVE. NEEDS FIXING NOW!! THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE HOSES... THEY SEEM TO FALL OFF AND I TAKE INTO SHOP JUST TO HEAR ITS THE HOSE AGAIN. NOT COUNTING NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES LIKE WINDOWS NOT ROLLING DOWN SOME DAYS, REAR HEATER DOESN'T WORK UNLESS THE FRONT HEATER IS OFF. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A DODGE FAN BUT I THINK WITH ALL THESE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE I'LL BE CHECKING OUT OUT DODGE AND MOVING TO SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY DOESN'T HAVE OVER 6 RECALLS ON THE VEHICLES AND MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE DODGE HAS HAD AND THAT I'VE JUST READ.

NHTSA ID

11297845

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

Mileage

1 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND FELT IT THROUGH THE DRIVESHAFT. IN ADDITION, THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LAKE CITY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (4325 W US HWY 90, LAKE CITY, FL 32055, (386) 755-3444) TO VERIFY THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,297.

NHTSA ID

11288916

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

164,297 mi

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF AT A VERY FAST RAT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE OK. EVER SINCE THESE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH. I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW MECHANICS AND HAVE HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS. I CAN'T INVEST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS ON MAYBE S. PLEASE HELP. MILLAGE IS 126000

NHTSA ID

11281410

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS 'ON ' ON DASHBOARD, HAD TO TAKE TO SERVICE STATION TO GET IT CHECKED OUT , THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE . ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON , CODE IS FOR EVAP LEAK , CHANGED THE GAS CAP , CHECKED HOSES , LIGHT REMAINS AFTER BEING CLEARED.

NHTSA ID

11150803

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DESERT 215 SUPERSTORE (8030 RAFAEL RIVERA WAY, LAS VEGAS, NV, (702) 963-8000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY MODULE COMPARTMENT NEEDED REPLACEMENT; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART COULD BE PURCHASED ONLINE AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11104724

Incident

Jun 19, 2018

THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS A UNIVERSAL JOINT WHICH CLICKS WHENEVER MAKING A TURN AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BIND AND THEN RELEASE SUDDENLY WHICH CAUSES A DEGREE OF CONFUSION AND IF NOT REPAIRED COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT THROUGH THE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROLL OR THE VEHICLE BY SEPARATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS CLICKING, BINDING AND SUDDEN RELEASE WITH A DEGREE OF CONFUSION HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS INCLUDING WHILE SITTING STILL!

NHTSA ID

11080873

Incident

Mar 20, 2018

Mileage

171,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL SAID VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IMPROPERLY PULLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THEREWAS A DISABLING ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED AND BURNED,PARTIALLY, THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS MEDICAL AND PHOTO DOCUMENTATION.

NHTSA ID

11062838

Incident

Aug 3, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

THIS ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY: VEHICLE IS PARKED: POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK ALL DOORS, VEHICLES STARTS FINE BUT "SERVICE 4X4" APPEARS ON THE CLUSTER, ALL DOME LIGHTS STAY ON, CLUSTER LIGHTS (GAGE'S ETC.) DO NOT LIGHT UP, NO EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORK (I.E HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, BRAKE AND SO ON). VEHICLE WILL NOT RETURN TO NORMAL STATE UNTIL I DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES ON DIFFERENT DAYS. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN A DAY OF EACH INSTANT, OTHER TIMES IT WILL GO A MONTH AND THEN DO IT AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11003484

Incident

Jun 10, 2017

Mileage

184,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL"ON JANUARY 2017 MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO. BECAME A BLAZE UNDER MY CARPORT. ATTACH TO MY HOME. CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS TO MY HOME AND VEHICLE. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE APRIL OF 2003 BRAND NEW. AT LIBERTY CHRYSLER DOGGE JEEP. IN HINESVILLE GEORGIA. THIS HAPPENED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:25 A.M. ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 27TH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DROVEN SINCE A PROMPTLY 9 THE NIGHT BEFORE. AFTER THE FIGHT ILEARN THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS THE RECALL# 06V339000. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS RECALL BY MAIL OR PHONE.

NHTSA ID

10992402

Incident

Jan 27, 2017

Mileage

200,230 mi

REAR AIR DONT WORK FROM HEAT TO COLD . TURN HEAD LIGHTS ON THE PARKS LIGHTS DONT WORK

NHTSA ID

10983155

Incident

Dec 13, 2016

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED DOWN INTO AN EMBANKMENT, STRUCK TWO SMALL TREES, AND COLLIDED WITH A LARGER TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE COLLAPSED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10978822

Incident

Apr 7, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

REPORTING CRASH AND RESULTING FIRE OF VEHICLE FOR SAFETY INVESTIGATION. PLEASE INQUIRE OF OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THE CRASH OCCURRED ON M-24, NEAR OAKWOOD RD., AT 12:17 A.M. ACCORDING TO AN INFORMATION SHEET RELEASED BY THE OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA, DRIVEN BY A 28-YEAR-OLD SANDUSKY, MICHIGAN WOMAN, WAS HEADED SOUTH IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF M-24 WHEN IT HIT A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE DURANGO WAS DRIVEN BY A 19-YEAR-OLD OXFORD TOWNSHIP WOMAN. 'ALCOHOL USE BY THE DRIVER OF THE CHEVROLET IS BELIEVED TO BE A FACTOR IN THIS CRASH,' THE INFORMATION SHEET STATED. 'A SEARCH WARRANT FOR BLOOD WAS OBTAINED AND RESULTS ARE PENDING.' FOLLOWING THE IMPACT, THE DURANGO FLIPPED ONTO ITS SIDE AND CAUGHT FIRE, HOWEVER, TWO CITIZENS WERE ABLE TO EXTRICATE THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

NHTSA ID

10938963

Incident

Dec 31, 2016

CHIEF COMPLAINT: PURCHASED VEHICLE USED WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES ON IT. HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ENGINE/ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHICH REQUIRE ME TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS AND ENGINE COILS ABOUT EVERY 50,000 MILES. I HAVE DONE THIS THREE TIME IN THE LAST SIX YEARS COSTING ME ABOUT 900+ EACH VISIT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS FOR OPINIONS. I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING MISFIRING AGAIN. REPAIRED AGAIN ONE AT A TIME AS WELL AS SOME SPONTANEOUS OCCURRENCES THAT WERE VERY FRIGHTENING. FOR EXAMPLE: WIND SHIELD WIPERS GOING CRAZY, LIGHTS BLINKING, DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, WINDOWS ROLLING THEM SELVES DOWN AT NIGHT, HORN BLARING WHEN TURNING ON HEAD LIGHTS, AND THE BEST ONE RANDOM SMALL ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE A FAULTY TIPM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT BEING ON YEAR OUT OF THE DOCUMENTED RECALL YEAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE MADE RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10926871

Incident

Nov 17, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

HUB OR BALL JOINTS

NHTSA ID

10917719

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

THE SPARE TIRE WINCH ON MY VEHICLE FAILED AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL TO THE PAVEMENT. IN MY CASE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ALMOST SURELY RESULTED. THE SPARE TIRE ON THESE VEHICLES IS QUITE LARGE AND HEAVY AND COULD CAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IF HIT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SPARE TIRE WINCH USES A STRANDED STEEL CABLE TO LIFT AND LOCK THE SPARE TIRE UP AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLES FRAME. THIS STRANDED STEEL CABLE FAILED RIGHT WHERE IT PASSED THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE RIM. THIS STRANDED STEEL CABLE IS GOING TO FAIL EVENTUALLY ON EVERY DODGE TRUCK THAT USED THIS DESIGN OF WINCH. EVERYONE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. CHRYSLER HAS USED THIS DESIGN IN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE 90S OR BEFORE. IT AMAZES ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE OF THE WINCH. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED MANY INSTANCES OF THE SPARE TIRE FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CABLE FAILING.

NHTSA ID

10917445

Incident

Aug 7, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

WE TOOK THE VEHICLE WAS TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TOP AND BOTTOM BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10908177

Incident

Sep 20, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TRUCK WILL NOT GO INTO PARK.

NHTSA ID

10899370

Incident

Oct 16, 2015