2016 Dodge Durango Electrical Problems

We had an issue with an error message in the middle of driving that stopped the acceleration of the vehicle, this seems to be common, looking at forums online. The inspection request is acceptable. The message we receive is "Shift to P before changing gears". The vehicle will stop in the middle of traffic and sometimes require a complete restart before being able to shift to drive. This has put myself, my wife, and two children in immense danger as the vehicle can stop at any point in time in oncoming traffic. We've taken it to a dealer who inspected the shifter and they didn't see any issues they couldn't replicate the issue happening. Two separate mechanic shops also cannot replicate this issue consistently. it hasn't been inspected these problems didn't have any warning messages prior to the problem occurring.

NHTSA ID

11697733

Incident

Sep 30, 2025

The Rear License Plate Light bulb (right) was out and I went to have the bulb replaced. I was quoted over $1100 from the dealer, as the LED racetrack lighting was not properly sealed and is collecting water. The collection of water within the light compartment has caused corrosion within, and the wiring to disintegrate. This is a commonly known, yet not addressed safety issue by DODGE. My vehicle will not pass the MA Safety Inspection at the end of the month. I have read on-line many, many complaints, as well as have spoken to other Durango owners who have experienced this same problem. I have already replaced the racetrack lighting ONCE on this vehicle due to water collection and the brake lights not properly working. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

11677230

Incident

Jul 17, 2025

Electrical issues involving specific fuses in the vehicle where the f13 fuse constantly fries and melts into the fuse box. Causing an electrical burning smell. No warning lights come on. Certain aspects of the car stop working like the blower motor.

NHTSA ID

11632805

Incident

May 20, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shut off and the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle failed to restart, and the contact waited for approximately 1 hour later and the vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a TIPM failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to approximately 5 different dealers where it was diagnosed with the same failure. The vehicle was repaired approximately 5 times however, the failure recurred each time. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact discovered the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V530000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11588950

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

Mileage

98,000 mi

Was driving and the vehicle stalled well driving, Had a hard time trying to stop and could barley steer the vehicle. Vehicle was flashing shift to park. This has happened two times to me now and I took it to the dealership and it happened to them as well. The radio screen sometimes doesn't light up and it will freeze and won't let you do anything, when cell phone is connected via blue tooth it will disconnect and then reconnect and randomly turn the volume all the way up and music will start playing, A/C will randomly kick on when I didn't have it on due to it being winter time and use only the heat now. rear brake light the race bar part of it is out and Mopar won't replace, Hood of the vehicle has rust bubbles and the lift gate has rust, I asked Mopar about the warranty and they said I missed the expiration date and they would not cover it. Three of the tires keep losing air and I am now on my second set of tires in a year and two months, Valve stems replaced two times as well.

NHTSA ID

11562556

Incident

Nov 18, 2023

Vehicle is going into park while driving, when it does that I have to come to a stop and restart the vehicle. I almost got into an accident and I’m scared for my life driving this. The dealership charged me to change the alternator, the batteries and I still have the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11557409

Incident

Sep 27, 2023

Intermittent start/stop, or extended start after driving for extended time. Vehicle fuel smell during if vehicle goes into an extended start mode. I have complained to Dodge about this problem. There was a previous recall on older and newer vehicles for TIPM module which caused similar symptoms I'm experiencing.

NHTSA ID

11550084

Incident

Oct 15, 2023

VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION BUTTON GOES TO ACC. THE CLUSTER BOARD THEN SAYS TO PRESS BRAKE AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY COUPLE TRIPS

NHTSA ID

11522749

Incident

May 18, 2023

The car will just turn off, requiring it be placed in park and restarted.

NHTSA ID

11443486

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

3 malfunctions within a month time frame. The car will start and run normally. Then it will suddenly come to a halt because the engine will continue to run but the transmission knob will not be able to move, and the entire electrical panel lights up. Repeated attempts to use the push button start to unlock the transmission knob and be able to start car fail. This has happened 2 of the 3 times on major roadways in traffic. PD was called for last incident. The car has been to the dealer 3 times, dealer is unable to replicate problem and unable to pull codes from computer every single time. Vehicle has been inspected by dealer every single time. No warning lights or lamp or messages have appeared prior to this issue. The last incident - as described on major roadway - my children were in vehicle. This is a complete and dangerous issue, still not being addressed. The car had come to a light, stopped, the auto engine had kicked in, and when time to move, the entire panel lit up and transmission knob locked once again.

NHTSA ID

11433548

Incident

Sep 19, 2021

Portions of the rear LED taillight have shorted out due to water accumulation in the housing

NHTSA ID

11432375

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

ALTERNATOR HAS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION CAUSING A ALL SYSTEMS FAILURE. AFTER GOING TO MULTIPLE CERTIFIED DODGE MECHANICS THIS ISSUE IS STILL UNRESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11414074

Incident

Apr 8, 2021

DURANGO STALLED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. UNABLE TO START AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THE ISSUES INVOLVES THE ALTERNATOR AND IT HAS AFFECTED THE BATTERY AND WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THE PCM WAS AFFECTED. MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT HE WORKED ON THE SAME YEAR CHRYSLER AND HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, BUT THE ALTERNATOR IN THAT MODEL WAS RECALLED. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER ALTERNATOR ISSUES SIMILAR TO MINE WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND AM WONDERING WHY HAVEN'T THESE ALTERNATORS BEEN RECALLED IF ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE BY CHRYSLER HAS A RECALL BUT THE DURANGO DOES NOT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS UP TO AN INTERSECTION AND ONCE STOPPED, IT SHUT OFF. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE AUTO START/STOP, BUT ENGINE DID NOT ENGAGE AND POWER STEERING WAS ALSO OUT. UNABLE TO START THERE AFTER.

NHTSA ID

11403752

Incident

Mar 18, 2021

Mileage

49,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 DODGE DURANGO LIMITED, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE (ABS) LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH AND SYSTEM WARNING WAS LIT UP. THEN THEY STARTED FLICKERING AND THEN THE VEHICLE DIED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY ROAD DURING PEAK TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERIES THINKING THAT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. I HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND IT IS GOOD. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND HAS BEEN SITTING EVER SENSE WITH NO POWER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS, BUT FOR A CAR TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DURING PEAK TRAFFIC IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE. PLUS I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 MONTHS

NHTSA ID

11366958

Incident

Sep 12, 2020

Mileage

122,000 mi

VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION BUTTON GOES TO ACC. THE CLUSTER BOARD THEN SAYS TO PRESS BRAKE AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN IT WAS PERIODICALLY BUT NOW HAPPENING ON EVERY TRIP.

NHTSA ID

11362368

Incident

Oct 2, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY TAILLIGHTS HAVE A SHORTAGE WITH WATER IN IT AND MY TAILLIGHT ISN'T FLUSHED WITH THE BODY OF MY VEHICLE. GOT PULLED OVER BY LOUISIANA STATE POLICE BECAUSE OF LIGHT FLICKERING OFF AND ON.

NHTSA ID

11350163

Incident

Aug 16, 2020

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY CAR STALLED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER. IT WOULD NOT MOVE, ALL KINDS OF THINGS STARTED GOING OFF ON THE DASH AND CODES . WE HAD TO PULL THE GEAR SHIFT RELEASE TO GET IT IN N TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE ROAD. IT LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T EVEN START HAD TO JUMP IT OFF AND REPLACED THE BATTERIES STILL NOTHING, ALTERNATOR AND EVERYTHING ELSE TESTED GOOD. NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NO HELP! I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THIS CAR FOR 30 DAYS YET. I HAVE VIDEO I CAN SEND OF WHAT IT'S DOING. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330207

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I HAD TO SHIFT TO PARK AND RESTART THE TRUCK, THEN SHIFT TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE.

NHTSA ID

11297917

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING, SERVICE ELECTRIC STABILITY, AND CONTROL SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE GEAR IN PARK, BUT IT DID NOT RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MOSS MOTOR COMPANY (1000 S CEDAR AVE, SOUTH PITTSBURG, TN 37380, (423) 837-7114), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND WERE STILL WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WAS UPDATED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO AT THE SAME DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A LEMON. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

NHTSA ID

11288829

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

'TAKATA RECALL' PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT SAID THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR. IT ALWAYS HAPPEN WHENEVER IM RUNNING IN FREEWAY. IT'S LIKE SHIFTING AND WHENEVER I PUT IT ON REVERSE I GET STUCK ON NEUTRAL WHENEVER I SWITCH IT TO DRIVE OR PARK I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR TO MAKE IT WORK AGAIN

NHTSA ID

11223166

Incident

Jun 25, 2019

Mileage

53,348 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES BATTERY GETS WORN OUT AND AFTER BUYING 2 BATTERIES I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE COULD BE IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING NO MATTER THE SPEED IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AND IT STALLED ON HER ALMOST MADE HER CRASH IN THE HIGHWAY!!!!!THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ALREADY WE ARE JUST NOT DRIVING IT AT ALL

NHTSA ID

11208749

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

20 mi

2016 DODGE DURANGO. THE TAILGATE LIGHTS GETS WATER IN THEM EVERY TIME IS RAINS. THE BULBS BURN OUT AND YOU CAN'T REPLACE THE BULBS YOURSELF. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS PAYING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE BACK LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11205968

Incident

Apr 19, 2019

WATER POOLING INSIDE THE RACETRACK TAIL LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11205541

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

WATER POOLING INSIDE THE RACETRACK TAIL LIGHTS, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID

11205534

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

PLEASE ADD TO #11183410. LOST COMPLETE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CENTER TRACK LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO INCLUDE REVERSE LIGHTS. THIS IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE!

NHTSA ID

11183572

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

58,500 mi