2021 Dodge Durango Owner Complaints

On XXX I had to have the rear window replaced as it shattered on Royal Palm Beach Community High School property in [XXX]. Earlier that morning before heading to work I stopped to get gas and cleaned the rear window at the XXX on the corner of [XXX]. When I went out to my car on break I noticed the rear window had a large hole in it. I contacted school police and they confirmed no one was near my car. I scheduled the fix and Safe Lite came to my work and replaced the windshield in the parking lot, under school surveillance [XXX]. My out of pocket cost was $50.00 which I put on my capital one credit card, even though I could ill afford it. In XXX my husband and I moved to [XXX], during one of the many 3.5 hour trips across the state, the ENTIRE REAR SPOILER ASSEMBLY DETACHED WHILE I WAS MERGING ONTO XXX. I did not know it at the time. Later I realized the assembly was no longer attached and there was a wire hanging down, getting hit by the wiper blade. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11766613

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while pulling up to the residence, there was a gurgling sound coming from the vehicle. While the vehicle was parked and turned off, the gurgling sound got louder. The contact's husband opened the trunk, and the coolant reservoir exploded. The dealer was contacted by phone. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,500.

NHTSA ID

11766455

Incident

Sep 22, 2026

Mileage

90,500 mi

The vehicle was involved in a collision that resulted in deployment of the frontal airbag system. After obtaining the vehicle following the collision, I observed what appears to be an abnormal deployment of the front passenger airbag. The driver frontal airbag deployed outward from the steering wheel into the driver occupant area. However, the front passenger airbag appears to have deployed underneath and/or inside the instrument panel rather than fully deploying outward into the front passenger occupant space. The passenger airbag is visibly located behind and underneath portions of the dashboard. During deployment, the upper passenger-side instrument panel was severely displaced and torn. A large portion of the dashboard was pushed upward toward the windshield, and the dashboard covering separated and tore near the windshield. The airbag itself appears to have remained substantially trapped or obstructed behind the instrument panel instead of fully presenting itself in front of the passenger seating position. This raises a serious safety concern because the purpose of the passenger frontal airbag is to provide occupant protection during a qualifying collision. Based on the condition observed after the crash, I am concerned that a passenger seated in this position may not have received the intended protection from the airbag because of the manner in which it deployed. The vehicle and the relevant components are currently available for inspection. Detailed photographs have been taken documenting the condition of the passenger airbag, instrument panel, dashboard damage, driver airbag deployment, and surrounding components. The vehicle has not been repaired in this area since I discovered the condition, and I am preserving the relevant components so they can be examined if requested. At this time, it is UNKNOWN whether there were any airbag/SRS warning lamps or warning messages before the collision because I was not the owner/operator of the vehicle when the collision

NHTSA ID

11765958

Incident

Feb 24, 2026

The driver side daytime running lamp no longer works after 55000 miles. The daytime running lamp (DRL) is an led light strip that requires the entire headlamp to be replaced. Anyone can inspect the issue at any time. The issue presents a risk to oncoming traffic who cannot see my entire vehicle especially at dawn / dusk and foggy days. The daytime running lamp is utilized to alert oncoming traffic and pedestrians that a car is approaching. The dodge dealership that I purchased the car from is aware of the issue and has neglected to resolve the issue. An independent auto mechanic has confirmed that the DRL is malfunctioning. There weren't any warning signs or messages. The light just shut off and has not turned back on. A new running lamp is $1200 and requires approximately $500 in labor to install. This is not an issue that is simply solved by changing out a $20 light bulb. The issue began about 2 months ago.

NHTSA ID

11761144

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

The vehicle’s manufacturer-installed infotainment system repeatedly displays an intrusive error message while the vehicle is being operated. The message obstructs the navigation display and requires the driver to manually interact with the touchscreen to dismiss it. This creates visual and manual driver distraction. The manufacturer/dealer has been notified at Carvana Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Sacramento.

NHTSA ID

11760767

Incident

Aug 30, 2026

Drivers side running light went out at 65k miles. Hundreds of complaints on same issue online. Not covered after bumper to bumper

NHTSA ID

11760600

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

Rear Spoiler Recall in 2022 on Dodge Durango GT. Recall was not fixed due to part not available. I opened my rear hatch on Monday August the 18th and the rear spoiler detached on the left side. I took it to Interstate Dodge in [XXX] on Tuesday XXX due to rear spoiler problem could raise risk of a crash. I called Stellantis who handles recalls to get them to pay for the repair and they stated that is the dealership decides to charge me or not and their is nothing they can do. I personally think the manufacturer should be held responsible and pay full repair cost due to it being a recall and they did not manufacture a repair part for this specific recall. The vehicle was inspected by Interstate Dodge during the recall but being there was no part to repair it nothing was done. If this would have happened while I was driving it someone could have been injured. The recall stated that it could come off while driving the vehicle or when opening the back hatch. Dodge headquarters should be responsible for the repair and not leave it up to the dealership to decide. The dealership is there to make money not help the consumer. I did speak to the service department at Interstate Dodge and they stated they would not honor the recall. The Stellantis department did try to contact the dealership but no one answered nor tried to contact them back. Stellantis even emailed the dealership and got not response. I think the dealership should honor the recall and fix it free of charge. The dealership has had my vehicle since XXX and still has not picked up the spoiler from where the had it painted. Supposedly they will pick it up today, XXX at 3:30 and attach the spoiler tomorrow before lunch for me to pick up. I have to pay in full when I pick the vehicle up. Can I be reimbursed for this after your office investigates this matter? Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11760124

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

The driver side headlight is malfunctioning causing the daytime running light to not work.

NHTSA ID

11759317

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

Driver side DRL went out at 50k miles.

NHTSA ID

11759314

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

Half my taillight went out randomly, causing only half of it to work at night.

NHTSA ID

11759312

Incident

Nov 30, 2025

My vehicle is 5 years old with 54,000 miles on its and my driver's side headlight has failed. The headlamps are LED and in order to repair them, the entire housing needs a replacement, not just a bulb. My headlights need to be operational in order to drive safely at night. I have an appointment with the dealership to confirm the issue. There were not any warnings or failure symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11759301

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

Drivers side running lights are not working. So you are forced to turn off daytime running lights or have one out. This seems to be a very common issue with dodge Durango for some reason.

NHTSA ID

11759284

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

It’s known that the DRL and race track tail lights go out faster than what they should. Also the tail lights once the lift gate is open on the edges of both sides are very sharp. My DRL on my 21 Durango with only 59k miles just went out. That is way to fast and the price to fix is insane

NHTSA ID

11759186

Incident

Aug 20, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding an ongoing headlight/turn signal failure on my 2021 Dodge Durango involving the factory LED turn signals that are sealed/encased within the headlight assemblies. The driver-side front LED turn signal failed first, and now the passenger-side front LED turn signal has also failed. Because these LED turn signals are integrated into the sealed headlight assemblies, this is not a simple situation where a standard turn signal bulb can be replaced. The failure can require replacement of the headlight assembly, making what should normally be a basic safety-related lighting repair significantly more expensive. I am concerned that this may be a widespread defect affecting Dodge vehicles equipped with this style of LED headlight/turn signal assembly, rather than normal wear. Both sides failing on the same vehicle raises concerns regarding the durability and expected service life of the integrated LED turn signal components. Turn signals are an important vehicle safety feature used to communicate a driver's intentions to other motorists and pedestrians. When an integrated LED turn signal fails, other drivers may not be able to clearly see that the vehicle is turning or changing lanes, increasing the potential for an accident. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate complaints involving premature failure of the integrated/encased LED turn signals and headlight assemblies on the 2021 Dodge Durango and other similarly equipped Dodge vehicles. If these failures are determined to be caused by a common defect in the LED components, wiring, electronics, or headlight assembly design, I believe the manufacturer should be required to provide an appropriate remedy rather than requiring vehicle owners to bear the expense of replacing complete headlight assemblies for failed safety lighting components.

NHTSA ID

11759145

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

There is a daytime running light (DRL) malfunction with both headlights, it started with the drivers side slowly going out and now the passenger side is slowly going out. This is happening to several Dodge Durango owners of the 2021 model and can be found in the Dodge Durango forum online. The dealer stated it’s an out of pocket expense because the DRL is out and the entire component needs replaced. This is inaccurate because when I turn off the DRL settings the turning signal flashes orange fast so this tells me it’s not completely out and the headlights themselves work. My car has been this way for over a year because I can’t afford to spend $1500+ per light replacement and for the dealer to claim it has to be an out of pocket expense is not okay because the point of LED lights are because they use less energy while lasting 25x as much so it doesn’t make sense that they stopped turning on versus the non LED. While driving around I’ve seen SEVERAL Dodge Durango with a DRL out or both or one out and the other half way out so this confirms it’s a manufacture issue. I came across forums of people with this issue and full extended warranty coverages where they’re being told it’s not covered. Dodge(Mopar) needs to address this for the consumer as it causes a safety issue when the left/right turning signals are not properly displayed. The car wouldn’t pass a safety test. Myself and several Dodge Durango owners are currently at risk of being in a car accident due to this malfunction. The full assembly does not need replaced. Please look this over and issue a safety recall as my family and I are at risk because I can’t afford a $3000 headlight replacement that isn’t even needed. That’s just the dealer and Mopar trying to make more $$$ while not worried about the safety of their customers.

NHTSA ID

11758224

Incident

Feb 5, 2025

Started having problems with the engine losing power and sputtering was told by a repair shop that the engine needs replaced it has been sitting since

NHTSA ID

11755126

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

Drivers side daytime running lights out. I’ve noticed about a dozen more dodge durangos running lights are also out. Seems to be a manufactured problem. A lot of forums and conversations on Reddit complaining of the same. It cost about 500 dollars to replace the headlight and takes all day due to dismantling the whole front bimper and plastic components to get access. A really bad design

NHTSA ID

11754067

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

The component that failed is the rear spoiler of the Durango. There is already a recall in place. The vehicle was inspected a few years ago and passed. Then, the issue happened where it fell off while driving, damaging the back hatch of the Durango. After speaking with the dealership, they refused to fix the problem because they stated they already checked the recall and it passed. But it's still a recall. And it fell off while I was driving almost damaging the vehicle behind me. In causing serious accident

NHTSA ID

11750152

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

My fuel pump went out without codes. My car stalled out on a highway while I was going 65 miles an hour with my baby in my car , and would not crank back up or go into neutral . No , it has not been to dealer it is broke down and I had to have it towed home. My husband is a mechanic and has thoroughly inspected all components, the fuel pump went out . No. This is a common problem in 2021 dodges and challengers . This is very dangerous for drivers on the highway . This issue should be fixed .

NHTSA ID

11749878

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

The vehicle had been parked and unused for approximately 24 hours. We drove it home after staying elsewhere overnight and arrived home about one hour before the incident. About an hour after parking, I asked my fiancé to retrieve our belongings from inside the vehicle. He immediately noticed smoke filling the interior of the vehicle. I opened the hood to try to determine where the smoke was coming from but did not see any visible fire. As I continued looking for the source of the smoke, the vehicle suddenly caught fire. Within approximately 10 minutes, the fire spread rapidly, completely destroying the vehicle and reducing it to a total loss. The flames then spread to my home, causing part of the house to catch fire. Thankfully, we discovered the smoke when we did. Had it gone unnoticed for even a short time longer, our entire house could have caught fire. Firefighters arrived just as the fire began spreading to the house and were able to prevent further damage. Thankfully, no one was injured.

NHTSA ID

11748841

Incident

Jun 19, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH downhill, the driver swerved to the left to avoid crashing into the vehicle ahead, and the vehicle struck a fire hydrant and then crashed into a pole, where the vehicle came to a stop. The fire hydrant detached, causing water to spread. The vehicle sustained severe front-end damage; however, the air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated after the crash. The driver’s head struck the steering wheel and sustained headaches and a swollen nose. The front seat passenger struck their head and had headaches. The driver did not seek medical assistance, and it was unknown whether the front passenger seat occupant had sought medical assistance. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location by the insurance company, pending an evaluation. The dealer and the manufacturer were not yet contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 7,700.

NHTSA ID

11747956

Incident

Jun 28, 2026

Mileage

7,700 mi

Rear racetrack style taillight assembly had faulty gaskets when purchased, allowing for water intrusion of the taillight assembly, causing water damage to the electrical components in the light assembly and shorting the LED Lights.

NHTSA ID

11746753

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

11740803

Incident

May 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver-side headlight would not illuminate during nighttime conditions. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as needing both front headlights to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA ID

11740337

Incident

May 13, 2026

Mileage

56,000 mi

The Driver side Daytime Running Light (DRL) has stopped working. This is not a replaceable bulb, an entire head lamp assembly must be purchased, its also not really a user replaceable item. It involves removing the from bumper cover an other body parts. Im reporting this because this is a common occurrence on 2021 and up model year Dodge Durango and Im hoping you get enough reports to force a recall. Lighting is required for safety, it should not be something thats so difficult and expensive to repair, AND it should not be happening so frequently on this specific DRL in this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11739953

Incident

May 10, 2026