Owners have reported 9 crashes and 4 injuries to NHTSA for the 2018 Dodge Durango. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints74
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several electrical issues with the 2018 Dodge Durango, notably involving the infotainment system and water intrusion into lighting components. Complaints frequently mention the touchscreen exhibiting erratic behavior, such as changing radio stations and activating functions without input, often attributed to screen delamination. Water intrusion into the rear lighting, particularly the "racetrack" lights, is commonly described, leading to non-functional brake lights and potential safety hazards. These problems typically emerge around 60,000 to 84,000 miles, with some instances of repeated failures. Safety implications include the risk of accidents due to lighting failures and driver distraction from infotainment malfunctions, though no crashes are reported in this dataset.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints40
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Owners report frequent issues with the 2018 Dodge Durango's rear racetrack lighting, often linked to water intrusion. Complaints frequently mention that water accumulates inside the tailgate light housing, leading to electrical shorts and failure of the LED lights and license plate lights. This issue is commonly reported at mileages ranging from 44,000 to 83,000 miles, with some owners noting the problem after car washes or during cold weather. Safety implications include reduced rear visibility and the potential for brake lights and backup cameras to become inoperable, which can increase the risk of rear-end collisions. Buyers should be aware that repair costs can exceed $1,000, and multiple owners describe the issue as a design flaw not covered by warranty.
Owner complaints14
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango frequently report issues related to the braking system, particularly involving the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) and Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) modules. Common symptoms include ABS and ESC warning lights, brake pedal malfunctions such as locking or requiring excessive force, and unexpected automatic braking alerts. Several complaints highlight unresolved recall repairs, with parts often unavailable or repairs marked complete despite persistent issues. Mileage at the time of complaints varies, with some issues reported as early as 9,000 miles. One crash is noted where the brakes failed to respond, resulting in a rear-end collision, indicating potential safety concerns for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints13
POWER TRAIN
Owners report that the 2018 Dodge Durango often experiences power train issues, with symptoms including the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into neutral, failing to start, and losing power while driving. Complaints frequently mention transmission slipping, gear shift becoming stuck, and electrical failures affecting the power train. These issues are observed across a range of mileages, from as low as 300 miles to over 170,000 miles. Safety implications are noted, such as vehicles stalling on highways and rolling forward when in park, which could lead to potential accidents. Buyers should be aware that these problems may occur under various conditions, including wet weather, and may involve both mechanical and electrical components.
Owner complaints11
ENGINE
Owners report frequent engine issues with the 2018 Dodge Durango, particularly involving camshaft and lifter failures, which are often linked to misfires and increased valvetrain noise. Symptoms typically include flashing check engine lights, loss of power, and engine shaking, with some owners noting these problems arise around 47,000 to 120,000 miles. Head gasket failures are also mentioned, leading to coolant leaks and potential engine overheating. Safety implications include the risk of sudden power loss during driving, which could pose hazards in traffic. Prospective buyers should be aware that these issues are reported across both the 3.6L V6 and the 6.4L HEMI engines, with some complaints indicating metal debris contamination necessitating full engine replacements.
Owner complaints7
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango frequently report issues with air bag systems, particularly with headrests deploying unexpectedly. Multiple complaints describe headrests deploying without impact, both while driving and when the vehicle is parked, with at least one incident resulting in injury. Additionally, there are reports of air bags failing to deploy during crashes, including one at highway speeds, leading to injuries in some cases. These issues are noted at low mileages, around 5,000 to 6,000 miles. Potential buyers should be aware of these air bag system concerns, as they involve crashes and injuries.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints6
SUSPENSION
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango frequently report issues with the suspension system, particularly involving blown rear shocks and struts. Symptoms described include knocking and clunking noises, increased body roll, and rear-end sway, especially noticeable at highway speeds. Complaints often mention these issues occurring around 20,000 to 50,000 miles. One report involves a crash with an injury due to the vehicle failing to stop, resulting in a rollover after hitting a concrete ditch. Additionally, some owners note long delays for replacement parts, with shocks and struts on backorder, impacting the vehicle's drivability.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango frequently report issues with sudden, unintended acceleration, particularly when driving at low speeds or moving from a stop, as described in two separate incidents involving crashes. These complaints often involve the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating while the driver is attempting to brake or shortly after shifting from neutral to drive. Additionally, one owner describes a delay in acceleration from a stop, while another mentions the vehicle's speed increasing unexpectedly when using adaptive cruise control. The issues are reported at various mileage points, with one owner experiencing problems shortly after acquiring the vehicle. The unintended acceleration has resulted in property damage and poses potential safety risks, especially in confined spaces or at higher speeds.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango frequently report issues with refueling, as the gas pump repeatedly shuts off prematurely, making it difficult to fill the tank. Symptoms described include the need to reset the pump frequently, fuel spilling onto the ground, and having to manipulate the fuel nozzle by holding it upside down to continue fueling. These issues are noted by some owners as occurring as early as within the first 22,000 miles of ownership. No complaints mention crashes, fires, or loss of control related to these refueling difficulties. Potential buyers should be aware of these fueling challenges when considering this model.
Owner complaints3
STEERING
Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango report steering issues primarily related to handling and control. One complaint describes a severe loss of control in wet conditions, resulting in a crash where the vehicle hydroplaned and airbags did not deploy as expected. Another owner mentions intermittent problems with the vehicle not turning as intended during right turns, despite recalibration efforts. These issues appear at varying mileages, with one report noting problems at around 10,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with reports of hydroplaning and steering failures leading to potential loss of vehicle control.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
