2002 Dodge Durango — Known Issues & Recalls

Your front wheel hub has needed replacement 12 times, but your vehicle isn't covered under any official recall. This suggests a recurring problem with the hub assembly that keeps failing prematurely. The repair likely involves removing the wheel and replacing the entire hub unit with a new one.

Your Durango's wheel hub has needed replacement 8 times since you purchased it in 2018, even though the vehicle isn't subject to a recall for this issue. This suggests a recurring problem with the hub assembly that keeps failing prematurely. The repair will likely involve removing the wheel and replacing the entire hub assembly or its internal bearings.

Your hub unit broke while driving, causing the car to move very slowly and your steering to feel off. You heard a loud clanking noise right after starting a left turn, and then the hub unit failed completely. The repair will likely involve replacing the wheel hub assembly, which supports your wheel and allows it to rotate properly.

Your steering wheel has excessive play and feels very loose, even after replacing the tie rod ends. The exact cause hasn't been identified yet, but this loose steering can make your vehicle difficult to control and should be inspected by a mechanic to find the underlying problem.

Your gear shift is getting stuck in Park and won't move into Drive when you start the vehicle. After jiggling the shift lever for 1-3 minutes, you hear a click and it starts working again—this has happened 3 times in two weeks. A recall was issued in 2007 for this exact problem (a faulty ignition/park shift interlock system), but you never received the notice. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing or replacing the shift interlock mechanism.

Your steering wheel is positioned unevenly, making it difficult to steer your vehicle. This issue occurred while the car was parked and was noticed at 100,000 miles. The problem may involve realigning the steering column or checking the steering intermediate shaft for damage or misalignment.

While driving, your steering wheel locks up and the engine shuts off completely—sometimes multiple times on the road. You've already replaced the camshaft sensor, but the problem persists. This is a serious safety issue because losing power steering and engine control while driving can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

Your Dodge Durango stalled suddenly without warning and wouldn't restart intermittently. A repair shop replaced the crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor, and ignition switch, but the vehicle still won't start afterward. The mechanic couldn't retrieve diagnostic codes and suspects the engine control module (PCM) or integrated power module (TIPM) may be faulty, or the wiring harness may need replacement—though that harness is no longer manufactured for your vehicle year. The fix will likely require replacing the PCM, TIPM, or finding a used wiring harness, along with further electrical diagnostics.

Your ABS (anti-lock braking system) has engaged twice while driving at 35-45 mph on city streets, but instead of helping you stop, it unlocked and caused your car to jump forward, preventing immediate braking. This nearly caused you to hit the car in front of you. The issue likely involves checking the ABS module, wheel speed sensors, or brake fluid condition to restore proper braking function.

Your brake pedal went all the way to the floor when you pressed it while driving at various speeds, and both rear wheels locked up. After waiting, you were able to continue driving, but a mechanic found that your brakes had failed completely and needed to be replaced. This is a critical safety issue that requires immediate brake system inspection and repair.

Your accelerator pedal became stuck while merging onto the freeway, causing your vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably to 80-85 mph despite releasing the gas pedal. Tapping the brakes had no effect, but you were eventually able to free the pedal by pulling it up with your foot. Since this initial incident, the pedal has stuck two more times, though less severely, even without towing a trailer. The issue may involve the accelerator pedal assembly or its cable mechanism becoming stuck or obstructed.

Your vehicle caught fire by the firewall shortly after you started the engine. The fire engulfed the vehicle completely. This is a serious fire hazard that requires immediate professional inspection to identify the source of the ignition.

Your car is stalling and shutting off while driving at any speed, causing it to lose power and become unresponsive to the gas pedal. The brakes become very hard when the engine stalls. This happened repeatedly during a short drive (stalling 7 times in 3 miles), making the vehicle unsafe to operate. The issue may be related to the fuel system's emissions control components, and a mechanic should inspect the fuel pump, fuel filter, and emission system purge valve.

Your blower motor and heating system wiring keeps overheating and melting whenever you use the low or medium fan settings, creating a serious fire hazard. You've had to replace the blower motor, resistor, and wiring harness multiple times, and you've noticed burning smells and melted plastic inside the unit. The problem appears to be an electrical fault in the blower motor circuit that causes excessive heat buildup on lower fan speeds. A technician will need to diagnose the root cause of the electrical overload—likely a faulty resistor, wiring issue, or defective motor—and replace the damaged components along with rewiring as needed.

Your front seats slide back and forth uncontrollably during acceleration, braking, and turns, sometimes moving enough to interrupt your contact with the gas and brake pedals. The seat belts aren't holding you in place during these movements, and the forward sliding can cause your body to hit the steering wheel during hard stops or your passenger's head to hit the windshield. This problem occurred again after a repair in 2015 that replaced the seat frame switch. A mechanic will need to inspect and likely repair or replace the seat track assembly and seat belt tensioning system to keep the seats secure.

Your gear shifter gets stuck in Park after starting the vehicle and won't move into other gears. You have to manipulate it repeatedly until it finally releases. This problem started a couple of months ago and happens intermittently. A temporary fix involves spraying lubricant on the gear lock mechanism under the shift column boot, but the underlying cause needs to be addressed to prevent it from happening again.

Your spare tire holder has corroded and caused the spare tire to detach without warning. This happened at around 92,000 miles. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the corroded spare tire holder bracket and securing the spare tire back in place.

Your headlights and interior lights are flickering on and off, making it unsafe to drive at night. This electrical issue prevents you from using your vehicle after dark. The repair will likely involve checking the alternator, battery, and electrical connections to restore stable power to the lighting system.

Your engine shut down unexpectedly while driving on the highway at 65 mph, forcing you to pull over. After waiting about 5 minutes, the engine started again when you turned the key. This type of stalling can indicate an electrical, fuel delivery, or ignition system issue that may need diagnostic testing to identify the root cause.

Your Durango is stalling without warning at any speed—while driving, idling, or even in park—and it happens randomly, sometimes multiple times during a short drive. When it stalls, you lose power steering and your gauges freeze, but the engine starts right back up without any problem or warning light. The dealership has been unable to diagnose the issue because the vehicle isn't producing any diagnostic codes, even when it stalls in front of them. You've already replaced the crankshaft position sensor without solving the problem, and the shop is suggesting a PCM (engine computer) replacement for $500-$900, which may or may not be the actual cause.