2016 Dodge Durango Electrical Problems
32 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Owner Complaints (32)
Your vehicle sometimes displays a "Shift to P before changing gears" error message while driving, which causes the car to stop accelerating and may require a complete restart to shift into Drive again. This can happen unexpectedly in traffic, creating a dangerous situation. Dealers and mechanics have been unable to consistently replicate or identify the underlying cause, though the shifter has been inspected without obvious problems.
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While driving, your Durango's engine shut off without warning and the steering wheel stopped responding. The vehicle wouldn't restart until about an hour later, but the same problem happened again. You took it to multiple dealers (at least 5) and they all diagnosed a failed TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module), but even after repeated repairs, the engine kept shutting off and steering kept locking up. This appears to be related to a known electrical system issue that Dodge has issued a recall for.
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Your vehicle has stalled while driving twice, causing loss of power steering and braking that made it difficult to stop and steer. The instrument panel displays a "Shift to Park" message during these incidents. You're also experiencing multiple electrical issues including a radio screen that freezes, Bluetooth that randomly disconnects and turns volume up on its own, A/C activating unexpectedly in winter, and a non-functional rear brake light. Additionally, three tires keep losing air despite new tires and replaced valve stems twice in 14 months, and the hood and liftgate show rust damage that the dealer won't cover under warranty. A full electrical system diagnostic and inspection of the fuel delivery or ignition system may be needed to identify why the vehicle stalls, along with evaluation of the tire pressure monitoring system.
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Your vehicle is unexpectedly shifting into park while you're driving, forcing you to stop and restart the car to continue. This has created dangerous situations and remains unfixed even after the dealership replaced the alternator and battery. The problem likely involves the transmission control system or electrical connections that signal the transmission, which may require diagnostic testing and possible replacement of transmission sensors or wiring.
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Your vehicle is shutting off while you're driving, and the ignition button is moving to the accessory position without you touching it. When this happens, your dashboard displays a message telling you to press the brake and put the vehicle in park. This is occurring frequently, happening every couple of trips. The issue likely involves the ignition switch or electrical connections that control the engine's power supply.
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Your rear license plate light has stopped working because water has gotten inside the LED light assembly and caused rust and wire damage. This is a widespread problem affecting multiple Durango owners, and the dealer is charging over $1,100 to replace the entire light unit. Your vehicle may fail its state safety inspection until this is fixed.
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Your car's F13 fuse keeps blowing and melting inside the fuse box, creating a burning electrical smell. When this happens, certain components like the blower motor stop working, but your dashboard warning lights don't alert you to the problem. The fix will likely involve identifying what's drawing excessive current to that fuse and replacing either the fuse, the affected component, or the wiring causing the overload.
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Your Dodge Durango may have trouble starting, especially after you've been driving for a while, and sometimes takes a long time to start. You might also notice a fuel smell when the vehicle is struggling to start. This issue is similar to problems from previous recalls involving the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) on other model years.
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The car will just turn off, requiring it be placed in park and restarted.
Portions of the rear LED taillight have shorted out due to water accumulation in the housing
ALTERNATOR HAS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION CAUSING A ALL SYSTEMS FAILURE. AFTER GOING TO MULTIPLE CERTIFIED DODGE MECHANICS THIS ISSUE IS STILL UNRESOLVED.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
'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
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
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.
WATER POOLING INSIDE THE RACETRACK TAIL LIGHTS.
WATER POOLING INSIDE THE RACETRACK TAIL LIGHTS, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FAIL.
THE REAR TAILLIGHT OR AS IT'S CALLED THE REAR RACETRACK LIGHT FILLS WITH WATER IN THE LOWER RIGHT AND LEFT CORNERS WHEN IT'S RAINING. THIS HAS CAUSED SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND NOW SOME OF THE LED HAVE SHORTED. VISIBILITY OF MY REAR LIGHTS HAS DECREASED BECAUSE OF THE MOISTURE INSIDE THE TAILLIGHT. ABOVE ISSUE CAN BE VERIFIED VIA THE FOLLOWING LINKS- HTTPS://WWW.DODGEDURANGO.NET/FORUMS/DURANGO-DISCUSSIONS-2014/42937-POLL-WATER-TAIL-LIGHT-2014-A.HTML HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DURANGO/2015/LIGHTS/EXTERIOR_LIGHTING.SHTML
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY/RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT (STRIP) BOTH "BLINK" WHEN RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS USED. ISSUE LINKED TO WATER/MOISTURE FOUND IN A COMPARTMENT UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS ADDRESSED BY THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP FEBRUARY 2018 BY DISCONNECTING, CLEANING, AND REASSEMBLING THE MENTIONED COMPARTMENT AND ITS ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. AS OF FEBRUARY 2019, THE MENTIONED "DUAL BLINKING" RETURNED.
PLEASE ADD TO #11183410. LOST COMPLETE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CENTER TRACK LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO INCLUDE REVERSE LIGHTS. THIS IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE!
THE REAR TAILLIGHT OR AS IT'S CALLED THE REAR 'RACETRACK' LIGHT FILLS WITH WATER WHEN IT'S RAINING. THIS HAS CAUSED SOME ELECTRIC ISSUES AND NOW SOME OF THE LED HAVE SHORTED. VISIBILITY OF MY REAR LIGHTS HAS DECREASED BECAUSE OF THE MOISTURE INSIDE THE TAILLIGHT, AND IT'S ONLY MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ALL OF THE REMAINING LED BULBS ARE SHORTED OUT AS WELL.
TAIL LIGHT BAR ACROSS BACK COLLECTS WATER (BAD SEALS). NOW HAS SHORTED OUT AND TAIL LIGHT BAR AND TAG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY
THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! THE REPAIR SHOP "FIXED" THE ISSUE BUT THE DAY I DROVE HOME IT DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND I HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE REPAIR LASTED MAYBE 6 MONTHS? THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE SERVICE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT PROVIDING A RENTAL AND COVERING THE REPAIRS. I CANNOT BE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING! WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE GOING 70 MPH TO WORK IN AUSTIN?! I'M NOT WRECKING AND DIEING BECAUSE OF A LEMON CAR WITH SAFETY ISSUES
NOTICED WATER IN BOTH SIDES OF TAILLIGHT LENS OF TAILGATE. HAD TRUCK IN FOR OIL CHANGE AT DEALER AND SHOWED SVC MANAGER WATER. REPAIR TECH FOUND "STRESS CRACK" IN TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY ALLLOWING WATER TO INFILTRATE TAILLLIGHT LENS. SVC MANAGER SAID "STRESS CRACK" COULD BE CAUSED BY CLOSING TAILGATE. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE, IE.,AS IN TAILGATE BEING HIT OR IN AN ACCIDENT.
THE FIRST TIME I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE IN THE LEFT LANE, WITH CARS COMING UP BEHIND US OVER 85 MPH, AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND THE CAR DIED. AFTER AN AWFUL MESS DODGE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS ON THE RADIO AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THEY CALLED ME TO PICK IT UP AND AS I DROVE IT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME ISSUE WAS HAPPENING AND THE CAR ALMOST DIED AGAIN. NOW MY CAR SCREEN AND RADIO WILL NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. DODGE CAN'T SUPPLY ME WITH A RENTAL, AND MY HUSBAND IS IN THE MILITARY AND I AM PREGNANT. THEY WERE USELESS ON THE PHONE AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IN MY VEHICLE!!
MY CAR IS 16 MONTHS OLD, LEASED FOR 3 YEARS. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS SUCH AS CAMERA NOT WORKING PROPERLY, LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF INSIDE THE CAR, SOFTWARE IN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONING AND CREATING RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES ON THE SCREEN, AND TURN SIGNALS BURNING OUT WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE LIFE OF THE CAR HAPPENED VERY OFTEN. WERE REPORTED 2-3 TIMES TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP BUT NO RECORD WAS MADE FOR US AT THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH MECHANICS SHOWED US HOW TO MANUALLY RESET THE COMPUTER OURSELVES, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK IN FOR IT. THIS TIME THE CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP A FEW SECONDS AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. WHEELS LOCKED UP AT ABOUT 20MPH SPEED. THE IMPACT OF THE STOP CAUSED ME AND MY TWO TODDLERS TO FLY FORWARD SINCE THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK. MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS IN A CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT, SHE SCOOT FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, BUT MY SON WAS IN A TODDLER BOOSTER AND FLEW FORWARD DOWN THE MIDDLE ISLE ALL THE WAY TO MY FRONT SEAT. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR FLASHED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. CAR WAS BEEPING FOR A GOOD 2-3 MINUTES STRAIGHT. NONE OF THE BUTTONS WORKED! DOORS WERE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN, THE WINDOWS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT REACT TO THE BUTTONS. TOOK ME A GOOD FEW MINUTES TO GET THE CAR BACK TO FUNCTIONING, AND I DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY DOWN THE STREET TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT THIS CAR. AFTER 2 DAYS OF THE CAR BEING THERE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD FOUND NOTHING, REPLICATED NOTHING, AND THAT THE COMPUTER RECORDED NO CODES. WE CONTACTED DODGE CORPORATE, BUT WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE FOR US (BESIDES PAY THE 2 DAYS OF RENTAL CAR FEE WHILE THEY LOOKED AT OUR CAR). DODGE TOLD US CAR WAS "FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED" ALTHOUGH THEY CAN NOT GUARANTEE ITS SAFE TO DRIVE, THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. TOLD US THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE THEY CAN OPEN A CLAIM AGAIN. REFUSED TO SWAP THE CAR OUT, TOLD US NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DRIVER ASSIST ACCELERATED TWICE WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPOTS. IN BOTH CASES I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE ACCELERATION COMMENCED. ONLY BY STANDING ON THE BRAKE WHILE AT SAME TIME PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND PRESSING ENGINE OFF BUTTON WAS I ABLE TO STOP VEHICLES FORWARD MOTION. THE DURANGO CAME CLOSE TO RAMMING PARKED CAR IN THE SPACE IN FRONT OF THE ONE I WAS PULLING INTO. DURANGO HAD APPROX. 3000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN THE 2 INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATION OCCURRED. THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS, OCT 9 & 10, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROX. 6-8 HOURS STRAIGHT EACH DAY. PURCHASING DEALER WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY TO INFORM IT'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE 2 INCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN OUT OF AREA DEALER ON THE MORNING FOLLOWING 1ST INCIDENT. THEY READ THE FAULT CODES AND INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING REGISTERED OTHER THAN THE ECM HAD BROKEN CONTACT. UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF 2ND INCIDENT WE CUT SHORT OUR TRIP AND RETURNED TO OUR HOME SO THAT WE COULD TAKE VEHICLE TO PURCHASING DEALER, SUBURBAN CHRYSLER IN FARMINGTON HILLS MICHIGAN. AFTER TWO DAYS IN SERVICE THE REPORT THAT CAME BACK WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS ACCELERATION COULD OCCUR DURING A MORE PROBLEMATIC SITUATION WHERE ABILITY TO CONTROL DURANGO WILL BE LIMITED WHICH COULD RESULT IN BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. LETTERS OF RECORD HAVE BEEN SENT TO [XXX], CEO DODGE, AND [XXX], SERVICE MGR AT SUBURBAN CHRYSLER IN FARMINGTON HILLS MI. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF BRAKE & GAS PEDDLES TO SHOW THERE RELATION TO A WEATHER TECH WHICH THE DEALER HAS SUGGESTED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THERE WERE 2 MORE OCCURRENCES. DASH BOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLANK DURING LAST OCCURRENCE. CONSUMER BELIEVES FAILURE IS RELATED TO A CRUISE CONTROL RECALL.*DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *TR *JS
AFTER PURCHASE, IMMEDIATELY WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING, THEN A REAR LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING. TOOK IN FOR RECALL ON ANOTHER PART AND THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL, WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING AT LIGHTS. LIGHTS ON DASH, RADIO, HEADLIGHTS, ETC, NOT WORK PROPERLY OR ALL SUDDEN DECIDE NOT TO WORK AT ALL. WE'VE TAKEN IT BACK NOW 5 TIMES. MECHANIC SAYS THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS IS BAD AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED, BUT CONTINUES TO SAY THEY CALLED CHRYSLER FOR PARTS TO TRY TO REPAIR. WHILE MY 83 YRS OLD DAD WHO BOUGHT THE CAR, LEFT SITTING AT THE DEALER FOR 4-5 HOURS EVERY TRIP AND NO RENTAL VEHICLE AVAILABLE FROM ENTERPRISE OR HERTZ. AFTER SITTING THERE 5 HOURS TODAY, WE HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE. THIS TIME, WE ARE READY TO CALL ATTORNEY FOR LEMON LAW IN MISSOURI.