KnownCarProblems2018 Dodge Durango Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 233 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Durango, most often about the electrical (37% of complaints, typically around 29,000 miles). It is 13th of 26 Durango model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2018 Dodge Durango problems
Electrical
87 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, starter assembly.
While drive my 2018 Dodge Durango on the fwy around 65+ the engine just turn off. With kids in the car we were stuck in the slow lane of the fwy unable to move the car. I tried restarting it with no luck. The car still had power(lights were on). The car wouldn't go into neutral .. The car had to be pulled off the road…
The rear tail-light system (covers entire rear of car) on my Dodge Durango started to leak due to an inadequate seal and the taillight system burned out in various spots. Once out it becomes much harder to see the rear of the vehicle and creates a very hazardous situation. This happened in the first year of ownership.…
Lights
56 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: tail lights.
The racetrack light bar (attached to the deck lid) has gotten water inside it, (it was this way when I bought it) and now the light is no longer working. This is a common problem on the Dodge Durango, as I have seen multiple people who are having this problem.
Water leaking into rear liftgate lamp(racetrack light) shorted out about 6 inches of the LED lower left side. Removed water through mounting screw hole. Vehicle was stationary however water entered while driving in rain also
Other or unspecified
32 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 24,000 miles.
I was in a drive thru restaurant and once I finished my ordered I was going to pull forward, but when I pushed the gas my car wouldn't move forward. So I looked down at my gearshift and it was blinky on drive mode, then I put my car on park turned it off my car then turned it back on and I was able to move forward.…
This has happened multiple times to me and has recently become a daily struggle. I seem to believe the electrical panel behind the dash may have a shortage of some sort. I can be stationed at a light or moving and my screen displaying the odometer will completely turn white. Some times it slowly fades away and other…
Engine
28 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles.
While drive my 2018 Dodge Durango on the fwy around 65+ the engine just turn off. With kids in the car we were stuck in the slow lane of the fwy unable to move the car. I tried restarting it with no luck. The car still had power(lights were on). The car wouldn't go into neutral .. The car had to be pulled off the road…
Vehicle would not start after sitting 45 minutes. Started after jump and died again next day. Recharged battery and it worked scan tool had three codes dead battery fog light switch and drivers door switch second issue is oil in the air box which the dealer is trying to resolve with a pcv valve. However this vehicle…
Brakes
26 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles.
Our Dodge Durango gt, has developed a loud pop sound when coming to a full stop. I took it to ancira Dodge in san antonio, they advised me the calipers are hitting brake pads and there is nothing they can do. I feel this is a safety issue and Dodge again does not want to help. Our truck has barely 21,787 miles and I'm…
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle that was 20 feet away from his vehicle stopped. The contact depressed the brake pedal but it failed to respond, causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of the other vehicle. The air bags deployed. There was no warning…
Seats
21 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while the vehicle was stopped at a red light the front passengerâs seat headrest air bag inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was not involved in a collision. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to her residence.…
The contact's wife owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the headrest deployed inadvertently and struck the contact in the back of the head. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road for a moment. There was no injury sustained. The dealer was…
Transmission
13 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles.
Since approximately 4,000 miles we have experience numerous electrical issues. Our back-up camera, navigation, radio, and A/C work intermittently. The dealer initially felt the battery was backfeeding the system causing a short. That was quickly changed and we are still just waiting for an answer. While parked…
With less than 4000 miles on my brand new car, the transmission drops from 8th gear to neutral (and would go from reverse to neutral) and lose all power while driving. The engine will rev and nothing happens. You have to place the vehicle in park, turn the car off and back on to get it to work again. It happened while…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 7,000 miles.
Car stalls while driving, doesn't start. If it sit for a bit, it will start with check engine light on. Light turns off after a while until it stalls again
Most pumps do not work only costco cannot fill the tank with more than $1 - $2 worth of gas without the pump clicking off. I have tried several gas stations and I have the same problem everywhere. I have to hold the nozzle almost upside down in order to pump gas. I have only had the car 2 months and I am ready to get…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Dodge Durango recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: A vehicle that can be started and shifted out of park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle rollaway. Disabled ABS and ESC systems can reduce vehicle handling and control in certain driving situations. Brake lights that incorrectly illuminate can fail to properly indicate the driver's intention to following traffic. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the integrated pressure transducer and update the ABS module software, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 16, 2025. Owners may contact fca customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca's number for this recall is 94b. This recall replaces previous recall number 22v-426. Vehicles previously remedied under 22v-426 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2018-2019 jeep grand cherokee and dodge durango vehicles. A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may incorrectly illuminate the brake lights and disable the ABS and electronic stability control (ESC). In addition, the vehicle operator may be able to start and shift out of park without the brake pedal being applied.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: A vehicle that starts and shifts out of park without applying the brake pedal can result in vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning and/or injury to others outside of the vehicle.
Fix: This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 24v838. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed. The remedy includes updated hcu/ABS module software that prevents the hcu/ABS module from falsely reading pressure in the primary circuit. Fca has decided to do a two-phase campaign remedy schedule. Phase 1 began november 17, 2022. Phase 2 begin date has not been determined yet. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed july 28, 2020. Owner notification letters were mailed on november 29, 2022. Owners may contact fca US,
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2018-2019 jeep grand cherokee and dodge durango vehicles. A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may illuminate the brake lights, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of park without the brake pedal being applied.
Electrical: front underhood
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began october 2, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is u87.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2018 jeep renegade, compass and grand cherokee, ram 1500 and promaster, fiat 500x, dodge journey, challenger, charger and durango and chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 jeep wrangler, dodge grand caravan and chrysler town and country vehicles and 2018-2019 jeep cherokee and 2018 chrysler pacifica and pacifica hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'park' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began june 28, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is u43.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2018 dodge charger, durango and challenger, jeep grand cherokee and wrangler, chrysler 300, and ram 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Active head rest inadvertent deployment
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe19014 on september 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the active head rest (ahr) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (my) 2014 jeep grand cherokee and dodge durango vehicles.when odi opened the investigation, odi was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.a small number of early warning reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat ahr inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.reported safety consequences resulting from the ahr deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of
Questions about the 2018 Dodge Durango
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Dodge Durango?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (87 complaints, typically around 29,000 miles); lights (56 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles); other or unspecified (32 complaints, typically around 24,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Dodge Durango have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 7, 2024 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Dodge Durango?
- It is 13th of 26 Durango model years by number of complaints, with 233 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.