My wife, my oldest son, and I went on vacation to my home town in California in 2008 on the way there the vehicle we were driving started to have transmission problems. We made it to our destination (just barely) only to find that we needed to either replace the transmission or get a new vehicle. Well the cost of a new trans. was going to cost more than we had so we opted to buy a new used vehicle. The dealership we went to was owned by a "friend" of a family member so we felt safe buying from him. We really wanted an SUV but didn't think we had enough money to drive one home from California in mid-summer, and I really didn't want to buy the Dodge Durango that was offered to us, but this guy told us that for $8000 he would not only give us the gas money to drive it home but he would add a 100,000 mile 5 year extended bumper to bumper warranty to the deal. Even though I was going against my better judgment and buying a DODGE I figured it would be okay with the warranty!!!! Done deal... gas money home and happy... for about 8 months that is!!!! The first problem was the transmission control module, we thought okay no problem, WRONG the guy never paid the warranty company so we had to pay out of pocket $1200+. We thought "at least it wasn't something more expensive to fix. Well that was only the beginning of our series of problems. I will tell more as I make another complaint on here.

After long searches and many visits to the shop we finally fixed it three months back. There is an airco pump unit that is mounted at the front-top of the engine and connected via the belt. When you switch the airco on there is some sort of clutch system that engages the pump. If the airco is off the belt will still turn the wheel but does not engage the pump. In my car the "clutch" system did not work properly anymore and could not run free when in off position at all times. Due to corrosion the pump would be engaged on and off and the pump itself did not operate smoothly itself as well.

I also had a leak where the exhaust is connected to the engine.

After replacing/fixing both, my problems were gone and they still are. Car runs as smoothly as ever. Hope this clarifies my previous report. Good luck!

Buyers be ware of this vehicle, it will drive you penniless. Dodge manufacturers really know how to build a lemon and pawn it off to the public. I still have the surge when in park, what is amazing is the Dealership cannot seem to fix this problem, they continue to say it is a natural function. Maybe they should sit in my vehicle at a light in the winter time behind someone and hope for it not to surge because it could drive you into the vehicle ahead of you. Who's fault would that be?? Drivers or manufacturers?? In the autopac world it is the drivers fault not the manufacturers. So does the manufacturer stand behind their product? Not at all!! I have had so many problems which I will be listing separately so everyone is aware. What is crappy about warranty and extended warranty running out is I still have the same problem. Who do you turn to when the dealership cannot fix the problem?

Trying to defend the Durango which was a gift from my mother in law, I did not want another car. I have fallen in love with the older body style of Durango, and definetly do not want the new Durango which in my opinion is an ugly car. Now having read the other complaints about brakes, oil pressure problems and engine surging, I wonder if maybe it's time to look at Chevy Tahoe... I will be truly sorry to see her go, as I am the biggest ally on "her" behalf, wanting to repair an old friend instead of turning her out to pasture, and replacing her for an expensive new model... however, after reading all the complaints from other Durango owners, I have revisited the idea of saddling ourselves with expensive payments on a newer more reliable ride rather than try to fix all the nagging problems with our old friend. THANKS DODGE FOR THE DOG! I don't want another Dodge anything! ... guess maybe an old VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE would be a more reliable car for us.

engine has been going to high idle upon starting for some time, hit throttle several times will idle down (kept in heated garage). Calls to service center- all do it, way it is. Now sometimes after couple hours running engine starts surging 400 to 600 RPM. Traced so far to climate control system. After started surging, was able to get under hood. Air conditioner was cycling on and off. turn on- RPMs up, and control was not in air conditioner position. Turned control to off, engine idled down and stabilized to slight tach movement.

The engine would surge up and down in park or at a stop and occasionally stall. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the IAC. Got it back, still did it. Dealer said that it wouldn't do it for them, then it did then they replaced the same part, and it still would do it when I drove it, dealer said it wouldn't for them and then it did. They replaced the Powertrain Control Module and the vehicle still does it. Took it back 7 times in a month and a half. Dealer said it wouldn't do it, gave me the "Mopar Co-Pilot: to record it again. I called the manufacturer and local call for action to step up the long process. Now they said it's the Throttle position sensor. Do I really think that'll fix it?? I also had a cracked piston on the driver side caliper, windows that wouldn't work, the rear hatch won't lock and some seal leaking on the front axle. I also have the the clunks and clangs with the suspension that nobody can seem to diagnose.