7.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,740
Average Mileage:
100,450 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
  2. replaced with a new motor!!!! (3 reports)
  3. pull cams and have cleaned professionally (1 reports)
2001 Dodge Durango engine problems

engine problem

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2001 Dodge Durango Owner Comments

problem #12

May 102015

Durango SLT 4.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

  • This is the 2nd time I've had engine problems that began with low oil pressure. I had to replace the engine fully after metal chips were found in the oil pump. It cost over $3000 and I had only had it for a year.

    - Three years later we are back to the same scenario & I took extra care of the car, spoiling it. My engine is knocking loudly and the oil pressure gauge is at the lowest point. I will be putting oil in it today during an oil change but it is scary just the same. Not only does it sound like it is going to blow up, the cost involved have been frustrating.

    I want to buy a newer Durango because I love the size - a great car for a busy working mother and kids. However, I'm scared that the issues will follow me.

- JENNIFER S., Portland, US

problem #11

Jul 292013

Durango SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

These are decent trucks. Please note, If you are just buying one take extra precaution. Everyone fails to maintain these vehicles properly. No body ever sells them, unless there is a problem. Another side note. Take it and drain about a half of quart of oil and add about a half of a quart of transmission fluid to the oil for about 3000 miles. Another note. when you do your oil change please use proper grade engine oil. 5W30 SYNC. Preferably Valvoline.

Not to mention people swear by additives, adding something to youre oil, transmission, transfer case, diffs, powersteering, gasoline, coolant, brakes, and what have you. DO NOT ADD anything other then the proper fluid that is suppose to be in these vehicles. There is nowhere in the maintaince manual that suggests warrants, or even recomands to do such things. Also you can't complain to the manufacture regaurding a complaint if you didn't follow the proper maintaince schedule that is in your manual, and using the cheap suff when you do your basic maintaince. I wish you all the best of luck. Let me know if this helps cure the problems... GO Dodge!!!

- jdmcnaughton77, Piggott, AR, US

problem #10

Jun 272012

Durango SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

I purchased a 2001 Dodge Durango, drove vehicle for about 1 month before the oil pressure started dropping to "0", replaced oil pump, problem still exist. Took to a mechanic, they suggested changing out the new oil pump with another oil pump. changed out new pump with another new pump...problem still exist. I have spent over $2000 dollars counting parts and labor...don't know what else i can do!!

- bc58mos, Macon, GA, US

problem #9

Dec 012010

Durango Sport 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,365 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This vehicle is nickle & dime-ing (more like hundred dollaring) me to DEATH! Oxygen sensors & replacements for the replaced O2 sensors X3!, water pump, thermostat, power steering pressure switch.....I have got to where I dread starting the thing up in the morning! Now the oil pressure dropping to "0". no oil pressure then when u drive it goes up a lil had it diagnosed they say oil pump is inside block attached to crank. or oil pressure swich. when idling pressure goes bac down never fully up.

I used to love dodges & bragged on what good vehicles they are, NOT ANY MORE! I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE! Dodge needs to step up to the plate & MAKE THIS RIGHT.

- smaync, West Jefferson, NC, US

problem #8

Dec 032010

Durango SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

My 2001 Dodge Durango , the oil pressure drops to 0 when you're at a idle!

- Gerald R., Lansing, MI, US

problem #7

Dec 202005

Durango

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Had same problem at 42,000 miles with oil pressure dropping to 0 in our Durango. Took it to our family mechanic who told us the oil pump had to be replaced. He said there was sludge built up in it. After we had Dodge replace the oil pump, we immediately took it and switched the regular oil out for synthetic oil, as our mechanic had suggested. We have not had a single problem since and there are now 197,000 miles on it.

- michelefl, Zephyrhills, FL, US

problem #6

Apr 012010

Durango 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,702 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I too have had this problem. The transmission has been replaced maybe has 20k on it.The oil pressure drops to 0 and then the check engine light comes on, whenever I stop at a red light. Soon as I give gas the pressure goes up again and the light goes out? I checked the oil and it was okay. Did an oil change and that did not help the first time.I had the pressure tested and it is okay? I had the sensor replaced and it was fine for about two weeks, then the problem was back again. I also had an oil change again recently and it is working fine again, but I am doubtfull that this has solved the problem. The saga continues, out of cash and can't find a solution to the problem. Going to report it to consumersprotection.com and suggest all who have this problem do the same.

- Kathy C., Anola, MB, Canada

problem #5

Feb 112009

Durango SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Same issue as many others.@ 80,000 My oil pressure dropped to 0. It would come back upturning it off and letting it set so I was able to get it home. It has had a ticking sound ever since. The ticking is gets loud then quiets slightly then loud again I suspect its a lifter collapsing or something. I have changed Oil and filter tried different weights of oil,STP treatment and numerous other things. Still ticking!! I changed oil and filter again to where oil was clean added 1 qt of transmission fluid in place of 1 qt. of oil. Ran that for 1 week then drained and it was black as normal 3000 mile oil change! Its an old school trick that seemed to clean some out I will probably keep doing that for a while I guess. Ticking is still there but now comes and goes as truck warms up but is loud at start up. I was going to drop the pan and check oil pickup screen but apparently you have to drop the whole axle to get the pan out! It sounds like chrysler has a problem they don't want to acknowledge! Should be recalled!!! This the first vehicle that me and my wife every dropped some major cash on so we had a reliable vehicle. Now we are afraid to go out of town with it now!! Hope these complaints get the ball rolling!! Cause this sucks! To many people have the same problem for this to be random!! Come on Chrysler. Skip a vacation in Hawaii and help us out!

- duece66er, Ft. Wayne, IN, US

problem #4

Feb 192008

Durango SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

MY DURANGO BARELY HAD 100,000 MILES ON IT AND THE OIL PRESSURE STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN MOSTLY STAYING DOWN. HAD TO THE OIL CHANGED THINKING THE OIL WAS LOW, BUT THE SAME DAY THE OIL PRESSURE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND WOULDN'T COME BACK UP THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BOY WERE WE SURPRISED WHEN WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR PUT IN. NOW JUST BARELY A YEAR LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. THE OIL PRESSURE GOES UP AND DOWN AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE SCREEN THINKING IT WAS CLOGGED UP, WELL THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND NOW HAVING TO HAVE A NEW OIL PUMP PUT ON. IF THATS NOT ENOUGH THE MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS NEVER SEEN AN ENGINE THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE SO MUCH OFF OF TO GET TO THE OIL PUMP. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!! THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THE DURANGO. AS MUCH AS WE HAVE PAID FOR THIS VEHICLE AND AS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING YOU WOULD THINK THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE WOULD WANT TO STAND BY THEIR "GOOD NAME" AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM. OR WILL IT TAKE EVERYONE JUST NOT BUYING A DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLE AND SHOWING THEM WHAT ITS LIKE TO LOSE HARD EARNED MONEY!!!

- holliw, Mineral Bluff, GA, US

problem #3

Jun 012008

Durango SLT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 143,000 miles

Last year we had a problem with the oil gage dropping to 0 and the check gages light came on. Had it towed. Told we needed an oil pump. Replaced the oil pump and had engine cleaned due to some sludge build up. Two weeks ago my oil light started doing the same thing. It would fall to 0 and check gages light would come on, then it would pop back up, then down... Brought it to a different mechanic near my home. He looked at it and said that since I had the oil pump replaced last year and had since switched to synthetic oil that I should get my oil changed (it was due) because sometimes the synthetic oil will clump in the filter. He said to try that and drive it and see it that fixed it. We did that and even though the gage didn't drop to 0 again, the pressure would fall after a few minutes of driving. About two days after the oil change it seemed to not want to change gears. Brought it back in and told them that the gears wouldn't change and the oil pressure still wasn't right. they called and said we needed a new transmission for $2,900. They replaced the transmission and then drove it 2 towns away to check the new transmission and the oil gage did the same thing to them, this time accompanied by a knocking sound. they towed it back and said we need a new engine for $3,500. So, now we'll be out $6,400 due to bad advice of the mechanic. We'll never buy another dodge.

- Cindy G., Lumberton, TX, US

problem #2

Mar 022008

Durango SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Dear fellow Durango owners:

On December 15, 2007 I purchased my 2001 Dodge Durango SLT 4.7L V8 from a private seller with only 60,401 miles. I have had the vehicle for less than three months and only put on 4,599 miles on it.

I too am having the same problem as you are. On 03/02/08 I noticed that my oil gage was going from �H� to �L�. When I was driving the vehicle the gage would move to the �H� position. When I was coming to a stop the gage would move back to �L� position. I figured that the oil was low. I checked the oil and the engine had ample amount of oil. To be on the safe side I had the oil and filter replaced figuring that it may fix the issue�.well that didn�t work.

Just like many of you I went on the internet and did a goggle search of �oil pressure gage� and found all these similar problems that others have experienced. Just like all of you I don�t think it�s our responsibility to put out the money to have the engines replaced. It is Dodge/Chrysler�s responsibility to replace the engine on these vehicles.

As a consumer I placed a complaint with consumer protection about this issue. If we want to see some sort of resolution to this major problem you also need to place a complaint with consumer protection. I have come across more than 27 similar complaints. We spent our hard earned money on this vehicle. We all need to speak up about this unfair problem and should not go down quietly about this until a resolution has been decided.

Again please�.please�go to consumerprotection.com and put in your complaint on this major problem.

- jfortuna, Middletown, CT, US

problem #1

Jan 252007

(reported on)

Durango 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Driving on interstate oil pressure drops to 0, check the oil level registers find. Oil pressure returns to normal drive vehicle home. Oil was checked again looked ok, went ahead and changed oil and filter anyhow. Oil changes have been maintained on a regular basis. Started vehicle up oil pressure went to normal, drove daughter to school about 5 miles from home, notice oil pressure started to drop again, returned home and google "2001 Durango Oil Pressure" and was litterally amazed at what came up, the number of complaints in regard to the engine loosing pressure due to sludge build up. I'm having it towed to the dealer to see what they say. My 1991 GMC Sonoma truck has over 300,000 miles and I have not had any such issues with it and I have not maintained the oil changes for it on a regular basis. DODGE is now on my S_ _ List. I was not aware of such issues with this vehicle, evidently this has been an on-going problem and Dodge has elected to not make the public aware of this. I will tell everyone I know, do not buy anything from Dodge

- David G., Lithonia, GA, US

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