CarComplaints.com Notes: The second generation Durango was introduced in 2004 and instantly came under fire for, well, catching on fire.
From 2004-2006 electrical overloading in the driver's side instrument panel caused numerous reports of interior fires. The interior infernos became so commonplace that Chrysler eventually issued a recall.
The problems didn't stop there, however. Owners of the recalled vehicles complained about being treated unfairly and given take-it-or-leave-it low ball settlement offers. "They offered me $2000 under NADA retail as a settlement," said one owner, "and have been rude and hostile to deal with." Nothing says awesome service like treating your customers rudely after their cars have already caught on fire.
While driving down the road the 4LO light starts flashing. Sometimes it puts itself into neutral until you slow down to about 20mph. A 4x4 serice soon light comes on for bout 10 mins and goes away.
This is a very unsafe issue that Dodge needs to add as a recall. While driving at any given time, the transfer case engages the 4 wheel drive into either mode: high or low, esp. more so while turning from a stop, parking, or reversing, seizing up, not wanting to move or drive at all while lights are flashing going off, and service AWD, SErvice 4WD, service 4lo, warning lights come on, go off. Have to wait, gas the vehicle, or stop traffic to mess with anything to try to move out of the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Over 400 complaints on same model vehicle, should be fixed. Seems to be a few electrical issues. Some mechanics have never heard of this, others have spent thousands replacing TC only to find in a week, same problem persists. Also, clicking, shifting sounds come from under truck even after vehicle is parked and engine turned off, some batteries are being drained.
My 2005 Durango would automatically switch to 4wd whenever it wanted to. This occurred at times whether it was running or not. I could hear the transfer case motor switching even when the car wasn't running.
Two Days ago I was driving down the highway about 75 mph when my service 4 wheel drive light came on and then it switched itself into 4 wheel drive by itself. and then I heard a load pop and it started smoking. I managed to get pulled over while it was yanking me to the left the whole time. I popped the hood to find what smelled like burned tranny fluid all over my engine. I managed to move the vehicle to the exit in front of me and had it towed from the gas station back home. I had my mechanic from the car lot I bought it from come and take a look. He said the transfer motor was reading a faulty voltage and triggered the 4 wheel drive, and going 75 mph when it engaged, blew my transfer case and maybe more. He'd have to get it back to the shop to find out more. I looked on several forums to find that for over the past 5 yrs a lot of dodge Durango owners have had the same issue and have spent thousands to fix an issue that obviously was a defect from the factory. They replaced front control module, transfer case, transfer case motor and had it rewired. Some did part and later had to do it all just to fix. If I had not had derby driving experience when this happened I could have been killed. I feel this is a major safety issue for the people that don't have knowledge of controlling a vehicle that you have shift on its own and put you all over the road. Here is one site among others where it is a major issue http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/dea/132-1.html,http://www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/Durango/2005/drivetrain/power_train.shtml
This needs to be recalled NOW! New CV joints, excess wear and tear on the transfer case, not to mention you can hardly turn the wheel when the 4wheel engages on asphalt!
- Larry A.,
Hurlock, MD, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Truck switches itself into 4wd while driving, 4wd system lights go on & off randomly, when unlocking or opening doors you can hear something engaging on & off under the truck, my mechanic & I each looked up the issue, hundreds of complaints from owners & mechanics about same issue, those that had it looked at/repaired discovered it was a short in the TIPM and/or with that & the A/C sensor, mine gets looked at in a few days but I will likely not fix and just try to ditch the truck as soon as possible
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
While driving down the road the 4LO light starts flashing. Sometimes it puts itself into neutral until you slow down to about 20mph. A 4x4 serice soon light comes on for bout 10 mins and goes away.
- humpday1988, Anderson, US