CarComplaints.com Notes: The third generation Durango is plagued by a defective TIPM, particularily in the 2011 and 2012 model years.
TIPM, which stands for Totally Integrated Power Modules, is responsible for controlling and distributing power to all the vehicle’s electrical functions. So when your TIPM goes haywire, bad things start happening. Things like your water pump can stop working, your engine can stall out and your airbags can randomly deploy.
The horn alarm will go off at random times for no reason. This has happened several times starting in 2012 and about twice per year. Most recent event was in parking lot in August 2015 and the time before was in driveway February. This only happens when the car is locked. Stops with the remote and does not happen again for a while.
Reported to dealer on Vancouver Island who said has never heard of this problem. Can't repair because I can't cause it to happen. I can't trust leaving the car locked for a long time as horn is very loud and will not stop without the remote.
I have now read that this is a symptom of TIPM failure which is very common on this model and has been the subject of a class action lawsuit.
As of Sep 2015 no resolution.
Update from Sep 21, 2015: I looked up a recall repair on the fuel pump relay done last year and did not realize at the time that it was related to the defective TIPM. So hopefully the worst result of the TIPM (car shutting down which has not happened to me) has been fixed and I am left with the annoyance of the horn going off. This has happened twice since the relay was changed, so replacing the fuel pump relay did not help the horn problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The horn alarm will go off at random times for no reason. This has happened several times starting in 2012 and about twice per year. Most recent event was in parking lot in August 2015 and the time before was in driveway February. This only happens when the car is locked. Stops with the remote and does not happen again for a while.
Reported to dealer on Vancouver Island who said has never heard of this problem. Can't repair because I can't cause it to happen. I can't trust leaving the car locked for a long time as horn is very loud and will not stop without the remote.
I have now read that this is a symptom of TIPM failure which is very common on this model and has been the subject of a class action lawsuit.
As of Sep 2015 no resolution.
Update from Sep 21, 2015: I looked up a recall repair on the fuel pump relay done last year and did not realize at the time that it was related to the defective TIPM. So hopefully the worst result of the TIPM (car shutting down which has not happened to me) has been fixed and I am left with the annoyance of the horn going off. This has happened twice since the relay was changed, so replacing the fuel pump relay did not help the horn problem.
- gerryw1000, North Saanich, BC, Canada