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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,388 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Dodge Durango drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #50

Oct 042023

Durango

  • miles

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

While driving without notice transmission light flashes and the 2011 Dodge Durango will not shift out of gear. I have had this problem in the past and told dealer but they always say they have no codes and on test drive cant confirm the issue. The first time it happened was around the 50 000 mile mark I thought nothing of it back then as I restarted the car it went away. Over the years it go worst to the point that it would happen at least once or multiple times during my daily commute it I told the dealership about it but no codes and they said on a test run no problems. I stopped driving the car in 2019 because it was too dangerous to drive daily especially in traffic due to the car unable to shift gears left me stranded in the middle of the freeway many times waiting to restart car and car would behave normal until the transmission light comes on where i have to power off durango and restart where ever it happens freeway stop signs lights or where ever it decides to happen. I want to get this car running again but dont have the money to fix an issue that i had when it was still covered by the extended warranty and now i have to pay out of pocket because im over the milage so this car has been sitting and i feel as i been ripped off because of al the issues. Im end up dying in this thing if i take it out. Ive donr the recalls and now i see another recall for the same issue that they said they fixed is been reissued im certain all of the issues is tied to the computer unit it i already had one replaced in this car because when i took it for the alternator issue when the car just died with no warning they told me it was fried. All the recall issues that have been mandated are all the issues i had car stalling not starting battery dead and drained fuel relay power module no power how is this not a lemon. this car is a saftey issue on so many levels. Im now trying to get this car running and im still having the same issues i have 129000 miles on it now

- Norco, CA, USA

problem #49

Oct 222021

Durango

  • miles
While at speed, the FCW light goes off and the vehicle looses the ability to accelerate. I usually have to pull over, shut down the vehicle, and restart it to continue. I have had all of the recalls completed as soon as possible, and the last one was completed several years ago. Similar things happened previously with this car but seemed to be fixed by recalls. This has only started happening again recently, say within the last month or two, and is happening with greater frequency.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #48

Feb 242020

Durango

  • miles
The dealership sold wrecked vehicle without fixing the engine only the body of vehicle was repaired. Engine failure truck cut off while in traffic almost hit another vehicle. Yes the vehicle was repaired @my own experiences, yes the engine light was on ps the vehicle was crash a second time @jerry ulm dodge 2966 N. Dale Mabry

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #47

Aug 012021

Durango

  • 105,979 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently shift into different gears without warning. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,979.

- Laurinburg, NC, USA

problem #46

Aug 032021

Durango

  • miles
My stock alternator caught fire, and made my car completely lock up and shut down while I was driving. Upon further diagnosis my PCM was affected. There was a recall for that exact issue and in the year my vehicle was manufactured, yet my car VIN is not included! It-??s the same issue from the recall

- Berkeley , MO, USA

problem #45

Oct 122020

Durango

  • 173,000 miles
While driving at about 25 mph, the nuetral light at the AWD high and low shift knob lit up and the vehicle stuck into low. Upon trying to get it to shift into high the transmission stuck in neutral and will not move.

- Oral, SD, USA

problem #44

Aug 022020

Durango

  • 130,000 miles

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

My car gets stuck in 4low when in AWD. Car stalls all the time they have not fixed that recall as of yet. My check engine comes on and tire sensors to 0 on all sides when tires are fine. I can't turn left or right without clunking jerking. Dodge dealer knows the transfer cases have issues but no recalls. The Dodge forum is full of complaints about same issue happening to least 20 others I have seen so far. I'm being charged about $5000 to change transfer switch and case now. But with so many of us why hasn't this been recalled. I think the whole problem is our computers are faulty. I have all kinds of lights flashing up at times for no reason and no codes are found with cel on. I was driving out of a store car park when light flashed and car got stuck in 4low now I live only to get to is from a highway and when that is 55mph and I can only go 20mph with wide turns we have an issue.

- Oak Harbor, WA, USA

problem #43

Feb 292020

Durango

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated her son was driving at 60 mph, when the windshield wipers automatically activated without warning and then the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was unable to be restarted. The contact's son pushed the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact's son attempted to jump start the vehicle but was unsuccessful after seeing smoke. The vehicle was towed to hartsville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram located at (900 E. bobo newsom hwy, hartsville, SC 29550) for a diagnosis. The diagnosis was a defective alternator and a burnt out power train control module. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V435000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Hartsville, SC, USA

problem #42

Oct 302019

Durango

  • 93,000 miles
Transfer case switches from AWD to AWD low on its own which can cause a accident on the highway. The transfer case will not switch to AWD low when button is engaged. This is a known problem that all the owners are experiencing of your vehicle. There should be a recall for this problem.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #41

Sep 242019

Durango

  • 102,000 miles
It goes into 4low without turning the switch on. Makes it unsafe to turn sharp and fast. We replaced the transfer case switch and it still does it.

- Othello, WA, USA

problem #40

Aug 232019

Durango

  • 136,477 miles

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

The 4WD message starting displaying on my dashboard, the AWD/lo neutral light was on, I tried following the instructions in the manual to turn it off, but it did not work. When I pulled into my driveway I tried again to get the message to shut off by following instructions then my car began to go in reverse, my breaks would not work, and I had to put the emergency break on. Even with the car shut off the car will roll, I have kept the emergency break on and waiting for a mechanic to look at it. Based on my research this is a common issue with the Durango's and Dodge has done nothing to recall these faulty switches. This is a major concern as I could have been out of my vehicle when it started to roll causing danger for anyone around.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #39

Mar 012019

Durango

  • 5 miles
My vehicle has 69,000 miles on it. It is very well maintained. Recently I have experienced when coming to a complete stop the vehicle for whatever reason shuts off. I have to push the ignition button to restart the vehicle and it runs fine. It's scary to think that your vehicle can just shut it's off without any warning. The dealership doesn't have an explanation and there is no recall. However; there are multiple people via the internet that have experienced this same event. I think fodge should be looking into this issue. Fuel related..electrical?? lots of questions, but something needs to be done!!! scared for my safety!!

- Mount Horeb, WI, USA

problem #38

Jun 112018

Durango

  • 86,600 miles
My car would not downshift, I was going 50 mph on freeway and it was raving by itself at 5-6000 rpms....at dealer now they tell me I need a new transmission cooler!!! this vehicle has been a complete lemon, headliner caught on fire while I was driving, due to recall on visors which had already been performed. Alternator caught on fire due to recall they had no fix for..engine heads replaced, recall...totally unsafe, as my vehicle lost all power, lights steering, when alternator went out.

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #37

Jan 012018

Durango

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated while driving approximately 50 mph. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission module failed. The transmission module was replaced. The contact stated that the collision warning camera also failed and the collision camera warning indicator illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the collision warning sensor failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The collision camera sensor was not replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

- Coopersburg, PA, USA

problem #36

Jan 052017

Durango

  • miles
"Durango recall" my Durango has developed a leak of a translucent/light green substance. One shop initially diagnosed it as a power steering leak, but after taking it to aamco, they recommended a new radiator. Noi one has wanted to take off the grill without charging me hundreds of dollars, and so iu decided to review complaints of other Dodge/Jeep owners on youtube. After several hours of research and discovering dozens of other consumers with the same issue as mine, I have determined the problem to be the ac condenser/transmission cooler unit. Apparently, coolant weeps from the upper right (as you look at it) or from the driver's side if you are in the car, and the oil from the condensor/cooler then saturates the power steering lines, thus giving rise to initial false diagnoses. Based on the fact that my power steering levels have not been affected while puddles of translucent/green substance gathers in my driveway and oil pans, I am confident the condenser/cooler unit is defective and out to be recalled immediately. I have included photos to illustrate the problem.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #35

Jan 062018

Durango

  • 188,000 miles
The neutral button has became stuck which sends a message on the dash to shift in neutral for tow mode or to drive 3-5mph to put in low AWD so I did according to owners manual and now the transfer case is stuck in neutral for towing behind rv neutral button is stuck so now it is unavailable to drive, which leads me to believe a faulty neutral switch if you read Dodge forums others have had same issues

- Shade, OH, USA

problem #34

Jul 102016

Durango

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle lost power and shut down without warning. The vehicle was merged to the side and was restarted. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at: Telegraph Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, located at 12000 telegraph rd, taylor, mi, 734-947-2300. The vehicle was also taken to the dealer at: Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of garden city, located at 32850 Ford rd, garden city, mi, 734-421-5700. The contact stated that none of the dealers were able to duplicate the failure, so the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was about 65,000.

- Brownstawn Twp, MI, USA

problem #33

Aug 172017

Durango

  • 122,086 miles
The transfer case in my vehicle recently had an issue. The internal chain would slip on acceleration and the rate of acceleration would be limited by this event. It would occur on mild to hard acceleration but slow acceleration it was not noticed or did not occur. My theory is on mild to hard acceleration more power is transferred to the front wheels thus putting more energy into the failing chain causing the slip. You could hear and feel the deep thud/clicking noise as this happened. Because it limited acceleration this is potentially hazardous when crossing freeways with cars going 50-70 mph and you need to make a crossover. My family does this daily. The repair was delayed because the mechanic could not obtain the parts. The part was not available from the mopar dealership network anywhere. The mechanic eventually had to locate a used part, arrange delivery, and rebuild a functioning transfer case from my old one and the salvaged part. The mechanic told me that the transfer case has a high failure rate and that is why the part was difficult to obtain, the cost was considerably more, and the repair ran several extra days. His initial estimate for the repair was $1600. The final bill was $2500. The vehicle was delivered on the Thursday morning 8/17/17 with an expected diagnosis by the end of the next day. On 8/18/17 the employees told me about the issue with the part. The vehicle was returned on 8/14/17 approximately 2 days longer than expected because of the part availability.

- Pinehurst, TX, USA

problem #32

Aug 192017

Durango

  • 64,000 miles
On August 19th I was driving with my kids when all of a sudden all the warning lights along with my seatbelt warning lights started to go on and off. My radio and my control panel started to turn on and off on its own. Also the ac stopped working, it sounded like it was running but no air flow would come out. Then I began to have no acceleration. We researched that there will be a recall on the alternators for my 2011 Durango but because nothing has been released Dodge told us we are on our own. This could have caused an accident and I had no warning about what could happen. This is a big safety concern especially when this is our family car and my kids are with me in the vehicle.

- Haslet, TX, USA

problem #31

Jun 222017

Durango

  • 64,000 miles
My vehicle was in motion on a city street when it completely shut down without warning. The engine stalled and there was no power to the vehicle whatsoever. I was unable to steer, brake, put the car in neutral, roll down windows, unlock doors, or have my hazard lights on. I was blocking traffic and had no way to signal to other drivers that my vehicle was stalled in the middle of the road. After having it towed to the dealer, I was told the alternator shorted out, which in turn fried the battery and powertrain module. The dealer agreed to pay to replace the powertrain module at no cost to me but the remaining repairs cost me $1300. Upon doing some research I discovered that as of October 2014 more than 435,000 vehicles were effected by an alternator recall, including cars the same make, model, and year as my own. I found other complaints online of owners of the same type of car who experienced a similar breakdown while driving and they were told that the repairs would not be covered. I called Chrysler's customer service line and they investigated the issue but refused to pay for the work. Having a car stop driving without warning while in traffic is extremely dangerous. Knowing there are other vehicles out there experiencing the same issue indicates to me that the alternator recall should be extended to include additional cars. I would like to be reimbursed for my expenses and to be sure that other drivers do not experience this dangerous situation that could easily result in a very serious car crash.

- Upper Arlington, OH, USA

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