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:
6 / 43
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,607 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.
Alternator failed over heating electrical wiring and causing battery and computer chip failure. The problem occurred on the road but I was able to make it to a parking lot. I did smell smoke and felt heat but there was no ignition of fire. My car was completely disabled. No electrical activity. The symptoms are the same as recall #14V634000.
Momentary loss of all electrical power under normal driving condition at all speeds. Loss of all dash lights and gauges. Total loss of engine power momentarily. This causes a momentary stall. Does not last long enough to turn the engine off as the power is immediately restored. Happens several times weekly, always while in motion, has not occurred while vehicle is stopped at idle. Possible ignition or tipm fault.
The headliner next to the map lights cought on fire. My wife had parked it and smelled smoke. After she backed it out of the garage flames started up and a fire extinguisher was used. The fire department came and put water on it to make sure it was out.
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the battery warning indicator illuminated as a burning odor emitted inside the vehicle. An excessive amount of black smoke emitted from underneath the hood. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. There were no flames present. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where diagnosed that the alternator would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V634000 (electrical system) however, the recall remedy part was unavailable to perform the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,694.
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The mechanic stated that the alternator and fuse box would need to be replaced due to an electrical shortage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
- Chula Vista, CA, USA
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The alternator shorted out with 48000 miles on it. The light came on and my wife drove it 1.5 miles home. Alternator was smoking and completely shorted out/fried. While she managed to get it home this could have easily created an accident had she driven it longer. I am shocked that a failure like this can happen on a car in such a short amount of time.
Local auto repair shop tested tipm and other parts and found nothing but I'm still having an issue starting my car when my vehicle sits longer than 5 hours. I am not able to afford new tipm for $1200. I understand tipm issue is pending class action settlement. I would like to Dodge dealer to provide a significant discount so that I can replace tipm of my vehicle.
My 2011 Dodge Durango caught fire. The roof above the passenger visor burn significantly. While driving the car the passenger said she smelled an electrical problem. Both of us have retired from the electronics field. Not realizing the severity of the electrical problem, I parked the car. We went away from the car for about ten minutes. Upon returning we open the door and entered the car. The car filled with smoke. We could hear the fire burning in the roof. We both jumped out. We flagged down some parking attendants. We opened the hood to get to the battery or fuse box. I monitored the light in the vanity mirrors and interior lights, while the attendants with book manual in hand, pulled fuses until the lights went out and the fire slowed to a stop. One note in spite of the fire burning our handicap sticker on the roof side, blistering the paint on the outside roof, and the interior roof on fire on no fuses blew! my experience is telling me that the wires involved have been drawing to much current for many years. The characteristics of the wires involved, changed with heat and time. Finally the wires got to resistive and heated to the point of ignition.
2 different episodes of unexpected vehicle shutdown/stalling. First event was in the process of a left hand turn. Vehicle shut down partway through the turn. Lost all power steering and brakes. Struggled to keep the vehicle out of the ditch. Put the vehicle in park, and it restarted immediately, and continued home uneventfully. Approximately 2 months later, the vehicle again unexpectedly stalled at a traffic light. The light turned green, and I took my foot off the brake, and the vehicle stalled. Again, it restarted uneventfully and I continued to work. The vehicle appears to be working normally otherwise. Acceleration and fuel economy are normal, and there are no episodes of hesitation/stuttering/missing. There was no warning of the stall either time. Both episodes were approximately 5 minutes into my drive, and the vehicle should have been mostly warmed up each time, but perhaps not all the way. The "exact" moment of the stall seems to coincide with removing my foot from the brake, once to turn and once to accelerate. The Durango was taken to the dealer that same day each time, and there were no significant error codes.
After having the campaign completed to remove the fuel pump relay from the tipm, my fog lights and headlights began operating sporadically, then eventually after a few weeks stopped working. If I remember correctly, this happened at dusk, when I was driving and the headlights tried to come on automatically. I tried to replace the bulbs, but that didn't help. I took the car back to the dealership and was told the headlights and fog lights weren't receiving power from the tipm, and that it needed to be replaced, at about $1,200 cost. This probably is so obviously related to the previous campaign, but I cannot get the dealership to participate in the cost. Please help!
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, all the warning indicators illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. It was unknown if the vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 118,900.
Purchased new 2011 Dodge Durango in 2011, I wasl driving to work this week locally and Dec 22,2015 battery light came on. Before the light came on I was driving with kids in the card and smelled burning in car thought it was exhaust from outside traffic. Another day my mom was in the car with me going shopping and she said she smelled something burning. Battery went because alternator was bad as per the auto place the wires were burned according to autoplace alternator bad, I contacted Dodge and provided receipt copies from the auto place that the alternator was bad but they said because warranty was up at 36,000 miles they wont reimburse me and there was nothing they could do but to make a complaint to NHTSA. This needs to be recalled, I have seen over 400 complaints and safety issues, how many people do they want to get injured before they recall? dealership is no longer around. If does not get recalled I will make sure to turn this one back and never purchase from Dodge again and will contact the media to expose Dodge for putting not recalling this alternator and putting the safety of families in harms way. I hope nothing else happens, I am always in the truck with my kids and I am really nervous driving my truck now and worried if something else is going to happen when we are in the car. This should have never happened to a brand new truck. I have had used cars longer than this and never once had a problem with any issues with the cars. This is a serious matter and hope it can be taken care of immediately.
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 62 mph, the engine stalled with every warning light illuminated. In addition, the key failed to remove from the ignition switch. The contact attempted to jumpstart the battery from another vehicle, but the jumper cable cord burned. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V634000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
I was driving on a major interstate (I-70) when dashboard lights started flashing and signals started going off. Seat belt signal. Airbag signal. ABS light signal. I then lost power steering. My 12-year old was with me and scared to death as cars whizzed by at 70 mph. I luckily was at an off ramp and took it and managed to pull off the main road. Car would not turnover when I tried it again. Got towed to a dealership. Battery was replaced first. Then they hooked up the alternator to the new battery, and the alternator drained the new battery by half in a matter of seconds. And started smoking profusely. Dealership replaced the alternator, which was a 220 amp. After the alternator was replaced it was determined that the alternator blew the PCM, so I had to have the computer PCM replaced too. Dealer says there may be more issues that arise from the bad alternator. He was surprised more wires and fuses weren't melted or damaged because of how bad the alternator was. My car was not part of the recall because I have a 220 amp. But all of the symptoms they describe for the 160 amp alternator is what I experienced with my car. I am just thankful my son and I, nor anyone else, was hurt or killed in this incident. All alternators no matter what amp need to be recalled. This is a true safety hazard!
My 2011 Dodge Durango alternator went out and my PCM. No warning car just shut down. You need to do a recall on all no matter the amp!!! I will never buy Dodge again!
While driving on the expressway towing a trailer, family in tow my 2011 Dodge Durango battery light came on and the smell of something burning was present. 2 minutes after the light came on the car died and had to physically navigate to the breakdown lane with no power what so ever, it was dark and cars passing by at expressway speeds, I had no flashers or warning lights at all. Car was towed to my house.. it was determined that the alternator was frozen solid. I replaced it with an 160 amp alt. And a new battery because it was cooked also, the battery was hot. After replacing it and hooking up battery neg first then positive. It started and after a brief few seconds where everything appears to be normal the gremlins come out, the wipers are on with no control the air bag light is on, no display or radio, check eng light is on as is a host of other things after initial start up. I called the dealer, gave my VIN they said that it didn't fall under any recall. And a diagnostics test had to be done @ $125 just to see what is wrong.. I feel if it were my wife or daughter in the car driving they wouldn't have been strong enough to steer without any power certainly a safety complaint..... and people wonder why this country is going to hell.
While driving the vehicle, I noticed a burning smell and grinding noise. I pulled over to investigate and when I raised the hood smoke was coming from the alternator. Alternator overheated causing vehicle to be undriveable. There has been several recalls on this vehicle and others but don't understand why the alternator recall isn't related to this particular vehicle. All the symptoms are the same that I ve read from vehicles that are listed in this recall.. overheating....
My husband and I were driving home in the heavy rain. When we got home and parked we noticed a burning smell coming from the car (2011 Dodge Durango citadel). We lifted the hood to investigate where the smell was coming from and the alternator caught fire right before our eyes! since we were home and in our driveway we were able to put the fire out with our water hose almost immediately. I think the heavy rain kept it from catching fire while we were on the road! we took the car to the dealership and contacted Chrysler who told us our VIN number was not part of the alternator recall and we had to pay for a new alternator out of pocket. I've never heard of a 4 year old alternator catching fire!!! very frustrating as this is a dangerous issue and could have caused a deadly accident had this happened on the open road. Also suspicious that they have an alternator recall with the same issues we reported but our VIN number is not included! be careful if you have this car!
Vehicle experienced failure of all electrical systems, while vehicle in motion at 45mph. I was driving on the highway and noticed my red "battery indicator" came on. I assumed it was a warning that it needed to be replaced. After approx 35 miles, the "driver's seatbelt unbuckled" warning came on (it was buckled) and that warning cycled off and on rapidly, and then other warnings to check this or that appeared. Within 30-60 seconds of that beginning, the A/C system shut down, the ABS and traction control off lights came on, the windshield wipers turned on, and then I lost the power steering as well. I was able to steer just enough to angle into a gas station and put it into park. At that point, no electrical systems were functioning, the car could not be placed back in "neutral" to move it further, and we were unable to remove the key fob. There was a faint smell, like burning rubber or similar. The vehicle was towed to our home, as it is out of warranty (111K miles) and my husband wished to investigate the issue and repair himself, if possible. He removed the battery, approximately 3 hours after the vehicle was shut off, and it was still very hot to the touch. He replaced the battery with a new one, but within 1/2 mile drive the red "battery" indicator came back on and we immediately returned home. Upon further testing with a voltmeter, he determined the issue is the alternator. We believe this alternator is faulty and dangerous, however our VIN number is not listed under the current recall (14V634000) of the 160 amp alternator (I am not sure what amp alternator I did have). My husband has opted to replace the alternator himself, rather than pay the dealership to do so, but we believe this should be investigated further as the possibility of an accident seems pretty high in this type of total electrical failure.
I went to start my Durango this morning, started up, but after 10 seconds it shut down. Nothing electrical worked. Could not remove my key. Disconnected the battery-reconnected. No good. Having towed. I want to say that nothing electrical goes on no matter what I do. The power failure was complete. I shudder to think if this happened while I was driving, it could have been fatal.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Estherville, IA, USA