CarComplaints.com Notes: When the 3rd-generation Durango was introduced in 2011 owners almost immediately started having a wide range of issues -- from water pump failure to stalling engines. Turns out the TIPM is to blame and those problems carried into the 2012 model year.
TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Modules) is responsible for controlling and distributing power to all the vehicle’s electrical functions. So when the TIPM starts acting up, so do all sorts of problems in the vehicle.
The problems have been so bad -- and replacement parts became so hard to find -- that a class-action lawsuit was filed against Chrysler focusing on the 2011-2012 Durango. The lawsuit accuses the automaker of ignorning the problem until it spiraled out of control.
My vehicle one morning wouldn't start. Friend came to give me a jump and the cables which worked, but then my car shut off again. Replaced battery, then replaced alternator. Still wouldn't stay on. Steering wheel locked, lights came on, car shut off....RIGHT IN FRONT of the dealer. I explained that a mechanic friend had researched it and it was a recall. I was told my vehicle wasn't included. I just found out now it is a recall. Angry and frustrated over this vehicle and the amount of recalls.
My Durango has had major issues since the day I bought it.
I have lots of wasted money and time regarding repairs including replacing the tipm (twice and now possibly a third), altenator, battery, PCM, thermostat, transmission cooler, and dozens of other issues. Some of this has been under warranty and some has been out of pocket because Dodge wont assist until there is a recall. For a vehicle bought brand new and is only five years old with 60K miles now (approx 36K miles when all the problems started) you wouldn't even think to have to make these kind of repairs. This vehicle has been the worst one I have ever owned and this is my third Dodge Durango. I will never buy another one again.
I only had this 2012 Dodge Durango for a year now and been one headache of a piece of sh*t car. Recall after recall, it's crazy. My car just stopped in the middle of the road with my kids in the back. Alternator failure, battery died. Like are you serious? This sh*t sucks ass. Dodge should do better. I will never in my life buy another American made vehicle. F*ck it and f*ck Dodge pieces of sh*t vehicles. How can you have a car with 5 recalls and more pending. They don't care about peoples safety, it's all about money for them.
A week ago the Durango started making a high pitched noise from the engine area but not real loud. Just high pitched and out of place. When I got the chance to investigate it (1 day later) it had stopped. My wife's car... 2 days ago the check engine light came on for (1 trip/ 2 miles) and then went off. Today, she went to leave and the battery light came on but no real symptoms. I popped the hood and took a look around and nothing, hind sight, I remember the faint smell of hot plastic but it was gone before I put any thought into it. She shut the engine off while I probed around and after the restart there was no light. So, I told her to be cautious but drive it anyway and I would deal with it later in the afternoon. About 5 minutes later she called and told me to come get her from down the road. She said, it just shut off while driving! No power to anything and it would not restart. I took my multi meter and checked there was nothing at all. No voltage from the battery, nothing. As we all know the battery is under the "Power" seat. I could not jump it, replace it, nothing to move the seat worked. I had to have it towered to the local dealer (Prestige Chrysler/ Dodge). No registered TSB's or recalls they could find. They are to diagnose it in the morning and get back to me.
This issue is dangerous and could cause the unexpected driver major safety concerns just getting off the road while moving. My wife got it off the main road but it was literally stuck in the middle of a sub street. I had to remove the cup holder bottom to hit the gear shifter (hidden release button) to neutral just to push it over more out of danger. No fires yet but now I look back now, I did catch that smell of hot plastic.
Update from May 24, 2017: After the dealer told me it was the alternator (cost / $1100 they would have to check and re-diagnose. I replaced the alternator from Napa at $425 and 30 minutes and it ran! 2 minutes into a short test drive the battery light came on and I noticed the voltage never got above 12 volts. Back to the dealer and they told me it was a short in the signal wire for the regulator. $350 to repair so I bought the part, replaced it, same issue with the battery light and the voltage at 12 volts. The dealer told me this time that it was the CPU now and the signal wire still had a short. I still to this day don't believe the signal wire was any issue at all. But, they replaced the computer and fixed the wire $1100 later (again) and now it all seems fine. I did notice during the diagnosis at my house that the RPM's would seem to flutter when reving the engine some or a good flick of the throttle. This was my indicator of a CPU issue.
All in all, same as all the other listed issues as everyone else but I got my hands on it to do a lot of the repair saving me tons of money. At the end, the dealer was great, diagnosing for me and letting me try the repairs first. They found a way to get the CPU Warrantied and only ended up charging me in the end for a $275 wiring repair. Longmont Colorado Dodge dealer (Prestige). Good bunch of service writers. I think the techs learned as they went on this one.
Total estimated costs, $2200 without discounts. Bad alternator, Bad computer, bad wire, battery was salvageable. Still no recall....
When your two year old vehicle sounds like an old glunker from the 80's, in fact my car during my college years was never as loud and rough riding as my Durango. I was trying to have hope and really did not feel up to the new car search but maybe it's time, but in the meantime I think I will be jumpin on board O'Connor & Milkov The Lemon Law Firm because in reviewing all paperwork it's been a bunch of services with no end insight-I am overwhelmed by this error in purchase judgement.
- kharden,
Norco, CA, US
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I have had my vehicle less than three years. Apparently there is a recall for the alternator with 160 amp. My Durango has a 180 amp so it is not covered under recall. I also had to have it towed. It cost me $700 to have it repaired. Will my vehicle eventually be under this recall? If not could you let me know why. My car completely shut down while I was driving, I barely was able to get it into a parking lot.
Alternator failed. Smelled a burnt smell. Contacted Dodge Germany for solution, was told my alternator wasn't part of P60 recall, or something like that. Problem got worse, so I had to rely on mail to get parts. Took 2 weeks to get. Truck parked till alternator came in, paid 42 Euro for mechanic to install and check vehicle. Said the internals burnt. Last Dodge I'm buying.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My vehicle one morning wouldn't start. Friend came to give me a jump and the cables which worked, but then my car shut off again. Replaced battery, then replaced alternator. Still wouldn't stay on. Steering wheel locked, lights came on, car shut off....RIGHT IN FRONT of the dealer. I explained that a mechanic friend had researched it and it was a recall. I was told my vehicle wasn't included. I just found out now it is a recall. Angry and frustrated over this vehicle and the amount of recalls.
- Natasha K., Vineland, NJ, US