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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,383 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.

2012 Dodge Durango engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 5 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #59

Sep 122017

Durango

  • 65,618 miles

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

The transmission cooler was found to be leaking severely. Luckily noticed before overheating and damage to the transmission.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #58

Jul 062017

Durango

  • 63,074 miles
The front main crank seal began to leak and eject oil all over the front of the engine compartment. Luckily discovered before damage to the engine.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #57

Aug 012014

Durango

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired at the tuttle click toftin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer for taking a long time to crank. After unknown repairs were performed, the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. On one occasion, while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact stated that the failure occurred frequently and, in order to restart the vehicle, the gear shifter had to be placed in neutral or park. The contact restarted the vehicle and it began to pull to the right, veered off the road, and crashed into a bridge wall. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The shield over the wheel well detached, and the front passenger side tire, spoiler, and rim were damaged due to the crash. The contact took the vehicle back to the tuttle click toftin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer, but it was not repaired due to the repairs being at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and authorized the dealer to provide a second repair; however, it was not verified if the repair would be free of charge. The vehicle was not repaired a second time as of yet. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #56

Apr 192017

Durango

  • 94,624 miles

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

As I turned right, the vehicle once again stalled. The engine turned off, but all the electrical systems continued to work. I placed my foot on the gas to demonstrate that it would not move while the vehicle was still in drive. Then I did the same with the break to demonstrate that it wouldn't respond. I put the vehicle in park with my foot on the brake and the vehicle restarted. My children were in the vehicle and my oldest son recorded until we reached the intended stopping point. The mileage on the vehicle was 94,624. The vehicle had a trigger box / flight recorder, but it quit functioning the previous week when the car also stopped last week.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #55

Apr 112017

Durango

  • 94,017 miles
Our Dodge Durango stalled as I was turning left. When I went to push the trigger box, it did not work and will not come back on. I restarted the car and waited, but the trigger box no longer works. This is of course strange because once again, nothing can be recorded. The key fob battery is brand new and the push button was in use. I have a video for documentation. The mileage is 94,017. We have recorded via trigger box daily jerks with the Durango and now the major issue we needed documentation of can't be captured because the device no longer operates.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #54

Mar 302017

Durango

  • 93,322 miles
I came to a stop at a stop light to turn right and the vehicle stalled. I didn't have time to record it because there were cars coming down the exit behind me. I immediately kept my foot on the brake and placed the vehicle in park and restarted it. The mileage is at 93,322. The flight recorder the dealership placed on the vehicle didn't work so there was nothing to capture.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #53

May 042017

Durango

  • 90,000 miles

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

We had a recall fixed on the fuel pump relay and since then the vehicle stalls while driving.didn't do that before the work

- Waynesboro, PA, USA

problem #52

Apr 152017

Durango

  • 87,000 miles
My battery light came on. Within minutes all the other lights on my dashboard came on, my air starting blowing hot and then it started to stall. Luckily I was on a small road and was able to coast off onto the grass. The car was dead and smoke was pouring from the alternator. I went and bought a new battery and alternator. Within in 2 minutes of installing both, my car did the same exact thing. I had to have it towed to the dealership. I was told it was the alternator. I explained that I had already replaced it and think it could be more severe. They told me they would replace the alternator with labor I'm looking at $1200. That's not including if that doesn't fix the issue. They sais it could have fried my (PCM) power control module which could cost me at least $1000 more plus labor. How is it they aren't recalling the 2012 Durango with 180 amp alternator but all the others? this car is only 5 years old, I shouldn't have had to replace the alternator going on 3 times now. I don't feel safe driving my son in this car anymore. I've seen enough complaints saying this caused accidents since the car just dies while driving.

- Debary, FL, USA

problem #51

Mar 302017

Durango

  • 80,000 miles
Upon arriving home, a strong odor of electrical burning was present coming from the engine compartment. The electrical light came on and smoke was visible coming from the engine compartment. The car was parked in the garage and was immediately turned off. Similar to recall P60; however our car was not included in the recall because of a different alternator and slightly different engine type.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #50

Feb 022017

Durango

  • miles
My Dodge durando 2012 have to many problems my car stop withn is running several times a take to dealer the change the fuel pump and the nex day have enegine ligth take back to dealer now the said is catalyst, and arent but my car 2012 I believe is not to old to have to many problems I believe it's all factory default.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #49

Feb 032017

Durango

  • 76,000 miles

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

The vehicle stalls while driving (very intermittently). Does not log any engine codes and mainly happens on deceleration. But has happened at highway speeds when exiting the freeway and also at low speeds when coming to a stop sign. When the engine stalls you loose power steering and brakes but all of the electronics keep working radio, lights, etc... I have called Chrysler care opened a case, which they assisted in scheduling an appointment for the vehicle at the local Dodge dealer. The case was closed by Chrysler since the dealership could not duplicate the problem. We bought this vehicle with 50,000 miles on it and it now has 76,000 and has stalled on us several times I would say (12) over the 26,000 miles we have pout on it. If you google this complaint/problem with the 2011/2012 Durango it is widely known and a very serious issue to be ignoring, someone is going to be killed because of this.

- Grand Haven, MI, USA

problem #48

Feb 012017

Durango

  • 89,947 miles
Around 7:20 am I had just exited a ramp to go beneath the underpass to turn left. The mileage change was 60 mph to 35 mph. Before the car could come to a complete stop applied by brakes, it stalled. There were other vehicles behind us who had to go around. My children were with me and one recorded to show that the vehicle was still in drive and that the brake and the gas would not receive a response from the car. This is the third day in a row that vehicle has stalled since we received in back from the dealership.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #47

Jan 312017

Durango

  • 89,939 miles
I was in the process of turning left at an intersection. As I turned the wheel locked up and the car slowed down and eventually stopped. I had to veer to the right as much as I could. I put the car in park and when I started it again, it shook. I proceeded to drive home. Due to it being night and where I was positioned, I couldn't record the issue, but I did document the mileage.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #46

Jan 302017

Durango 8-cyl

  • 89,900 miles
I was in line to turn left under the underpass. When I pressed the gas, the vehicle would not move. The wheel locked up as I tried to move forward. I had to turn on my emergency lights and signal other to go around on the right because no one could pass me on the left. I put the car in park and restarted it. There was no dashboard light to indicate that anything was wrong. My son was able to record and show that the vehicle was still in drive and not moving. I contacted the area manager to ask if this known, unsafe vehicle could be bought back at the highest nada value. His response was, 'I'm not offering a repurchase.' He shared that he would get another technician personally involved. We just received the car from the shop on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 after the entire tipm was replaced and it stopped again!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #45

Dec 312016

Durango

  • 88,952 miles
As I was turning left into a community the steering wheel locked up while the vehicle was still in drive. I immediately put the emergency lights on. I put my foot on the brake for safety while the vehicle was still in drive. I lifted my foot from the brake and the car remained still. I pressed the gas pedal and the car remained still. I then placed my foot on the brake again and it was stiff. When I pressed the gas the vehicle wouldn't move while still in drive. I placed my foot back on the brake and put the vehicle in park. I pressed the engine button and the vehicle engine came on. I turned the emergency lights off, put the vehicle in drive and continued my destination. I have a video, but it exceeds the upload size for this site.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #44

Dec 182016

Durango 8-cyl

  • 88,300 miles
I had just exited an uphill ramp after coming off the highway from about 65 mph to 35 mph. After entering the ramp I had to stop at a red light. When it was time to turn right, the gas would not accelerate the car and the steering wheel had locked up. I had to restart the vehicle in order to proceed with my route. This is the sixth time that this has occurred while the vehicle has been either in motion or turned on in the process of driving.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #43

Sep 132016

Durango

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While slowing down or while at a complete stop, the vehicle lost engine power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but they did not resolve the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 83,000.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #42

Jul 212016

Durango

  • 92,000 miles
Driving on a major highway in NJ on 7/21/16, all the car warning lights went on randomly and unexpectedly, windshield wipers went on on their own, radio shut off, all power was lost and car shut down almost immediately with limited or no braking or steering power and the car would not turn on any longer. I tried to make it safely to the side of the road (left shoulder was the closest) with big trucks and fast moving cars going by. Had it towed to an auto body shop which took 2 days to diagnose the problem which they deemed a failure of the main board which caused the alternator to fail which caused the battery to seize and fail as well. The costs of repair I had to pay to fix the issue on my 4 year old car with 92K miles on it was approx $1,500. The symptoms and diagnosis were almost identical to the P60 recall issued by chrylser but when I inquired with Chrysler about getting my vehicle covered under the recall and reimbursed for the costs of repair, they claimed that the recall did not apply to my car bc it is 180 amp vs 160 amp (?) but it is very obvious and clear to me that what happened to my car was exactly the same as the P60 recall. Not to mention it was a very dangerous situation that I encountered with my car stopping in the middle of a busy highway. It could have been tragic had I not been able to navigate it well. Chrysler is basically refusing to extend the recall to my VIN # and not reimbursing my repair costs.

- Succasunna, NJ, USA

problem #41

May 012016

Durango

  • miles
Dash lights started flashing car shut off, charged battery, alternator started smoking, replaced alternator, replaced battery, battery is still draining.

- Goose Creek, SC, USA

problem #40

May 022016

Durango

  • 88,000 miles
The alternator in my Durango failed suddenly. We luckily had just arrived at my daughter's day car when the car shut off on its own and we noticed smoke. When we got out to check under the hood, the alternator was smoking! I had to have the Durango towed to my dealership as there was no power to the Durango at all. The dealership attempted to start the vehicle, and could not start the car using a jumper box, or by jumping it with another vehicle. The alternator had completely drained the battery. We were told a few days later that they were attempting to locate an alternator as it was back ordered, and it could be up to 6 weeks or more before they could get one. When we inquired as to why, we were told there was a recall on the alternator for many Chrysler and Dodge vehicles and that even though our Durango falls in the specific years, it was not part of the recall. When they finally called to let us know the Durango was ready to be picked up, we drove maybe a half mile down the road and the battery light came on. We returned it immediately back to the dealership. A couple of days later, they informed us that because of the alternator failure, the engine control module was bad and needed to be replaced. Now, the dealership is telling us that the ECM is no longer functioning properly because of the issues with the alternator and that we will not be able to drive the vehicle without it. They contacted Dodge to inform them of the faulty alternator that caused the ECM failure and Dodge told them, too bad.

- Waverly, NY, USA

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