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:
64,455 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Dodge Durango:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Dodge Durango Owner Comments (Page 5 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #61

Oct 162017

Durango

  • 136,000 miles

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

Car was not experiencing any problems. Cranked it to go to work and the check engine light was on and there was a noise coming from the engine. Took to the dealership and first test indicated a misfire in #5. changed plugs and filter. No change in car. Back to dealership and $150 diagnostic test revealed bent cam shaft.

- Ruston, LA, USA

problem #60

Oct 132016

Durango

  • 110,300 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving 60 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, restarted the vehicle after a few seconds, and the vehicle returned to normal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V435000 (electrical system). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (walser Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, 314 mainstreet, hopkins, mn 55343) was contacted and confirmed that the parts would not be available until may of 2018. The manufacturer was contacted at 800-853-1403 and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. Case number: 32554257 was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 110,300. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Long Lake, MN, USA

problem #59

Sep 122017

Durango

  • 65,618 miles
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

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

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
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

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

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
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

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

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
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

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?