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:
7 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,203 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.
My fairly new teen driver drove the car to the gym and the headrest basically -??exploded-?? onto the back of his head with a swift blow. He had a very bad headache and was really freaked out. There were no lights, no notice, no impact. Just out of the blue drivers side. Called local dealership to see what it could be and apparently the pin can break or the plastic holding the pin and the airbag restraint type system in the headrest will just explode open as if in an accident. He said no recalls and out of warranty. How can this NOT be a serious safety issue"?? My inexperienced teen driver could have been so stunned he caused an accident! Anyways they said it would be roughly $1100 to replace entire headrest because there is no option to repair it once deployed. Can we still drive it" If we don-??t have that $ now
Headrest exploded while I was driving. Hit me in the head. Gave me a concussion. Dealership says there is no recall. I have to pay out of pocket. This is a safety feature. I am not paying for the repairs.
The headrest deployed under normal driving conditions. A quick google search shows I'm not the only one with this issue. Some have described this issue as the headrest "exploding" since it disengages in a very quick and forceful manner. Some Dodge Durango Models from 2011 - 2018 fall under recall "(X88) Active Head Restraint" but for some reason I'm being told my 2012 Dodge Durango does not fall under this same recall.
Hard, front collision with deer, spun several times before rolling over a couple times down a small hill. Side air bags deployed but front did not deploy resulting in severer and additional driver injuries including but not limited to chest contusions, spleen hematoma and concussion. He was hospitalized and has a long road ahead. Car was totaled and towed. Insurance company has it now. They and responders are aware front air bags did not deploy. Consumer stated husband had severe injuries.
- Castle Rock, CO, USA
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A fire started in the battery compartment under the passenger seat. While the car was parked in the garge and turned off. No one was in the vehicle. About 45 minutes after the fire was extinguished, the passenger seat airbag deployed.
On Nov 28 2020 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in my 2012 Dodge Durango. I was traveling about 45 mph on a dry 2 way road, when another vehicle pulled out in front of me and I was unable to avoid a collision. The accident was bad enough to flip the other vehicle and cause their airbags to deploy but the airbags in my vehicle did not deploy. This caused me and my passenger to have no protection, other than the safety restraints. Both have suffered head, neck and back injuries. In this accident due to the amount of front end damage, the airbags should have deployed. Not sure if there was a faulty sensor or if my vehicle should have been apart of the air bag recall list, like my 2 others. But lives were at stake and could have been lost.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the her daughter was driving at 45 mph, the vehicle in front made a sudden stop, as a result the daughter was unable to brake in time to afford a rear end collision. The driver and passenger frontal air bags failed to deploy. Causing the driver to receive chest contusion while the contact the front seat passenger sustained a whiplash that required medical attention. The contact stated that the vehicle sustained extreme front end damage. The contact's insurance company towed the vehicle to a local auto body repair facility and deemed it a total loss however, the contact was having the vehicle towed to her residence. The manufacturer was not contacted. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 155,000.
I was driving my Durango and my driver side seat belt kept beeping then the air bag light came on then my check engine light came on and now I'm hearing a thump under the car all of this happened while my family was in the car on the highway I also tried driving up to 70 mph and the steering wheel had this heavy shake I was terrified can you help me fix my 2012 Dodge Durango.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the warning indicator was reset, but remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jeff schmitt Chevrolet North (1001 N broad St, fairborn, oh 45324, (937) 343-5402) where the contact was informed that it was a safety issue and to take the vehicle to a Dodge dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Lebanon Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram of Ohio (518 w main St, lebanon, oh 45036, (513) 932-2717) was contacted and the contact was waiting for a call back. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 129,000.
Second issue with air bag. Got 2012 Durango in Jan 2013 - in 2014 had to pay $635 to fix angle sensor in steering column as it was faulty. It was not covered nor recall. Now December 2018 need to replace air bag and wiring. No recall. How are these item not safety issues and recalled. Extremely upset with customer service at corporate. This particular truck has had nothing but troubles since I purchased it brand new.... we purchase new only to avoid issues but have had nothing but issues with this vehicle!
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the air bag and seat belt warning indicators illuminated. The dealer (crown Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat, 2707 shortcut rd, pascagoula, ms 39567, (228) 769-1660) diagnosed that the front driver and passenger side seat belt buckles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was not available.
Sunday, June 3, 2018, my airbag warning light came on with the intermittent and annoying 'ding' to signal an issue. The vehicle was working fine when I parked it the night before with no warning lights on. Light will periodically go out briefly and then come back on with the 'ding.' I was driving the car the first time I noticed it. This is the second time I have had an issue with this light coming on. Previously, it was 'taken care of' when I took my vehicle in for recall work.
2012 Durango supplemental restraint system (airbags) light stuck on. Appears to be a common problem as there are other complaints. What we would like to know is, while Dodge says to have the vehicle serviced immediately upon the light coming on, what happens if immediate servicing is not possible" are the bags going to deploy at any time? will they not deploy when they should? as there are a number of different airbags in the vehicle, is one bag more affected than another" help NHTSA! airbag systems should not be allowed to fail in any way. Manufacturers should be held accountable! the other complaints listed on this site sound horrifying. There should be a recall for this problem!
At less than 73,000 miles on vehicle and just six years old the air bag light will go off and on. The light will blink on and off at all times then will go off for weeks then come back on and stay on. This is a safety issue that must get fixed by manufacturer.
The contact owned a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 30 mph during inclement weather, the vehicle slid on ice, into an embankment, went airborne, and crashed into a tree. The brakes were applied with force, but failed to stop the vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained a fractured back in two places and a ruptured left breast implant, which required medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company to a facility and a yard, but was not investigated by the insurance company or a dealer. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V115000 (electrical system), 17V435000 (electrical system), and 17V572000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic). The repairs had not been completed. The manufacturer was contacted after the crash to inquire about the air bags not deploying. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had not yet issued any tsbs or recalls for the air bags. The approximate failure mileage was 186,000.
Driving down the highway battery light came on. Replaced battery. Resumed trip, started smelling something burning. Bluetooth turned off, radio shut off, A/C shut off (all as I'm trying to get off highway), smoke begins pouring out of air vents, everything shuts off. Had to get vehicle towed. It is sitting, as I am trying to find out if it is included in T36 recall.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to have the vehicle diagnosed and the manufacturer would possibly assist with the cost. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 56,044.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Antioch, CA, USA