Dodge Durango Best and Worst Years (2011–2025)
The 2011-2014 Dodge Durango years are the ones to avoid, with complaint indexes of 93, 79, 86, and 100 versus 4,475 total complaints across all years. Electrical System problems dominate at 53% of complaints, followed by Engine at 18%. The 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years score as Best, with complaint indexes of 21, 14, 7, and 0.
Avoid 2011Avoid 2012Avoid 2013Avoid 2014Best 2020Best 2023Best 2024Best 2025
- Model years
- 15
- 2011–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 4,475
- Recall campaigns
- 40
- Crashes reported
- 161
- Fires reported
- 149
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Durango Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Dodge Durango problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Avoid | 93 | 799 | 15 | 57 | 8 | Electrical System | 17 | — |
| 2012 | Avoid | 79 | 640 | 17 | 32 | 10 | Electrical System | 17.5 | 4★ |
| 2013 | Avoid | 86 | 640 | 20 | 34 | 11 | Electrical System | 17.5 | 4★ |
| 2014 | Avoid | 100 | 782 | 23 | 9 | 11 | Electrical System | 18 | 4★ |
| 2015 | Caution | 71 | 503 | 26 | 4 | 4 | Electrical System | 18 | 4★ |
| 2016 | Caution | 50 | 161 | 23 | 1 | 3 | Electrical System | 19 | 4★ |
| 2017 | Good | 43 | 211 | 9 | 2 | 2 | Electrical System | 19 | 4★ |
| 2018 | Caution | 57 | 232 | 9 | 0 | 5 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2019 | Good | 36 | 142 | 5 | 2 | 4 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2020 | Best | 21 | 55 | 0 | 3 | 2 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2021 | Caution | 64 | 202 | 10 | 4 | 8 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2022 | Good | 29 | 56 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2023 | Best | 14 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2024 | Best | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
| 2025 | Best | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 17 | 4★ |
Durango years to avoid: what went wrong
2014 Dodge Durango Index 100 · 782 complaints · 11 recalls
The 2014 Durango has the highest complaint index of any year at 100, with 782 complaints and a rank of 1st worst. Electrical System complaints make up 47% of the total at a median failure mileage of 60,000 miles, including reports of vehicles shifting out of park unexpectedly during remote start. Structure & Body complaints are 24%, with failures around 68,404 miles. NHTSA logged 11 recalls, including a powertrain software flash and an alternator replacement campaign, with 60 injuries reported, the highest injury count of any year.
2014 electrical system problems →2014 structure & body problems →2014 engine problems →
2011 Dodge Durango Index 93 · 799 complaints · 8 recalls
NHTSA lists 799 complaints for the 2011 Durango, giving it a complaint index of 93 and a rank of 2nd worst. Electrical System issues make up 65% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 68,585 miles. Owners reported dashboard and hatch electrical glitches, dome light flickering, and burning smells linked to wiring. Engine complaints account for 25%, with failures around 69,000 miles. NHTSA recorded 8 recalls for this year, including a fuel pump relay/wire harness campaign and an alternator inspection recall, plus 57 fires.
2011 electrical system problems →2011 engine problems →2011 fuel system problems →
2013 Dodge Durango Index 86 · 640 complaints · 11 recalls
The 2013 Durango logs 640 complaints and a complaint index of 86, ranking 3rd worst. Electrical System complaints represent 46% of the total, with a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles; owners reported headliner fires and burning odors while driving. Brake complaints (14%) described malfunctioning brakes causing low-speed crashes around 49,555 miles. NHTSA recorded 11 recalls for this year, including the fuel pump relay/harness campaign and alternator inspection, along with 34 fires and 22 injuries.
2013 electrical system problems →2013 engine problems →2013 fuel system problems →
2012 Dodge Durango Index 79 · 640 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2012 Durango has 640 complaints and a complaint index of 79, ranking 4th worst. Electrical System complaints are 55% of the total, with median failure mileage of 70,000 miles; owners described total integrated module failures tied to stalling and fires. Brake complaints (13%) included reports of reduced or failed stopping power near 49,000 miles. NHTSA logged 10 recalls, including the fuel pump relay/wire harness fix and brake booster shield inspection, along with 32 fires and 17 crashes.
2012 electrical system problems →2012 engine problems →2012 fuel system problems →
Most common Dodge Durango problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System2,381 (53%)
- Engine815 (18%)
- Structure & Body495 (11%)
- Fuel System448 (10%)
- Brakes420 (9%)
- Other409 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain317 (7%)
- Airbags251 (6%)
- Steering140 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires95 (2%)
Frequently asked questions
- What Dodge Durango years should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 93, 79, 86, and 100 respectively — the four highest in the lineup out of 4,475 total complaints across all years.
- What is the best Dodge Durango year to buy?
- The 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years rank as Best, with complaint indexes of 21, 14, 7, and 0, the lowest in the model's history.
- What is the most common Dodge Durango problem?
- Electrical System issues are the top complaint category across all years, accounting for 2,381 of 4,475 total complaints, or 53%.
- Does the 2014 Dodge Durango have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2014 Durango, including a powertrain control module software flash and an alternator replacement recall.
- How many complaints does the Dodge Durango have overall?
- NHTSA records 4,475 complaints across all 15 model years covered, from 2011 through 2025, along with 40 recall campaigns.