2008 Dodge Durango Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Dodge Durango has a complaint index of 21, ranking 16th worst out of 20 model years, but two Do Not Drive airbag recalls cap its verdict at Caution. Fuel system issues account for 41% of complaints (40 total).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 21/100
- #16 of 20 Durango years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 97
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13 city / 19 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2008 Dodge Durango problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System40 (41%)
- Airbags26 (27%)
- Engine11 (11%)
- Electrical System10 (10%)
- Steering8 (8%)
- Brakes6 (6%)
- Other5 (5%)
- Structure & Body4 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Frontal airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed collisions, including impacts around 25-30 mph and a highway pothole incident at 65 mph.
- Fuel tank filler tube check valve fails, causing fuel to spew or overflow at the pump during fill-ups.
- Electrical fires ignite behind the headlamp or under the dashboard while the vehicle is parked, with damage severe enough to total the vehicle in one case.
- Airbag warning light illuminates repeatedly, with dealers citing airbag shortages and replacing wiring and side curtain airbags.
- Steering-related safety concerns were raised about heat-treat oven certification for safety-critical components.
2008 Dodge Durango recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V352000May 24, 2016Airbags4,648,270 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
- NHTSA 15V313000May 26, 2015Airbags4,077,169 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
2008 Dodge Durango fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13 MPG
- Highway
- 19 MPG
- Combined
- 15 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Dodge Durango reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2008 Durango a complaint index of 21, which ranks 16th worst among 20 model years, but it carries two Do Not Drive airbag recalls that push its verdict to Caution.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Dodge Durango?
- Fuel system complaints are the top issue, making up 41% of all complaints (40 of 97), mostly related to fuel spilling or overflowing at fill-up.
- Does the 2008 Dodge Durango have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2008 Durango, both airbag-related and both marked Do Not Drive until repaired.
- How does the 2008 Durango compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 21, the 2008 model year performs much better than years like 2005 (index 100, Avoid) or 2014 (index 95, Avoid), but its Do Not Drive recalls keep it at Caution rather than Good.
- At what mileage do 2008 Durango problems typically occur?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 64,000 miles, with fuel system complaints reported around 62,558 miles and airbag complaints around 63,000 miles.