2009 Dodge Durango Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Dodge Durango has a complaint index of 11, ranking 18th out of 20 model years, but carries a Caution verdict because it has three Do Not Drive Takata airbag recalls. Airbags are the top complaint area at 25% of reports.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 11/100
- #18 of 20 Durango years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 12
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15.5
- 14 city / 19.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2009 Dodge Durango problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags3 (25%)
- Electrical System2 (17%)
- Fuel System2 (17%)
- Brakes1 (8%)
- Engine1 (8%)
- Steering1 (8%)
- Structure & Body1 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report Takata airbag recall parts being unavailable for extended periods, leaving them unsure if repairs would ever be completed.
- A driver-side seat and door panel caught fire while the vehicle was parked, with a median mileage of 145,000 for electrical and structure/body complaints.
- The fuel tank took an extended time to fill due to a screen inside the tank clogged with particles, blocking fuel flow.
- Some owners reported the fuel tank overflowing at the pump when it clicked off, causing gasoline to spill onto the ground.
- Steering control was reported to be temporarily lost when turning through standing water, recurring multiple times over several years.
- One owner reported the transmission developed an oil leak from a failed transmission oil cooler, with the replacement part on back order.
2009 Dodge Durango recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V021000Jan 9, 2018Airbags328,177 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
- NHTSA 16V947000Dec 22, 2016Airbags12,691 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen vehicles manufactured January 17, 2007, to December 18, 2008, and 2010 RAM 3500 cab chassis manufactured September 25, 2009, to February 1, 2010. 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 has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S92. Note: This recall covers vehicles that were accidentally excluded from recall 15V-313.
- 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.
2009 Dodge Durango fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 19.5 MPG
- Combined
- 15.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,175
- 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.
2009 compared with other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Dodge Durango reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2009 Durango a complaint index of 11, one of the lowest among the 20 model years tracked, but it still carries a Caution verdict due to three Do Not Drive airbag recalls.
- What year Dodge Durango should I avoid?
- Based on complaint index, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 are rated Avoid, with 2005 having the highest complaint index at 100. The 2009 model ranks 18th worst out of 20 years, meaning most years have higher complaint counts.
- Does the 2009 Dodge Durango have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three Do Not Drive Takata airbag recalls for the 2009 Durango, campaigns 18V021000, 16V947000, and 16V352000, plus a fourth recall for transmission and powertrain.
- Why is the 2009 Durango rated Caution despite a low complaint index?
- NHTSA complaint volume is low (index of 11), but the verdict is capped to Caution because the vehicle has three Do Not Drive or Park Outside recall campaigns, mainly for Takata airbags.
- What is the most common problem area for the 2009 Durango?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 25% of complaints, followed by Electrical System and Fuel System issues each at 17%.