YearToAvoid

2020 Dodge Durango Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

21/100

#12 most-complained of 15 Durango years

The 2020 Dodge Durango ranks 12th of 15 model years for reported problems, with a Complaint Index of 21 and a "Best" verdict among Durango years. NHTSA lists 55 complaints, 2 recalls, 3 fires, and 5 injuries, with the Electrical System as the top problem area (53% of complaints).

Complaints
55
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 3
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
17
14 city / 22 hwy

Top 2020 Dodge Durango problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System29 (53%)
  2. Engine10 (18%)
  3. Other6 (11%)
  4. Structure & Body6 (11%)
  5. Airbags3 (5%)
  6. Brakes3 (5%)
  7. Steering3 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle catching fire shortly after using the remote auto-start feature while parked in the driveway.
  • Some describe the electric power steering suddenly cutting out at low speed with a "power steering unavailable" message appearing.
  • Several owners describe a sharp edge on the rear taillight/liftgate area that cut skin or clothing during normal use.
  • Owners report the rear liftgate center light, tag lights, and rear camera failing due to water intrusion into the taillight housing.
  • Some report the rear liftgate popping open and failing to latch while driving, causing cargo to fall out.
  • One owner described the engine losing compression with no visible leaks a few months after purchase.
2020 Dodge Durango complaints: complaints filed per month5May 2020Nov 2021Apr 2023Mar 2024Sep 2024Apr 2025Nov 2025Apr 2026
69 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2025 (5).

2020 Dodge Durango recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V280000Apr 22, 2021Airbags2,721 vehicles

    Air bags:critical fasteners

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Durango vehicles. The Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) fastener may be loose or missing.

    Risk: A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten or replace the fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent on May 7, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y16.

  2. NHTSA 20V191000Sep 10, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras319,610 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.

2020 Dodge Durango fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,350
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.

2020 compared with other Durango years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution57232517
2019Good36142417
2020Best2155217
2021Caution64202817
2022Good2956717

All Dodge Durango years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Dodge Durango reliable?
Among Durango model years, 2020 has a Complaint Index of 21 and ranks 12th out of 15 years tracked, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other Durango years.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Dodge Durango?
The Electrical System accounts for 53% of complaints (29 of 55), followed by Engine issues at 18% and Structure & Body issues at 11%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2020 Dodge Durango have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 Durango: one for a loose or missing Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain fastener, and one for a radio display software update tied to a broader collision-avoidance/camera recall.
Were there any fires reported for the 2020 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA data shows 3 fire-related complaints for the 2020 Durango, including one where the vehicle caught fire after being started with the remote auto-start feature.
How does the 2020 Durango compare to other years?
The 2020 Durango's Complaint Index of 21 is much lower than the worst years, such as 2014 (100) and 2011 (93), and is close to other recent "Best"-rated years like 2023 (14) and 2024 (7).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.