Carlexica

2002 Dodge Durango: problems, recalls and reliability

6 recalls and 423 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (30% of complaints).

Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2008

6
recalls
423
owner complaints
13
fire reports
60,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

Weak spot: suspension (30%)13 fire reports

Common problems

Computed from 423 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Suspension (shocks, springs, ride quality)30% · 126 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)14% · 59 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)10% · 42 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)10% · 40 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)9% · 37 complaints
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)4% · 18 complaints
When driving to the store I shut vehicle off and went in . When I came out I cranked it over and it startered and then caught on fire by firewall and was ingolfed in flamesOwner report · Engine · Nov 2020
When driving, the steering wheel locks and the car dies. It has happen several times while I'm on the road. Replaced camshaft sensor but it is still dying. If you do a google search you will find that a lot of people are having the same issue. It is dangerous and my life and the life of others can be at risk. *trOwner report · Electrical System · May 2020
After starting my dodge durango and try to take it out of gear, the gear shifter gets stuck in park, it will not move. I have to keep playing around with it until it moves out of park. It does this off and on, just stated this about a couple of months ago. Today is 2/16/2020. Yesterday, I looked up the problem on you tube, and found out that I could take the boot off at the column by the shifter and spray wd40 on the gear lock to unstick it. I did do that and it worked. But what is making it do that to begin with?Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
The steering is very loose. Has a lot of play in it. Have replaced tie rod ends. At this time we can not seem to find out what is causing it.Owner report · Steering · Oct 2019
Happened twice since dec. 2018 when driving on city streets at speed of aprx. 35-45 and ABS was deployed it immediatly unlocked and jumped forward causing the car to not immediately stop. Came very close to rear ending car in front of me had I been closer.Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2019
Automatic transmission, gear shift is locking in park. After starting vehicle and trying to shift into drive, gear shift will not move. Has occurred 3 times in last two weeks. After "playing" with gear shift, trying to get it to move, I hear a click and then it is operative. On the 3 occasions, took from approximately 1 to 3 minutes before hearing click. Looked up on line to see if others were having issue and search led me to a recall for2002 dodge durango issued in december 2007. I never received a recall notice at that time. NHTSA id # 07v555000 related to ignition/park shift interlock system becoming inoperative.Owner report · Steering · Sep 2018
The hub unit broke while driving the car did not want to go it took a long time to move forward and the steering was off. There was a pound clanking noise right after I started to make a left turn and then it broke.Owner report · Suspension · Jul 2018
The hub on my 02 Durango has had to be replaced 8 times since I bought it in 2018 but everyone says my car isn't part of recall.Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2018
While driving on an interstate highway at 65 miles per hour the engine shut down and I pulled off onto the shoulder. After sitting for about 5 minutes I tried the ignition key and the engine started and I continued on my way.Owner report · Engine · Nov 2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge durango. While the vehicle was stationary, the steering wheel was positioned in a lopsided manner which made it difficult to steer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.Owner report · Steering · May 2017

When filing, owners marked a crash in 35 of these complaints and injuries in 38 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 6 campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM06V339000 · Sep 2006

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BENCH SEATS ONLY, IF FLUID IS SPILLED FROM THE FLOOR MOUNTED CUP HOLDER, AN UNUSED CONSOLE POWER OUTLET CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONSOLE WIRING CONNECTOR FOR CORROSION, CLEAN AS REQUIRED, AND INSTALL A CAP TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL FLUID FROM CONTAMINATING THE CONNECTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB08E064000 · Oct 2008

SKF IS RECALLING 2,805 HUB UNITS, PART NO. BR930361, SOLD AS A SERVICE PART FOR 1997-2004 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES AND 1999-2003 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2-WHEEL DRIVE & REAR AXLE ABS. DUE TO A SPECIFICATION ERROR, THE ROTOR PILOT FOR THE HUB UNIT MAY BE TOO LONG. THIS RESULTS IN THE WHEEL TO NOT BE SEATED FULLY AGAINST THE HUB FLANGE FACE DURING MOUNTING.

Remedy: SKF WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HUB UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SKF VSM NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-644-8999.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER04V216000 · May 2004

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING06E024000 · Mar 2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT07V555000 · Dec 2007

ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT04V596000 · Dec 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Specifications

Factory options offered for the 2002 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.

Drive type4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 · 4x2

How other years compare

Check your exact Durango by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2002 Dodge Durango reliable?

NHTSA has 423 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Dodge Durango. The most complained-about area is suspension (30% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Durango problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 60,000 miles or less.

Does the 2002 Dodge Durango have open recalls?

6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.