2005 Dodge Durango Reliability
The 2005 Dodge Durango has 1,567 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Durango model years (2003–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Durango's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,567
NHTSA owner complaints
9
Recall campaigns
38
Complaints citing a crash
21
Complaints citing a fire
2005 Dodge Durango complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 model year, filed between 2004 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 550 | 35% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 217 | 14% |
| Engine & cooling | 216 | 14% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 203 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 198 | 13% |
| Engine | 113 | 7% |
| Air bags | 111 | 7% |
| Steering | 70 | 4% |
2005 Dodge Durango recalls
9 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2005 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05V034000 | Feb 3, 2005 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly / filler pipe and cap | On certain sport utility vehicles, the fuel tank filler tube inlet check valve may not fully close at the end of refueling. This could allow some fuel to escape from the vehicle filler neck. |
| 05V460000 | Oct 6, 2005 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | On certain pickup trucks, sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 42rle automatic transmissions, the cup plug that retains the park pawl anchor shaft may be improperly installed. If the shaft moves out of position, the vehicle may not be able to… |
| 06V067000 | Mar 8, 2006 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor | On certain vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft may break. |
| 07V092000 | Mar 9, 2007 | Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel | On some sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, an integrated circuit in the instrument cluster that controls interior lighting may overheat. |
| 09V003000 | Jan 8, 2009 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | Chrysler is recalling 18,951 my 2005 Dodge Durango vehicles. The fuel tank filler tube inlet check valve may not fully close at the end of refueling. This could allow some fuel to escape from the vehicle through the filler neck at the end of refueling. |
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 14V770000 | Dec 3, 2014 | Air bags | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, 2004-2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Dodge Dakota, 2005 Dodge Magnum and 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C and 300 SRT8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in… |
| 15V313000 | May 27, 2015 | 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,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 16V352000 | May 24, 2016 | 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…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
How the 2005 compares with nearby Durango years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Durango analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 339 | 6 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2004 | 1,115 | 9 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2005 (this page) | 1,567 | 9 | Fuel system | Avoid |
| 2006 | 852 | 10 | Fuel system | Avoid |
| 2007 | 275 | 4 | Fuel system | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2005 Dodge Durango
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 9 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2005 Dodge Durango can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2005 Dodge Durango reliability FAQ
Is the 2005 Dodge Durango reliable?
The 2005 Dodge Durango has 1,567 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Durango model years (2003–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Durango's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2005 Dodge Durango problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Dodge Durango are fuel system (550), powertrain / transmission (217), engine & cooling (216), fuel / propulsion system (203). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2005 Dodge Durango have recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2005 Dodge Durango, including 05V034000 (fuel system — storage / tank assembly / filler pipe and cap) and 05V460000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2005 Dodge Durango compare with the 2004 and 2006 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2004 has 1,115 complaints and 9 recalls (avoid); the 2006 has 852 complaints and 10 recalls (avoid). The 2005 has 1,567 complaints and 9 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2005 Dodge Durango?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Dodge Durango research
Other Dodge Durango model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2005 Durango, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.