Dodge Durango Years to Avoid
Avoid: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021 · Best: 2008, 2009, 2020, 2023 — based on 4,543 NHTSA complaints across 18 model years (2008–2025), severity-weighted and adjusted for time on the road; 2015–2022 average: 2.96 complaints per 1,000 sold.
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 4,543 NHTSA complaints, the Dodge Durango years to avoid are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021 — the worst logged up to 3.8× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by body failures. Updated November 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of November 2026 · How we rate model years
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict | Problems & recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97 | 60 | 2 | BEST | — |
| 2009 | 19 | 11 | 4 | BEST | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | — |
| 2011 | 797 | 453 | 8 | AVOID | — |
| 2012 | 637 | 371 | 10 | AVOID | — |
| 2013 | 640 | 347 | 11 | AVOID | — |
| 2014 | 781 | 214 | 11 | AVOID | — |
| 2015 | 502 | 131 | 4 | AVOID | 2015 Durango problems → |
| 2016 | 159 | 67 | 3 | SOLID | 2016 Durango problems → |
| 2017 | 209 | 88 | 2 | SOLID | 2017 Durango problems → |
| 2018 | 227 | 77 | 5 | AVOID | 2018 Durango problems → |
| 2019 | 138 | 74 | 4 | CAUTION | 2019 Durango problems → |
| 2020 | 53 | 22 | 2 | BEST | 2020 Durango problems → |
| 2021 | 183 | 50 | 7 | AVOID | 2021 Durango problems → |
| 2022 | 53 | 24 | 6 | SOLID | 2022 Durango problems → |
| 2023 | 32 | 16 | 1 | BEST | 2023 Durango problems → |
| 2024 | 9 | 7 | 0 | N/A | 2024 Durango problems → |
| 2025 | 7 | 3 | 0 | N/A | 2025 Durango problems → |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Dodge Durango. Full methodology.
Durango problems by model year
Each year has its own page with the complaint components, NHTSA recall campaigns, service-bulletin count, a comparison with the year before and after, and what to check on a used one.
Common Dodge Durango problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Dodge Durango are body, electrical, engine. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Headrest airbag spontaneous deployment
· Dodge Durango 2012–2019Corroborated by 31 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 777 body complaints across 2012–2019, typically 99,300–168,122 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $800–$1,500.
Alternator failure with overheating and PCM damage
· Dodge Durango 2012–2013Corroborated by 2 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 634 electrical complaints across 2012–2013. Owner-reported repair cost $3,000.
Engine misfire and valve train defect
· Dodge Durango 2012–2015Corroborated by 2 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 385 engine complaints across 2012–2015. Owner-reported repair cost $14,400.
Why these years stand out
2011 Dodge Durango: 797 owner complaints on federal record, 453 of them severe, plus 8 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
2012 Dodge Durango: 637 owner complaints on federal record, 371 of them severe, plus 10 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
2013 Dodge Durango: 640 owner complaints on federal record, 347 of them severe, plus 11 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
2014 Dodge Durango: 781 owner complaints on federal record, 214 of them severe, plus 11 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
2015 Dodge Durango: 502 owner complaints on federal record, 131 of them severe, plus 4 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
2018 Dodge Durango: 227 owner complaints on federal record, 77 of them severe, plus 5 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
2021 Dodge Durango: 183 owner complaints on federal record, 50 of them severe, plus 7 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Dodge Durango.
Know what to pay for the right Dodge Durango — then negotiate it
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FAQ
What years of the Dodge Durango should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Dodge Durango years to avoid are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by body issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
What are the best years for the Dodge Durango?
The 2008, 2009, 2020 and 2023 Dodge Durango show the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Dodge Durango verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Dodge Durango's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Dodge Durango before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Dodge Durango reliable?
The Dodge Durango's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 4,543 NHTSA owner complaints, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021 rate "avoid", while 2008, 2009, 2020 and 2023 show the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above.
What are the most common problems with the Dodge Durango?
The most-reported problem area for the Dodge Durango is body, followed by electrical and engine. Confirmed failures include headrest airbag spontaneous deployment, alternator failure with overheating and pcm damage, engine misfire and valve train defect. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Dodge Durango across every model year on record. Retrieved November 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered (the per-1,000-sold figure above divides 2015–2022 complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales); a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Dodge Durango, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.