2001 Dodge Durango
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 665 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 25 Durango model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 60 involved a crash and 20 involved a fire. 55 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, hubOct 20, 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.
IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. SHOULD WHEEL-END SEPARATION OCCUR, THE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 08E064000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftDec 4, 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.
EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 07V555000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemSep 7, 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.
THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE.
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.
Campaign 06V339000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingMar 15, 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.
A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Campaign 06E024000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, upper ball jointDec 21, 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.
EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
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.
Campaign 04V596000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftMar 7, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHEN THE OPERATOR MOVES THE TRANSFER CASE SELECTOR SWITCH.
THIS COULD CAUSE THE TRANSFER CASE TO END UP IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION UNEXPECTEDLY AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 01V077000 on NHTSA.gov
Child seatNov 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
Campaign 00V366000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
264 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Tires, Jul 23, 2003
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF ALL 4 TIRES, WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT, PER MECHANIC.*AK
Suspension, Jul 23, 2003
I HAVE 2001 DODGE DURANGO AND RECENTLY HEARD NOISES IN THE FRONT END ,AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SKIP ACROSS THE ROAD WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. IN ADDITION, THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES BOTH FRONT AND BACK ARE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE. THE LEFT SIDE IS WEARING NORMALLY. WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS, THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES, IS ALMOST THROWN OUT OF YOUR HANDS. VEHICLE ALSO SEEMS TO BE RIDING VERY ROUGH THAN WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. DEALER INSPECTED FRONT END AND CLAIMED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS.*AK
Suspension, Jul 23, 2003
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DURANGO THAT HAD THE UPPER CONTROL ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE HAS 50599 MILES. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR THE A/C BLOWER. THE DEALER CALLED TO TELL ME DURING THE TEST DRIVE, THEY HEARD POPPING NOISES IN THE FRONT END. THEY CHECKED THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS AND FOUND THEM TO BE OUT OF TOLERANCE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. QUESTION WHY THE TOOK A "TEST DRIVE" TO CHECK THE A/C BLOWER. I SUSPECT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS ON THIS MODEL AND WANTED TO HAVE IT CORRECTED.*AK
Suspension, Jul 23, 2003
FRONT SUSPENSION HAS WOBBLE. FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGN OF WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE WITHIN 18K MILES. PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AT 24000 MILES. FRONT END OF THE DURANGO STILL HAS STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE AT 60 MPH AT 40K MILES. ISSUE SEEMS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE03032. HAVE NOT HAD THE FRONT END SUSPENSION LOOKED AT, AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK
Suspension, Jul 23, 2003
40,000 MILES AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. ALSO HAD TO PUT A NEW STEERING RACK ON. BALL JOINTS MAKE POPPING SOUND AND STEERING IS JUMPY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER IN UNPREDICTABLE DIRECTIONS. CHRYSLER WON'T STAND BEHIND AND WANTS $$$ TO FIX. DOESN'T SEEM THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD WEAR SO QUICKLY. *AK
Steering, Suspension, Jul 22, 2003
LOST CONTROL OF 2001 DODGE DURANGO ON BROKEN ARROW EXPRESSWAY BETWEEN HARVARD AND LEWIS , HEADING WEST THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, NOT ALL AT THE SAME LOCATION. I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY DODGE, AND THE ROAD AT THIS LOCATION IS EXTREMELY BAD. I CALLED THE HIGHWAY DEPT. LEFT A MESSAGE BUT NEVER HEARD BACK.
Suspension, Jul 22, 2003
ON OCCASION WHEN I AM TURNING SHARP THE FRONT SUSPENSION WILL POP. I HAVE HEARD THIS SOUND EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (NEW). THE SERVICE FACILITY AT THE DODGE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
Suspension, Jul 22, 2003
FRONT TIRES STARTED WEARING EXCESSIVEY ON THE OUTER EDGE WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON VEHICLE ACCOMPANIED BY HARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH MINIMAL RESULTS. IT WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS AN ALINGMENT PROBLEM, DEALER SUPPOSEDLY ALIGNED VEHICLE TO FACTORY SPECS. THE SECOND VISIT I WAS TOLD THE SPRING ISOLATORS WERE MISALIGNED (REALIGNED ISOLATORS AND FRONT END). "COMPLAINTS ABOUT SERVICE AND CONTINUOS PROBLEMS ADDRESSED TO SERVICE MANAGER". I WAS OFFERED A FREE OIL CHANGE AS COMPENSATION. THIRD VISIT WAS TO DIFFERENT DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS WORN RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT (REPLACED PARTS). VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN RECENTLY AT 36000 MILES WITH EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND UNCONTROLLABLE PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALER STATED THAT THE GOODYEAR LS TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY ARE ONLY A 30,000 MILE TIRE AND CROSS ROTATED THE LT. AND RT. FRONT TIRES AS A FIX. I IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED UP WITH A VISIT TO THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE FIRST SUGGESTION WAS I GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TOLD ME THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE 40,000 MILE PLUS. ALL PROBLEMS HAVE ALL OCCURED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. ADDITIONALLY I CALLED CHRYSLER TO INQUIRE ABOUT NOTED PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS OR HISTORY OF FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH DURANGOS. I DID REQUEST TO START A CUSTOMER PROBLEM FILE AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT BOTH DEALERSHIPS RELUCTANCE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE FOR WARRANTY WORK. FINALLY, WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WILL BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AND BOUNCES TO LEFT OR RIGHT.
Suspension, Jun 27, 2003
BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES BROKE. *JB *SCC *JB
Suspension, Jun 9, 2003
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTPROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER, AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO SPLIT THE CHARGES.*AK
Suspension, Apr 1, 2003
THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB
Suspension, Aug 3, 2001
THIS VEHICLE AND ALL OTHER DURANGOS ARE NOT SAFE AT THIS SPEED, TO STAY ON TRACK OVER UN-EVEN ROAD. THIS CAN CAUSE SEVEAR ACCIDENTS ON FWY USE AS I-75 OR I-94 IN DETROIT. PLEASE LOOK ALSO AT THE FORD EXPLORE UP TO THE NEW MODEL WHICH HAS FINALY A INDEPENTED REAR , THERFORE A SMALLER ROLL-OVER INCEDENT RATE WILL RESULT. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Suspension, Jul 17, 2001, crash
STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO RIGHT (AS IF SOMEONE GRABBED IT AND PULLED). STEERING PULLED SAME WAY AGAIN (WITHIN SECONDS) AND DURANGO WENT INTO SPIN, THEN INTO DITCH, THEN ROLLED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT, NO OTHER TRAFFIC, WEATHER WAS DRY AND CLEAR.*AK
Suspension, Jul 11, 2001
WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL, IT GOES TO LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER BLAMED THIS ON TOO MUCH TIRE PRESSURE, AND ADJUSTED THE PRESSURE. CONSUMER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE THIS, DID NOT HANDLE THE WAY HER'S DID. *AK