2018 Dodge Durango Complaint Log

Water in racetrack tailgate taillights

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale purchased on December 27, 2025. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 82,000. While attempting to purchase an extended warranty, the contact was denied the warranty extension due to the odometer fraud. The contact was presented with a report, which indicated that in October of 2025, the mileage was documented at 186,000. After viewing the Carfax Report, the contact discovered that the mileage was 194,000. The contact informed the dealer of the odometer fraud.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the spark plugs had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, a week later, while the vehicle was idling, it was vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the same mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam lobes were worn and needed to be replaced. The mechanic confirmed the findings with the dealer, and it was confirmed that it was a known issue due to the heat treatment to harden the steel not being properly performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,700.

FORMAL COMPLAINT Safety Recall 94B (NHTSA Campaign No. 24V-838) I hereby submit this complaint regarding the failure to properly complete Safety Recall 94B (NHTSA Campaign No. 24V-838) involving the HCU/ABS module on my 2018 Dodge Durango. On December 23, 2025, I contacted an authorized Dodge dealer located at 5404 S. Illinois Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60012, to remedy the HCU/ABS defect under the recall. I was informed that the recall repair would be performed free of charge and an appointment was scheduled for December 29, 2025. At the scheduled visit, the vehicle was returned to me in less than 30 minutes without any recall repair being performed. Instead, I was told that paid diagnostics were required and that the estimated repair cost could range from $3,000 to $5,000. I was also informed that the recall repair could not be completed because the HCU/ABS module was not in stock. The dealer later stated that the module would be ordered, but the delivery timeline was repeatedly postponed. On January 27, 2026, the vehicle was returned to me with the same HCU/ABS-related malfunctions. The dealer stated that Recall 24V-838 / FCA 94B had been closed and refused to replace the HCU/ABS module under the recall. Although FCA systems reflect the recall as “completed,” the safety defect has not been remedied. The vehicle continues to display ABS/ESC warnings, and diagnostic trouble codes related to the braking and electronic stability control systems remain present, confirming that the defect described in the recall persists. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 30118(b) and 49 CFR § 573.6(c)(10), when a safety defect persists or reoccurs after recall repairs, the manufacturer is required to implement additional corrective measures, including repeat repair or replacement of the affected component or system. Closing a recall while the defect remains unresolved does not satisfy federal requirements. I respectfully request regulatory review and appropriate action to ensure that thi

Manufacturer Recall Number94B NHTSA Recall Number24V-838 Recall has been active but without a solution since 2022 and reopened in 2024.

Over time, the valvetrain in my engine became gradually louder. Because there were no check engine lights or fault codes, I initially assumed this was a normal characteristic of the engine. That changed on January 2, 2026, when I began to hear a pronounced knocking/loud tapping noise accompanied by a cylinder 8 misfire. At that point, I stopped driving the vehicle and had it towed to a repair shop. Based on the symptoms, we initially believed the issue would be limited to a camshaft and lifter replacement. However, after draining the oil and cutting open the oil filter, a significant amount of metal debris was discovered. Further inspection revealed that one camshaft lobe had been worn down nearly smooth and the corresponding lifter had failed. When the camshaft was removed for full evaluation, all other lobes showed normal, even wear. Only the lobe associated with the failed lifter exhibited catastrophic damage beyond repair. As a result of the metal contamination throughout the engine, a full engine replacement was required rather than a repair of individual components. The basis of my complaint is that this failure appears to be a well-documented and common issue with the 6.4L HEMI engine equipped with MDS. I have since reviewed numerous reports and forum discussions describing nearly identical failures—often beginning with increased valvetrain noise, followed by a single-cylinder misfire and extensive internal damage. This was not the result of neglect or abuse, but rather a known failure mode that ultimately led to the complete loss of the engine.

I currently own a 2018 Dodge Durango SXT, the rear tail lights leak due to a failing gasket causing thousands of dollars of repairs, as well as electrical issues. This defect, that Dodge is aware of and refuses to recall, causes major safety issues such as the whole assembly to burn out causing visibility issues and other drivers not being able to see you from behind.

(Initially) March of 2023 I had an issue with this vehicle 2018 Dodge Durango RT 2wd 5.7L serious electrical problems gauge cluster All lights and warnings indicators showing on Gauge Cluster..failure to start. I had the vehicle Towed to Dodge dealership in Fontana California and it was diagnosed as a power control module failure it fell short of a factory warranty and no recall .. after diagnostic I had the vehicle repaired at my expense .. they repaired the faulty module and vehicle worked Normally until this day 2 years later November 24th 2025.. I went to go start my vehicle this afternoon and I have the same exact problem as I had before all warning lights lit up on the gauge cluster and no start accompanied with no emergency flashers and no turn signals and no exterior lights.. this would be the second time the power control module has failed this is a frustrating issue as it is expensive for this repair this vehicle absolutely has a serious problem for this being the second time in 2 years the power control module has failed this needs to be addressed and further investigated please and thank you

I was driving to work and when I turned into my job the steering wheel became hard. I parked my truck turned it off and turned it back on and all of my dashboard lights came on and didn’t go away. The truck would not go into any gear. Initially, we thought it was a battery problem so they changed out the battery all the lights turned off but my truck is still not going into any gears. I was told due to the recall my truck is making it seem like I’m not pressing down on my break so I can’t shift gears and I cannot drive my truck. I called Chrysler and they told me that the only thing they could do was give me a rental that I had to pay $50 every day which I don’t think that’s fair because my truck isn’t working due to a recall that I didn’t cause. I don’t need reimbursement or any of that. I need a car. They told me that the car part might come in the first week of December that’s three weeks without a car. I need a vehicle.

While driving on the Thruway, the vehicle tends to misfire which results in lost power to the engine and shaking of the vehicle. The check engine light starts flashing and it becomes unsafe to maintain speeds. The issue was diagnosed as Cylinder 5 Misfire caused by camshaft and lifter failure. This sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds could cause an accident if it happens during traffic or passing situations. This is a known issue with the 2018 Dodge Durango GT V6 and should be a recall on the vehicle. This is a major engine issue.

The tailgate light has gone out on my 2018 Dodge Durango R/T. Researching online has lead me to discover that this is a known issue that is costing customers thousands of dollars due to a known design flaw. The tailgate light goes out and usually leads to the brake lights and backup camera going out. I do not know when the brakes lights may glitch or go out which can cause an accident. I asked the service person at the dealership about the tailgate issue in May of 2025 when the tailgate light was intermittently going in and out. I was told to call the 800 customer service number. There’s no warning for the tailgate light failing and leading to the failure of the brake lights and backup camera.

My front passenger headrest deployed while I was driving with no impact.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while stopped in a Drive-Thru, there was an abnormally loud sound before the driver’s side head restraint unexpectedly deployed. The contact's head was pushed forward with force and struck the steering wheel. There was no injury reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the head restraint's unintended deployment. The contact was informed that the driver’s side headrest needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,800.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the contact noticed an abnormal sound, and the front passenger's side headrest unexpectedly deployed without an impact to the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under an unknown extended warranty coverage; however, the dealer declined to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH on the highway, the vehicle stalled. The electronic stability control(ESC) warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. However, on other occasions, when the vehicle stalled, the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, where it was diagnosed with starter failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.

2018 Dodge Durango GT with 47,000. The check engine light came on. Took it to a Dodge dealer for service. Diagnosis was head gasket failure, allowing coolant into the cylinder causing engine misfire and potential overheat and a blown engine. This appears to be an ongoing issue with the Penstar V6 engine. This is a safety concern because the vehicle may break down while driving or overheat without warning, creating a power loss while driving

3.6L V6 Engine, Auto Start/Stop light came on followed by check engine light. Codes for multiple misfires, replaced multiple coils and replaced all spark plugs. After all was replaced, still had the same issues. Took it to a local Dodge dealership and they said it was a head gasket but it would have to be sent off to figure out which one.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle had started to lose motive power and nearly stalled. The contact stated that the check engine, a yellow "P" and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and shifted into park(P) and became aware that the vehicle was in neutral(N) when the vehicle rolled forward. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed by the mechanic, and it was determined that the PCM needed to be replaced and referred the contact to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the windows independently rolled down and the vehicle was in park(P) but the vehicle rolled forward. The contact turned off the vehicle but observed that the ignition was in the "RUN" position and while attempting to restart the vehicle to properly shut the vehicle off, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the starter motor had burned out and the batteries were drained and needed to be replaced due to an electrical failure. The contact requested information from the dealer about the PCM and was advised that he had missed a software update. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Rear Racetrack LED lightning is failing due to water intrusion. This could also possibly cause electrical issues to the license plate lights and back up camera. When in bad weather, other drivers could fail to see the back of my car, and could get into an accident. Yes, dealer stated that the cost is 1500 to fix. The Durango has 60K miles. Dealer only. No warning just a fellow driver reported my Racetrack light flickers and dim.

The rear race track rail has water build up at the bottom of it and it fried the lights so they don’t work anymore.

Purchased this vehicle used from a dealership and a few months later the racetrack light malfunctioned and stopped working which is also connected to my license plate light. The dealership refused to cover the expense of the light which to my surprise was over two thousand dollars, an expense I was not prepared for and now I am at a loss. They tried to negotiate that I should pay for half the cost when the car was purchased of their lot less than a few months with a major malfunction like this. Upon further research I find out there is a class action lawsuit against FCA about this issue. I do not have the money for this repair unless I borrow the money, if so can I get reimbursed though FCA?

Center lift gate racetrack light failed due to water getting into seam and shorting out that light and the license plate light. The whole unit needs to be replaced due to a faulty design which is going to cost over $2000

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rearview camera was intermittently inoperative and there was an abnormal sound coming from the infotainment system. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the infotainment system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

Water in racetrack lighting in rear tailgate. Also, license plate lights are not working either. Should be mfg problem to repair/recall

First we thought the fuel pump went bad due to the vehicle not starting. Pump was replaced and about 3 weeks later the same issue persisted. When the shop investigated it turns out the fuel tank harness and body side connector needed to be replaced due to connections becoming loose and delivering low voltage to the fuel pump causing it to burn up

Racetrack Tail light burned out and can effect driving safety issues, water got in there and the automaker know about this problem and they won’t fix it , I have to pay out of pocket.

Right hand and left hand intake camshaft were damaged by the slider rocker finger follower. Cylinder 5 was the worst. Metal was sent through the overhead and got into the intake phaser. Parts were recently removed by the dealer and should be available if request is made shortly. Failure was found prior to catastrophic failure due to noise from the engine compartment. Vehicle was dropped off in the overnight drop box to allow vehicle the best chance to replicate the noise. Noise was only noticeable during cold starts below 30°f at idle and no load. Once the car warmed up, the noise was much less noticeable and could easily have been overlooked. No check engine lights were illuminated. If problem was not corrected, I'm confident this vehicle would have left me stranded by loss of power during driving putting me and my family in an unsafe situation. I first noticed the objectionable noise in November 2024 but was unable to get it to replicate reliably so a dealer could diagnose it. The problem was replicated by a dealer and components were replaced under warranty @ 53,272 miles. Oil changes were completed in line or ahead of the oil life monitor system in the cars instrument cluster. This seems to be a cold climate design issue with no oil being provided to the intake camshaft to sliding rocker finger follower interface during start up as oil appears to be fed from exhaust side lash adjuster. I suspect this same issue will reappear as the replacement parts are the same with no apparent improvements. Since the repair I've noticed improved fuel economy, smoother accelerations and shifts, and overall less noise. The degradation of these things before was slow enough to be unnoticeable.

My vehicle began to misfire after driving roughly 8 miles, check engine light would flash and ding. After shutting vehicle off for a while and restarting it, problem would be gone until driving approximately 8 miles. Brought to Chrysler service center, where they reproduced the problem and determined it is a camshaft or camshaft related issue. Vehicle is parked at that service center awaiting parts that are backordered until January. Vehicle cannot be driven in this condition. If the camshaft fails catastrophically, it could destroy the entire engine, putting myself and whoever else is in the vehicle in danger.

After our cold winter here in PA when temperatures were -8 I noticed my tail light had a section not working and after looking at it I noticed a crack and water in that part. I started looking at replacing it until I seen it was going to be $2,000.00 just for the light. Will the Durango's that have these issues because of faulty parts pass state inspections until Dodge figures out what to do?

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase on January 10, 2025, the vehicle's mileage was 36,020. After checking the Carfax, the vehicle was flagged for odometer fraud with a current mileage of 74,624. The contact had filed a report with the State Attorney General, Mayor, and the business that the loan was taken out for the vehicle.

The main control screen acts erratic while driving. A variety of outcomes happen all unprompted - apps and functions open and close, navigation maps bounce locations, phone calls place, radio stations change, volume adjusts, etc. The more worrisome part is the distraction of these things to the driver. And attempts to control the erratic behavior. If not also attempt to turn on, turn off certain aspects (air/heat included) while the system is uncontrollable. Upon researching it - the issue is widespread. Experienced by many others. Is known by the manufacturer that a factory had assembled central consoles with the wrong adhesive. Specifically one was used with a low melting point. When heated by the car heater, it delaminates the screen. Experienced first as some slight bubbling. With each reheat, the adhesive have liquifies again, creating the erratic response by the electronics if not perhaps other more worrisome damage inside the dash as it melts down. Some owners with savvy skills have disassembled the dash, separated the two parts that are adhered with the bad glue (screen and digitizer), cleaned out the adhesive, reassembled without the adhesive and found the erratic uncontrollable behavior of the center console resolved. Dealers quote $1000-$2000 prices to replace the unit, without providing confidence that the new one will be free of the same problematic adhesive. Forums are loaded with owners looking for solutions. Durango is aware. Operation of the vehicle is affected. Drivers distracted. Please look into the issue. It seems both a safety issue and an ethical issue not to fix what is clearly a simple quality issue that has become a profound distraction for so many. This complaint portal does not allow for us to upload videos, but we'd be happy to provide them.

My tailgate lamp also known as the race track lamp it's collecting water every time I take it into the car wash which it now cost part of my life to burn out which can be a safety issue if all of it completely goes out

The racetrack and the tail light do not work at all. I went to get my Durango inspected and they couldn't do it due to this issue. There was water coming out of the hatch when a mechanic was looking at this problem. I was told even if I spent a lot of money to fix it, it probably would repeat itself. My car has not been inspected for over month due to this issue.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V83800(Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the brake lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting intermittently and would start after several attempts. Additionally, the contact stated that the gear shifter had failed to move out of park(P) intermittently, which required the contact to depress the brake pedal excessively to move the gear shifter out of park(P). The check engine warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The dealer was contacted. No further information was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 65,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

10/28/2024 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation Subject: Report of Safety Issue - Dodge Uconnect Radio Malfunction The infotainment system in my Dodge vehicle, equipped with Uconnect radio, has malfunctioned, affecting safe operation. The radio’s touchscreen has a “delaminating” defect, as described by a Dodge technician, causing erratic, uncommanded screen activity, sometimes leading to unintentional actions such as an inadvertent 911 call. This random, uncontrollable behavior affects critical functions like navigation, radio, and climate controls, creating a significant safety risk by distracting the driver. The issue also impacts the rear-view camera when the screen freezes. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a Dodge technician as a screen delamination defect, who noted this is a recurring issue with Uconnect in Dodge vehicles. No other entities, such as police or insurance representatives, have inspected the component, but the dealership quoted $900 for repairs since my vehicle is no longer under warranty. Given that this defect is widespread and the financial impact is substantial, I am filing this report in hopes of a broader resolution. No specific warning lamps or dashboard messages indicated the problem before it began. The erratic behavior first occurred during normal operation and has continued intermittently. I believe this issue should be investigated as it presents a serious safety concern for Dodge owners. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA recall No. 23E-019 covers the replacement of defective Hydraulic Control Unit / Anti-Lock Brake System part No. 68085397AB built with a Julian Date code between 8166 and 9106. Bullet point number 6 in the 'chronology' of 23E-019 states "suspect service parts were not used in vehicle production". I disagree. While in the dealership for recall No. 22V-426 to re-program Hydraulic Control Unit / Anti-Lock Brake System parts No. 68085397AB and 68442478AB, I was told both those parts are now bad and need replacing. The Hydraulic Control Unit / Anti-Lock Brake System part No. 68085397AB taken off my vehicle has a date code of 8201. This is within the defective date range that was not supposed to be used in vehicle production. We bought the car new and it's never been in for any brake related work. The dealership says our VIN is not on the list of covered vehicles so we paid $1,578.41

There is definitely something wrong with the headrests on the durangos. I was vacuuming my seats and i used the passenger lever to push it back and the headrest on the passenger side popped out and now the clips are broke & it wont pop back in. They definitely need to look into the headrests and fix this issue.

I have noticed moisture in the rear tailgate light which houses the rear camera, license plate light, reverse lights and a larger(racetrack) tailight. I have drained the light a couple of times and noticed a small portion of the light was dim. This has been going on probably a year. Last night our son was driving behind and noticed the whole tailgate light had gone out along with the license plate light. There is no way to service this light it has to be replaced. The replacement light at the dealer was $1480. To me that is not an option. This is definitely a safety and consumer concern in my book.

The front passenger side headrest Safety mechanism deployed as I was driving down the road and upon looking at it, a piece inside is broken. when the headrest deployed, it hit my passenger in the head, pushing him forward and give him a headache it came out so hard and fast I brought the car to the dealership today, 9/3/24 they said other year, Durango have a recall, but my year is not one of them there were no warning lights.

The AHR system for the passenger seat failed. While sitting in the school line for one of my kids, the passenger headrest (AHR system) malfunctioned and protruded forward. If the force behind the protrusion would have hit someone it could have caused a concussion, if it would have been the driver, could have caused an accident if in motion. Having issues with Dodge warranting for the repair, have had dealership look at it, said it needs to be repaired, and I am currently working on a case with Dodge itself. No warning lamps were on and have not came on since the issue. This is a manufacturing defect and should be covered under the X88.

I was sitting in my car in the car line to drop my children off at school and the passenger seat headrest busted open and scared us 3 half to death. Luckily no one was sitting in the passenger seat, I believe if someone was it would have caused a severe headache and neck pain. I'm so fortunate it did not happen while I was driving either, who knows what my reaction would have been. Apparently this has happened to other vehicles including Dodge Durangos which is what I own. I took it to the dealership like Dodge customer service informed me to do and they weren't sure why it busted open and can't compress it back. The whole thing has to be replaced, $1,200. Dodge customer service doesn't feel like it's an issue and won't replace it. I've had a hard time getting any information from Dodge customer service and I can't seem to get them to call me back. My car has not been wrecked and this is definitely a manufacturing defect that needs to be addressed!! There was no warning at all that this was going to happen and no lights have come on in my car to let me know it did. Dodge needs to put out a recall on the headrest.

The driver side headrest "deployed" and pushed the headrest to the back of my head. I was sitting in the driver seat and the vehicle was parked, and when I moved a bag from the front passenger seat to the middle row, the driver side headrest opened on it's own. I cannot compress the headrest together. My concern is this was a faulty safety deployment.

Engine shuts off randomly by itself. Could be hazardous when it happens while driving on Highways. Vehicle must be stopped and placed in park to restart.

The rear taillights are filling up with water and burning the rear lights out which causes safety for other not being able to see the rear of the car. I know 3 other people that have the same issue on there dodge durango. You have to take the bolt out to drain the water. There is no seal or gasket inside preventing water from going in also can cause other electrical problems which is not safe.

The center hate LED brake light has water in it and shorted out making visibility of the rear of the vehicle hard to see at night. Dealer told me this is a very common issue and wants over $1000 for me to order another. Dodge needs to fix this and make it right as it's a design issue. This is a serious safety concern and will not drive with my family in the vehicle until able to fix it.

I was driving down the interstate using cruise control. The lane was slowing so I went to accelerate around and the car made a thud noise. After that, the car started to slow and 2 minutes later stated cruise control off then would not shift above 1st gear.

Radio screen delaminated and randomly pushing buttons turning functions of the car on and off, adjusting the climate you can’t fix, calling people randomly. This is a very well known issue with these screens and should be a recall. Very distracting to the driver and you are unable to keep this from happening. Unable to control certain functions in the car. Has been delaminating for years but getting worse and more of a problem.

Water entered into the rear tail light from rain and shorted the light and caused it to stop working. And is burnt out. This doesn’t have a bulb to replace it’s the entire running light system.

Water is getting into the tail lights which is starting to burn the lights out. It's a safety concern especially at night time. They're should be a recall on this issue as fixing it is costly. A lot of people are being affected by this.