2005 Dodge Durango problems & reliability
1,567 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Dodge Durango, alongside 8 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
27 complaints report injuries (35 injured, 3 deaths reported).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2005 Dodge Durango vehicles were involved in 53 fatal crashes with 39 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 539 | 34% |
| Power Train | 217 | 14% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 216 | 14% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 203 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 198 | 13% |
| Engine | 113 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 111 | 7% |
| Steering | 70 | 4% |
| Unknown OR Other | 45 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 75,000 miles (middle 50% between 48,000 and 112,000 miles), based on 1,283 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“My car is having identical symptoms to a recall for it, but dodge is saying my vehicle is "Not affected", despite having identical symptoms from an identical cause. The check valve on my fuel tank has failed, and it overflows when I fill it with gas”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Feb 3, 2025
“The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the contact became aware that gasoline was spilling out of the fuel filler neck. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V003000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the failure…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Jun 4, 2024
“The carseat will not lock into the base proper in any recline position except 1. 1 is supposed to be for a newborn. When you place the seat (till you hear it "lock" into place per the manual and a CPST) in 2, 3, or 4 then the seat drops down into the 1 position while driving down the road. We've contacted evenflo…”
Carry Handle, Shell, Base · filed Oct 6, 2023
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering Analysis EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering Analysis EA15001 · opened Feb 24, 2015 · open · led to recall 22V945
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Preliminary Evaluation PE14016 · opened Jun 11, 2014 · closed Mar 2, 2015 · led to recall 15V226000
- Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Audit Query AQ10001 · opened Nov 18, 2010 · closed Dec 28, 2015
- FUEL SPIT-BACK DURING REFUELING
Recall Query RQ08005 · opened Jul 28, 2008 · closed Jan 9, 2009 · led to recall 09V003000
- INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRES
Engineering Analysis EA06015 · opened Aug 28, 2006 · closed Mar 15, 2007 · led to recall 07V092000
- STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING SHAFT BOLTS
Engineering Analysis EA06004 · opened Mar 9, 2006 · open
- ENGINE STALL
Engineering Analysis EA05018 · opened Nov 2, 2005 · closed Aug 29, 2007
Technical service bulletins
75 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2005 Dodge Durango. The 10 most recent:
Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: Warranty, Mopar, customer pay and service contract. Order "68" part number for New unsold units only.
9100645 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 15, 2025
Plate - Planetary
101232 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 30, 2024
Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number…
9004009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 7, 2021
Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number…
9004009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 31, 2021
GEAR MOTOR, Transfer Case The gear motor assembly is shipped in AWD/2WD position. The transfer case needs to be positioned in AWD/2WD position to properly assemble gear motor to T-Case. Please reference Star Online…
9004350 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 10, 2021
GEAR MOTOR, Transfer Case The gear motor assembly is shipped in AWD/2WD position. The transfer case needs to be positioned in AWD/2WD position to properly assemble gear motor to T-Case. Please reference Star Online…
9004350 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 10, 2021
Transfer Case Gear Motor/Actuator Installation Guidelines.
S2121000003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 4, 2021
Transfer Case Gear Motor/Actuator Installation Guidelines.
S2121000003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 4, 2021
Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
9001784 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 22, 2021
Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
9001784 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 22, 2021
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2005 Dodge Durango has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2005 Dodge Durango?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 75,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.