2001 Dodge DURANGO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
665 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
55,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 414 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 168 of 665 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 95 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 62 | 9.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 53 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 42 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 168 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 89 |
| Electrical System | 63 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 50 |
| Suspension | 32 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Suspension:Front | 25 |
| Seats | 22 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 168; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 89; Electrical System: 63; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 50; Suspension: 32; Air Bags: 27; Suspension:Front: 25; Seats: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 140 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 99 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 58 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 51 |
| 150,000 and above | 32 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 140; 50,000 to 74,999: 99; 75,000 to 99,999: 58; 100,000 to 149,999: 51; 150,000 and above: 32
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (140). 251 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2003 | 137 |
| 2004 | 163 |
| 2005 | 77 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 27 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 26; 2002: 47; 2003: 137; 2004: 163; 2005: 77; 2006: 26; 2007: 21; 2008: 33; 2009: 27; 2010: 20; 2011: 20; 2012: 16; 2013: 8; 2014: 8; 2015: 13; 2016: 7; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 95 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 53 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002914 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
GEAR SHIFT MOVES INTO GEAR WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. GEAR SHIFT LEVER STICKS OUT PAST STEERING WHEEL IN FRONT OF AC AND RADIO CONTROLS AND IS EASLY KNOCKED INTO GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011052 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING FRONT BAKES AND ROTORS ON A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY. 23500 MILES AND THE ROTORS ARE IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES I GET A PRETTY BAD VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP VERY WELL. I SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY INFORMED ME THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE CONSIDERED WEAR PARTS AND WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING AND FOUND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT MAYBE CHRYSLER …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003389 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
I OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO RT IN WHICH I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 22, 2001 THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT ALIGNED OR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT TO DRIVE. THEY CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS OK. ON JANUARY 23, 2003 I WENT IN FOR ROUTINE OILCHANGE AND CHECK UP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. NOW THEY SAY THAT THE TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE AND NEEDS A NEW RACK AND PINION. CAN YOU CHECK IF THIS IS A CONTINUOS COMPLAINT ABOUT THESE TRUCKS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006517 · 2001-06-05 (June 5, 2001)
WIFE DROVE FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE. SHIFTED TO REVERSE (AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION) AND BACKED UP TO STRAIGHTEN VEHICLE. SHIFTED TO DRIVE. APPLIED GAS, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE. BACKED INTO CURB AND MAILBOX, SHIFTED INTO 2ND. VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE, SHIFTED INTO 1ST. VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE, SHUT MOTOR OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER TESTED VEHICLE AND COULD FIND NO FAULT. COMMENT ON INVOICE WAS "NPF ROAD TESTED CHECKED WITH DRB NO CODES 185 LY, LONG LIC#2069. SCC *NLM **DIMSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,016 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041331 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I JUST TURNED 40,000 MILES. I FELT A SLIGHT PAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER. THEY GAVE ME THE STANDARD ANSWER. "3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES." WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE DURANGO TRANSMISSIONS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019731 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS NHTSA RECALL # 03V-078000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020296 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS TO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031243 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT STEERING TRACK ROD. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE STARTED STALLING, AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE.DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE STEERING TRACK ROD, AND THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED MECHANICALLY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033229 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL IN FOUR WHEEL LOW. THIS HAPPENED IN WINTER CAUSING PASSENGER AND I TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH INTO SNOW BANK. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT 4 TIMES, REPLACING SEVERAL PARTS AND DOING A COMPLETE TUNE UP. CHRYSLER HAS SENT A TECH UP TO LOOK AT IT AS WELL. THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER CAN FIGURE THIS OUT NOW THEY ARE CLAIMING IT IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS. WE HAVE TESTED OTHER DODGE DURANGOS AND CHYSLER VEHICLES IN THE SAME PLACE AND NONE OF THEM DO THIS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088356 · 2004-08-22 (August 22, 2004)
#1-3 INCIDENTS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKING UP CAUSING SIGNIFICANT STEERING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS, REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS AS A RESULT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE; #2-LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO MAINTAIN SAFETY OF VEHICLE (RIGHT SIDE BEGINNING TO MAKE THE SAME SOUND); #3-MULTIPLE INCIDENTS (AT LEAST 5) OF CEL COMING ON WITHIN LAST 9 MONTHS-THE LAST (8/20/04) INDICATES THAT THE FUEL PUMP, GAS TANK, AND OTHER COMPONENTS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE GAS TANK BECOMES CONCAVE AFTER THE VEHICLE RUNS FOR 15…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163151 · 2006-07-22 (July 22, 2006)
I HAVE HAD MY DODGE FOR THREE YEARS AND SINCE THEN SEVERAL THINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT DUE TO THE COOLANT FAILURE. THE SENSOR STOPPED WORKING AND OVER HEATED THE ENGINE BURNT UP THE TRANSMISSION. THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER WINDOW BURNT OUT AND HAD TO E REPLACED. THE DODGE STOP CRANKING SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. WE ARE NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING FAN ON THE ENGINE THAT HAS BURNT OUT AS WELL. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH MY TRUCK AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163151 at NHTSA ↗