2002 Dodge DURANGO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
423 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 287 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 423 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 87 | 20.6% |
| Steering behavior | 45 | 10.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 40 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
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 | 76 |
| Electrical System | 44 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 30 |
| Power Train | 28 |
| Suspension | 25 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 23 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 18 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 76; Electrical System: 44; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 30; Power Train: 28; Suspension: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling: 23; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 53 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 77 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 61 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 77; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 61; 150,000 and above: 23
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 136 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 25 |
| 2003 | 58 |
| 2004 | 95 |
| 2005 | 46 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2002: 25; 2003: 58; 2004: 95; 2005: 46; 2006: 23; 2007: 16; 2008: 31; 2009: 15; 2010: 17; 2011: 13; 2012: 13; 2013: 6; 2014: 11; 2015: 20; 2016: 9; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 87 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 40 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 10011968 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN BRAKING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014205 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
NEEDED TO DO A HARD STOP. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SEEMED SLOW TO ENGAGE, DIS-ENGAGE, AND RE-ENGAGE DURING WHICH THE CAR WOULD ROLL. BASICALLY, THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE, THEN DISENGAGE, AND BEFORE THEY WOULD RE-ENGAGE, THE CAR ROLLED. IT WAS A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, AND A NOTICEABLE ROLL BEFORE THE ABS RE-ENGAGED. IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK A SECOND. SINCE THE CAR ROLLED AND WOULDN'T STOP, WE NEEDED TO SWERVE TO MISS TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALER, AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. EVEN TEST DROVE IT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, POINTED OUT THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022863 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029795 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, RIGHT HUBS AND BEARINGS. EA03-023
Owner-reported narrative. 15,840 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000314 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
THIS NOTE IS TO ACCOMPANY THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEFECT NOTIFICATION FOR MY 2002 DURANGO, VIN [VIN removed]. THIS IS THE SECOND DEFECTIVE DURANGO I HAVE PURCHASED IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS AND IT PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST DURANGO WAS ONLY GOOD FOR FOUR DAYS AND LESS THAN 400 MILES. WE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH IT TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING, ENGINE VIBRATIONS, AND POOR HANDLING PROBLEMS. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT MULTIPLE COMPUTERS WERE BAD AND IT WOULD TAKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AS …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014450 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
ONLY 14,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW REPLACING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION ON MY NEW 2002 DODGE DURANGO THANK GOODNESS WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE 1999 MODEL WE OWNED ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WE HAD NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN THIS WAS NOTICED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040920 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)
ELECTRONIC CONTROLS OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT DO NOT FUNTION PROPERLY. TURN SIGNALS,LIGHTS,CRUISE. GAUGES,WINDOWS,RADIO,AIRBAG ETC.. ALL HAVE MALFUNTIONED SINCE THE CAR WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE VEHICLE BUT DODDGE/CHRYSLER IS UN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE .THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I HAVE NUMEROUS WITNESSES AND HAVE STARTED VIDEO RECORDING THE PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113542 · 2005-03-07 (March 7, 2005)
INTERMITTENTLY THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WOULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COME ON OR GO OUT BY IT SELF (HEADLIGHT POWER DOOR LOCKS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, ETC) OR CAUSE THE SUV TRUCK TO STALL COMPLETELY. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003931 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007249 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY ON THE PARKWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVE. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 761479 · 2002-05-03 (May 3, 2002)
HOOD INSULATION MISSING OVERHEATING THE PAINT . BACK DOOR ALLOWS EMISSIONS FROM THE EXHAUST . ROOF PANEL DOES NOT FIT AT THE WINDSHIELD . PASSENGER DOORS SLAM TOO HARD. VENT AIR STRONG SMELL LIKE CARBON DIOXIDE. GAS TANK HOSES UNSECURED AND TOO CLOSE TO THE MOFFLER . NO ASHTRAY ..REAR CIGARRET LIGHTER ADAPTER DOES NOT WORK..LOUD POUNDING WITH THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN AT 40+ MIL;ES/HR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761479 at NHTSA ↗