2003 Dodge DURANGO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
339 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
62,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 240 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 339 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 47 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 47 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 |
| Suspension | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 18 |
| Suspension:Front | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 |
| Steering | 14 |
Electrical System: 47; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 47; Exterior Lighting: 23; Suspension: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling: 18; Suspension:Front: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Steering: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 66 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 39 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 42 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 66; 25,000 to 49,999: 39; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 42; 150,000 and above: 24
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (66). 99 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 | 1 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 63 |
| 2005 | 46 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 26; 2004: 63; 2005: 46; 2006: 14; 2007: 31; 2008: 19; 2009: 14; 2010: 18; 2011: 15; 2012: 20; 2013: 14; 2014: 15; 2015: 10; 2016: 13; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 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 10029926 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. ALSO, VEHICLE NEEDS CONSTANT REALIGNMENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040305 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKES PEDAL PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145204 · 2005-12-14 (December 14, 2005)
DURING NORMAL DRIVING WHEN COMING TO STOPS IN MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO SLT, THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL FLASH AND THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. I TOOK DURANGO TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THIS PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES AND COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169508 · 2006-09-28 (September 28, 2006)
ALL LIGHTING ON MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO EXCEPT HAZARD AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THIS INCLUDES ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS AND RUNNING LAMPS. NO FUSES BLOWN. DISCUSSION WITH DODGE DEALERSHIP REVEALED THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM AND IS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNIT ON THE DASHBOARD. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MESSAGE BOARDS ALSO REVEALED THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM, ALONG WITH THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY WHICH BECOMES HOT AND MELTS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030527 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT IN FEBRUARY 2003 IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWICE, THE REAR END TWICE AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. I OWNED A 1999 DURANGO AND HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED A FEW TIMES AND THE BALL JOINTS. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAD DONE THE SAME THING. DODGE COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT DURANGO AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS TRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,099 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074023 · 2004-05-20 (May 20, 2004)
STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN.*MR BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK CONTROL MODULE AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057234 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND JERKED. ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND WATCHED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH NO INJURIES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ENGINE THREW A ROD, AND IT PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095095 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP TO LET ONCOMING TRAFFIC PASS. THE CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED WITH NO WARNING WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WHERE STILL ON. ON OTHER OCCASIONS HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM AND THEN GET BRIGHTER AS THE VEHICLE SPIT AND SPUTTERED FOR 15 SECONDS. THE CONSUMER HAD 4 CO-PILOTS INSTALLED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE RECORDINGS. THE VEHICLES…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,267 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039920 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION ON, IT REVERSED BY ITSELF WITHOUT SWITCHING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO INVESTIGATION IS OUT YET. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096458 · 2004-10-26 (October 26, 2004)
UNRESOLVED COLLAPSING GAS TANK, GAUGE STICKS READING THREE-QUARTERS OF A TANK OF FULL, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH GAS IS ADDED TO THE TANK. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LOCKS LOCK OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY FROM TIME TO TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,306 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106008 · 2005-01-09 (January 9, 2005)
AS A FOLLOW UP TO ODI # 10100538, SINCE MY INITIAL COMPLAINT FILED ON ON NOVEMBER 25, 2004 SHEEHY REPLACED THE EVAPORATION CANISTER ON MY VEHICLE. ON JANUARY 5, 2005 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONCE AGAIN. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BACK IN SHEEHY'S SHOP. THEY NOW TELL ME THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS THE EVAPORATION LEAK IS EXCESSIVE COMING FROM THE GAS TANK. THEY HAVE PUT ME IN A RENT A CAR UNTIL THE NEW GAS TANK COMES IN. I HAVEN'T PUT 5,000 MILES ON IT YET, IT HAS LESS THAN 26, 000 …
Owner-reported narrative. 24,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106008 at NHTSA ↗