Dodge Durango Years To Avoid: Which Year Model To Avoid And Why?
For long three generations of Dodge Durango succession, what is the most reliable Durango engine? The 2014 to 2020 years of Dodge Durango are proved to have the most reliable engines.
But, not all-year models are up to the mark regarding long-term performance. Avoiding the 1999 Dodge Durango is a better choice. That’s not only it; more model years also show potential problematic issues.
Hence it is better to do a thorough investigation to decide which Dodge Durango years to avoid. Worry not because we got your back. Keep reading this article till the end, and it’ll enlighten you on which points some Dodge Durango years should be avoided.
Dodge Durango Years To Avoid
Dodge introduced its first 3-row SUV back in 1997 named Durango. It created massive hype and excitement for SUV lovers due to the launch of a new SUV on the market.
Until now, there have been three successive generations of Durango from Dodge. These are:
But, not all model years could accomplish the uttermost satisfaction of the users. This leads to a prime question by the users is a Dodge Durango a reliable car?
There have been many incoming complaints about some Dodge Durango models failing in some important aspects of vehicular performance, which you cannot overlook.
The engine, transmission, suspension, electrical systems, and other parameters are the major issues found in Dodge Durango. That is why the new buyers need to know about these facts beforehand.
Which Year Dodge Durango To avoid?
To get the best possible driving experience for years without any compromise, following model years of Dodge Durango should be avoided.
The given list would also help you determine Dodge Durango’s Reliability by years.
Reasons To Avoid First generation: 1999 and 2000 Year Dodge Durango
The first-generation Dodge Durango was introduced in the 1999 model. It had some major issues within the propelling system of the vehicle.
Engine Issue
A most common issue with the 1999 Dodge Durango was the sudden engine shutdown. Due to oil sludge accumulation, the Daimler Chrysler’s 2.7L V6 engine of Durango was reported with random shutdowns while driving.
You definitely do not want your SUV to suddenly lose power on its engine while driving steadily on the freeway or a busy road. It may result in losing control over the vehicle and cause fatal accidents.
Along with that, the engine of the 1999 Dodge Durango runs rough, backfires, and stalls all of a sudden.
Transmission Failure
Another major issue was the random transmission drop. A sudden transmission failure causes the engine to stall, and the driver loses control.
Brake Failure
The assembly of the brake components is not up to the mark. It was reported as a brake failure due to bad bolt joints. This happens mostly due to a broken brake cable or a leak in the line.
Now you would not want a vehicle with a history of brake failures because it may compromise your life.
Reasons To Avoid Second Generation: 2004, 2005, and 2007 Year Dodge Durango
Even after many engine issues in the first-generation Dodge Durango, new engine issues were found in some model years of the second generation.
In 2004 Durango engines, oil sludge build-up frequently happened, causing the engine to fail while driving randomly. Also, engine stalling without prior warning and dying when it rains were common among 2004 Dodge Durango.
Another major problem with the second generation Durango was not deflation (recall) of the airbags at the time of heavy impact. It has been reported by the owners of Durango that several heavy injuries were caused due to airbag failure.
Reasons To Avoid Third generation: 2011, 2012, 2014 Year Dodge Durango
Fuel pump failure in 2014 Durango is a common issue. With new features came many newer issues in the vehicle’s electrical system of third-generation Durango.
Battery losing charge, alternator not working properly, and engine not getting enough cranking power were some common side effects of the newer electrical implementation.
Lastly, the most crucial query appears to be what the best Dodge Durango model is. If you are planning to get a brand new SUV with no budget limitation, you can go for the years 2014 and up of Dodge Durango.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the worst year for Dodge Durangos?
The 1999 year is considered to be the worst model of the Dodge Durango. It was the second launched Durango model after the introduction of 3 row SUV by Dodge in 1997. Starting from engine problems to transmission and brake failures makes 1999 the worst year for Dodge Durango.
What is the best version of the Dodge Durango?
The latest models of Dodge Durango are comparatively the safest ones to buy. To be more precise, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2020 are the most reliable Dodge Durango years.
Does Dodge Durango have a lot of problems?
The earlier versions of Dodge Durango encountered lots of problems. Especially the engine and transmission issues made 1999, 2003, and 2004 years a bad series of Durango by the owners and users. However, the company tried progressively eliminating the issues in their latest Durango.
Conclusion
A Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) is one of the most favored types of vehicle, composed of luxury, speed, and stability. The Durango series from Dodge had a good impression when it was launched but in vain due to many manufacturing issues.
All these confuse new buyers, and they could not help but think about which Dodge Durango years to avoid. Because getting a vehicle with engine, transmission, electrical and interconnected issues would be annoying and not worth spending the money on.
Lastly, we hope this article has been fruitful and allows you to understand which model years of Dodge Durango to avoid purchasing and why.
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Ronald Berit
Our chief editor, working 24/7 to ensure the precise and only quality data regarding different trucks.He is mastered with the ins and outs of cargo to off-road trucks of Dodge, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, GMC and more. This truck geek graduatedwitha Bachelor of automobile engineeringdegree and practiced through his own automotive parts repair center.