2000 Dodge Durango: sudden loss of power

Filed Aug 18, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · 140,000 miles · TN

Car given to me by a family member in nov 2019 with 135k miles, was the original owner, vehicle was very well maintained. Approximately feb 2020, driving 70 MPH down interstate, car acted like it died-lost all power for about 10 secs, then it came back to life. It was about a month later, it did it again. Mechanic replaced throttle body position sensor(?). Soon after, vehicle started to just die while driving. No noise, rattles, no check engine lights, just would shut off like the key was turned off. Didn't matter the terrain or speed, just while driving. Initially it would immediately restart. It seems to have gotten worse since the hotter weather. And it shuts down after driving about 20 mins when the engine has really warmed up. I finally noticed a no bus message on the odometer-which from researching means the computer isn't communicating. Mechanic unable to pull a code, said it's clearing itself out right after it throws it. Today went in, and we got lucky and hooked machine while car was running and it died. And the scanner would not recognize nor communicate with the PCM. Numerous issues with dodge/chrysler vehicles for this exact same problem. And it doesn't seem to have a single fix for it. Some a new PCM worked, some other sensors, one said just loosening the screws on the PCM worked for him, some nothing worked. This is so dangerous, car just shutting off without warning while you're driving. I can not believe this hasn't been a recall issue after 20 years. I see a lot of this model of vehicle on the road still, but it doesn't seem limited to just the durangos either. It almost seems as if something near the PCM or the wires to it are getting too hot and causing an issue or even burning out the PCM. Did a reset by unhooking battery cable, and the car restarted this last time. This is dangerous for everyone.

Filed Nov 3, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 138,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 dodge durango. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The failure recurred multiple times. The contact stated that the sensors were replaced (throttle position sensor, crankshaft, speed cam, aic, spark plug wires, rotors and distributor cup, distributor rotor, ignition coil, map sensor). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Engine · 186,400 miles · TN

Would start spitting jumping jerking rough idle almost stop then would pull over put in part would idle really low to where it almost die go to pull out barely would like it was stalling no power even with the gas pedal to the floor was a couple times I almost got hit because it would start this and lose power slow way down would try to get off to side of the road thought it might be the gas so we got the really high grade to just see still does it have got stranded out a couple times had to get someone to come help me get it home it scares me I'm afraid I'm going to get hit when it does this and I'm on fixed income so I can't afford to spend any money on it to fix it so was wondering if it was something that maybe it was recalled for I bought it used in 2013 from a lady that let me make payments til I got it paid for thank you

Filed Jan 27, 2012 · Engine · AZ

You can be driving at any speed and all of a sudden everything shuts down and dash lites up no bus. You lose power steering and ability to control the vehicle. Look on internet durango no bus and hundreds of posts come up with people with same problem. Car is not safe to drive and because my employment situation I do not have 1000's of dollars to replace computers and PCM's. This is dangerous and they should be recalled. There is a flaw! It can happen going 65mph or 35 MPH. It has happened to us at least 10 times in a 2 week period. It is now parked in garage because of the danger. It could kill people.

Filed Aug 15, 2010 · Engine · KY

Was traveling on the highway all of a sudden start losing power started making a scorching and grinding sound. Made it to the side of the road car would not turn over . None of the warning lights came on. The car will turn over but u can not drive very far there's a knocking rattling noise maybe from motor. Police officer helped us get to safe place but no report was made.

Filed Jul 25, 2010 · Engine · 130,000 miles · CA

Recently purchased a 2000 dodge durango slt 4x4. Car drove fine for first 2 days. Day 3: started my car, it died half way down my drive way, could not get it started again. Pushed it back and let it cool down. No check engine lights on, temperature is normal. Started it after 20minutes and it started up. Let it idle for a couple minutes, and started driving again. As soon as my foot left the gas, it died again. I have not replaced anything yet, as I have been doing some research on the problem. I was shocked to find out what I have. On one website alone there are over 100 cases of the exact same problem, numerous supposed fixes, and none working. This is a very very dangerous problem, and it seems to be due to the placement of the PCM sensor and it overheating. This issue has placed several drivers in danger, with the car dying in the middle of intersections at random times, and losing power steering and power brakes. I believe this issue needs a recall, if so many people are having the exact same problem.

Filed Jul 25, 2010 · Electrical · 118,000 miles · NY · crash

I have a 2000 dodge durango with 118k and with out warning I lose all power gas brakes steering etc and for me to get the car started again I have to pop the hood and wiggle the middle PCM harness ( which is a white connector) and then im able to start my car again. This also once cause me to go bounce off a wall in a parking garage because of the loss of power steering and brakes when the cut off on me while trying to make a turn.

Filed May 24, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · FL

For the past 8 months my 2000 dodge durango will just shut off while I am driving. I have replaced the jump start, the coil, belts, air condition, pulleys, spark plugs. It has had a complete tune up and been to the mechanic at least 5 times. Nothing shows up on the codes, it will only show the word nobus in the odometer and it takes from 10 minutes to one hour before it will restart. This has become very dangerous as there is no advance warning. You lose all power and it just stops running.

Filed Jul 15, 2009 · Acceleration, Electrical · 138,880 miles · ID

I own a 2000 dodge durango, and it often will just shut down while I'm driving. I have owned it since october 2008, and this has happened 12 or 13 times. I receive a "no bus" signal on my odometer display. I have replaced battery terminals, and a battery. It seems to happen far more often in hot weather. It sometimes happens when I'm driving 65 MPH on the freeway, and then the car shuts down and I lose power steering (very dangerous), brakes (even more dangerous) and the accelerator doesn't function.

Filed Jul 20, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · UT

V8-287 4.7l durango stalls without warning. Doesn't matter if I am on the freeway or in city traffic. Nothing specific that I can relate to the cause. Immediately lose power steering. Electrical seems to continue working. Car will start back up fine after 5 to 15 minutes of sitting. Happens in hot and cold weather, day or night. Can go for weeks without stalling and then stall several times in a few days. Yellow check engine light comes on, which the manual tells me is not an immediate issue. Extremely unsafe and I fear for my family's safety. Looked at dodge durango maintenance and repair forum on internet and found pages and pages of similar complaints. (http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com and http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/dodge-durango) through these websites it doesn't look like anyone can figure it out, including the dealerships, although the problem seems to be widespread.

Filed May 28, 2006 · Engine · 98,000 miles · ID

My 2000 durango has started stalling while driving. Steering locks up and is hard to pull over to the side of the road. Has done this at multiple speeds and conditions of driving. Mostly happened in stop and go traffic. No prior warning to it stalling or losing all power. Once the vehicle is shut off it is hard to re-start again, at this time the battery, oil pressure, gas and temp gauges wont operate. I have had to wait up wards of an hour before the gauges will move and the car will restart. The gauge or dash lights never indicate a problem, not until the car dies will the check engine light sometimes come on. I have taken the car in and after 2 tries to fix it and $500 they said it was the computer. Now after 3 weeks of waiting and more money spent, they say the computer was rebuilt? And it still would die and wouldn't restart. Then they put in a new computer, I drove home, then never made it out of the driveway. Does anyone know what might be my cars problem, being a single mom with 3 kids I now fear for their safety and the costs I am spending on this car.

Filed Nov 17, 2004 · Transmission · 49,300 miles · IL

Transmission just stopped working. I only had 49000 miles on my 2000 dodge durango when I was just driving down the road and it stopped shifting. Lost all power to the drive system. *ak per transmission shop in the area and all over the USA this is a know problem with the 518 transmission. There is a check value in the cooler line that will pug up and cause the transmission to over heat and burn out the cluch. Dodge knows that this is a problem and have replaced many transmission under warrenty. Went the transmission is replace they put in an upgrade kit for the cooling line and the value is taken out per dodges instrutions. The tork convertor is replaced with a new stile that does not flot and does not put mental patrs into the flueded that plugs the check value. The only good thing there is that I was not in chicago or some other big city durring rush hour. Or I would have been in big trouble with no way to get off the road.