2000 Dodge Durango: engine overheating

Filed May 2, 2017 · Engine · TX

Head gasket leak created a heater core issue where coolant would "mist" through the vents. This posed a health risk to my children and I who have asthma. And there's no telling the long term effects of inhaling coolant mist. Due to cost, we had to reroute the heater core, thus disabling it and going without heat and defrost during the winter months. Since then, the gasket issue is now causing even more issues of smoking under the hood, smoke out the tail pipe, and coolant overheating. It is my understanding head gaskets are a common problem with durangos. It's about time they issue a recall and fix it. I'm greatly concerned about my children's health and safety, plus the environmental impact from the emissions change due to the gasket.

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 Mar 8, 2010 · Engine · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 dodge durango . He stated that while driving at 75 MPH the vehicle stalled, the steering , lights and brakes were inoperable. He then pushed the vehicle to the side of the road. He waited and restarted the vehicle and it operated normally. After 2 hours the failure occurred again . The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed. The dealer stated that the PCM overheated which cause the vehicle to shut down.this had occurred 20 additional times. There have been no repairs made to the vehilce . The failure mileage was unknown and current mileage was 121972.

Filed Dec 18, 2009 · Engine · 178,000 miles · AL

I've held confidence in my 2000 dodge durango since I purchased it in 2003. In the summer of 2009, I was driving down a local road when suddenly the gauges on the dash board were not registering, the odometer read bus and the engine completely shut down in the middle of traffic. Since this occurred without warning, I did not have time to pull over to the side of the road. I turned on the caution blinkers. There were many cars blowing their horns, waiting behind me on this one lane road. After a couple of minutes the engine started and I was able to drive. I thought this was a one time only occurrence. I had no prior problems with the truck. A few days later, I was driving on the interstate during rush hour traffic and the truck suddenly shut off again. Omg, I was nervous, scared and really believed that I was going to die because someone would ram their vehicle into mine. What driver would suspect that my truck suddenly died while I was driving it? I thought about how I was going to get this vehicle safely to the side of the road without endangering my life and the life of other drivers. Luckily I did it. My husband tinkered with the computer and noticed that when he reposition the computer the engine would start again. But I refuse to drive it until we purchase another computer. The car repairman said, even if we purchased another computer he could not guarantee that the vehicle would not shut completely down. The computer is overheating due to the location that the manufacturers have chosen. I will get someone to design some sort of heat shield or something to prevent the computer from overheating. To replace my current computer will cost $1100. I think the car company should take responsibility for this flaw and recall the vehicle. I do not want someone to get killed due to their gross negligence. I am not the only dodge durango owner who is having this same problem. Please investigate this issue and get something done. Preventing just one death is enough.

Filed May 14, 2009 · Brakes, Engine · 124,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 dodge durango. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began driving roughly and smoke appeared under the hood. The brakes stiffened when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact eased off the brakes, but they failed completely. More smoke appeared under the hood. The contact attempted to pull the vehicle over, but lost control. She heard two snapping noises under the hood. She applied the emergency brake, which stopped the vehicle. The passenger opened the hood and noticed flames in the engine. They called the fire department and a report was filed. The engine fire spread to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A few minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. There were no injuries. Prior to the fire, repairs had been made to the engine because it would stall and overheat. The contact brought the vehicle in for service the day after the vehicle was purchased in november of 2008. The current and failure mileages were 124,000.

Filed May 13, 2005 · Transmission · 94,562 miles · FL

Chrysler has had numerous problems with the transmission on the durango and dakota with the torque converter overheating causing the transmission to not shift properly or at all. A simple fix would be for chrysler to install an adequate oil cooler. This is a very common problem with dodge vehicles and the company is well aware of the problem. Now my vehicle at 94,000 with all services done properly and on time according to the manufactorer is costing me $1500.00 to fix. When I asked the service manager why chrysler has not had a recall for this problem his response was because it would cost $1100 per vehicle to fix. Something should be done to let other consumers know about the problem. If I would have known there was a problem with overheating I could have had another cooling system install for less than $100.

Filed Apr 8, 2004 · Engine · 99,000 miles · TX

The truck overheated without any warning. This caused the truck to stall while making a right turn. The radiator was leaking and one of the pistons had started melting per the dealership. The engine needs to be replaced. *nm the oil pressure gauge stayed normal and the warning light did not come on. *sc

Filed Mar 1, 2004 · Engine · 69,000 miles · UT

2000 dodge durango. At about 69,000 miles the vehicle heater suddenly went cold and the vehicle overheated. I pulled over and checked under the hood. The vehicle lost all antifreeze. Towed it home. The next day found that a freeze plug had a hole in it. After repair, found that the freeze plug had corrosion and actually rusted through. Dealer said it was due to lack of maintenence. Impossible, freeze plugs are not maintained and coollant has a life of 100,000 miles. In addition, a freeze plug should be galvanized/aluminized to prevent corrosion. Vehicle has been repaired. However, because of this problem, I wonder if this is the reason that others are having vehicles blow up. I believe that the sludge is the result of the overheated oil and that is why the vehicles are blowing up. Not because of lack of oil changes. After this problem, I have found that my engine idles slightly rough. This seems like a good indicator of blown seals causing oil leakage and of overly heated oil creating sludge.