2004 Dodge Durango: misfire or rough idle

Filed Nov 15, 2020 · Engine · 118,000 miles · KS

Blown enegine due to cyclinder misfire and bnding rod caused by faulty cowl panel. This happened when it rained I went to start enegine and it blew

Filed Oct 16, 2019 · Engine · 174,000 miles · MT

Bought the car used in 2014. Always had misfire/rough running problems in heavy rain or a car wash. In may 2019, driving in the rain, the engine failed catastrophically. Research on line and my own repairs discovered a flaw in the first generation cowl grill. It allowed water to flood the top of the engine. A leak in the intake manifold gaskets allowed the water to enter the engine, causing it to hydrolock. It broke a connecting rod. It did however still run, but was very noisy. The intake leak was not noticed in any other conditions, nor was the check engine lamp on prior to this event. The engine did not use oil or make any other noises prior to this event. It has about 175000 miles.

Filed Aug 19, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 176,000 miles · KY

My 2004 dodge durango has the 5.7 hemi. During heavy rains the engine would start to run rough and the electrical system shut down on me three different times in the middle of driving due to the rain. During this electrical shutdown steering was impossible and I would have to stop the vehicle in the middle of traffic. The vehicle did this to me one time in the middle of turning at an intersection. Fortunately no accident occured. I found that the issue was being caused by a faulty seal at the wiper cowl. This leak later blew my engine as the water leak found it's way into the cylinders and blew a piston rod. I was told that this defect has been reported to chrysler by hundreds of people.

Filed Dec 7, 2016 · Engine · 104,000 miles · IN

I went to the dodge dealer and made the complaint and they couldn't figure it out and took it to midas and another car repair shop and they could figure it out and when I looked at it online it said it was the cowl so I went back to the dodge dealer and told them. They looked at me like I was crazy had to print off what everyone one had complained, so they replaced the rubber under the hood which was 40 dollars not that costly. But still when it rains, it runs rough and like it going to die. This is an accident waiting to happen. This should be a recall. When it first happened I was going to new york. Very scary going through the mountains and it starting raining hard all of the sudden going 70 , drop to 30. Trucks on my butt. Not a good thing. Still every time it rains hard it still happens. I bought this vehicle almost 3 yrs. Ago for 10,000 with 80,000 miles on it. I have warranty and it's about over and no one can tell me what is wrong. So every time I bring it to a repair place I have to pay. This should be a recall. It's a life safety issue. So bascially I cant drive my car in heavy rain.

Filed Nov 12, 2015 · Engine · 120,000 miles · NH

After heavy rains the engine would run rough and then smooth out. Then during one heavy rain I tried to start the vehicle and heard a loud knocking. I brought it to the shop and they determined that it had hydrolocked due to water getting into the intake gasket from the cowl. After two months of agruing with the warranty company and the dealer, the warranty company covered all but 1000 dollars of the engine replacement but the cowl is not replaced. I fear that this will happen again.

Filed Nov 2, 2015 · Engine · 53,000 miles · GA

If any water gets into engine compartment (rain, etc..) the engine will misfire (stationary) or shut off (stationary or driving). If driving while raining, the SUV will misfire and may shut off while driving. The error seems to be well documented on the internet and became all to real this week when the car shut off at 70 MPH on the highway while it was raining almost causing an accident and potentially killing my family.

Filed Aug 18, 2015 · Engine · IL

I have been battling with my 2004 dodge durango 5.7l hemi for years now. Every time it would rain heavy, my vehicle acted as if it were going to die. It would get very jumpy, and I felt like I had to fight it to keep going. If I got stopped by a light or stop sign, it was horrible. My engine light would come on and sometimes stay on for a day or two. I brought it to different mechanics who could only fine a cylinder misfire when the engine light was actually still on. It seemed like it always went off as soon as I was able to get it to the mechanic. The mechanics were not able to recreate the problem I was having in order to view what the vehicle was doing. I had numerous plugs changed and nothing helped. It has since gotten worse, yet no one can figure it out. It now happens if I take it to the car wash. They are not able to start it after it comes out. They have to try a few times before they can get it going. I decided to do my own research to see if there are any others out there with this issue. I was surprised to find all the information I did and yet no mechanic can find a solution. I came to read about the hydrolock issue on this model. After reading all these complaints by everyone else, I can't believe there wouldn't be a recall on this! I have lived with this issue for at least 3 years dreading every time it rains heavy. It makes me panicked to drive my vehicle in any rain knowing the outcome of all these other people. I can't believe that dodge just let this go on, especially after all the complaints. I have 190,000 miles on it now, it is full of rust (which is another issue that should have been resolved...I have seen so many durangos with rust on the back door by the chrome above the license plate. It starts out as bubbling and just rusts away into big holes), and there is no point to replace the engine. This issue should be addressed by dodge.

Filed Mar 21, 2014 · Engine · 124,000 miles · KY

From the time I purchased this vehicle there was a problem with the engine (5.7l hemi). When driving in rain or going through an automatic car wash the engine would start missing and sometimes die. This would make the check engine light come on. I took the vehicle to dealers in both kentucky & north carolina and to various auto parts stores as well as independent mechanics. The diagnostics reader always showed misfire in #2 cylinder but no one could tell me what caused it. Even though I kept the oil changed as well as other maintenance it started knocking and blew at 124,000 miles. I contacted dodge and they assured me that they knew of no problems with these vehicles. I replaced the engine with one from a wrecking yard with 60,000 miles. Same problems with rain and car washes. It lasted 2 years and 21,000 miles. I contacted dodge and got the same reply. After researching on line it seems there are hundreds of people that have experienced the same problem that I have. I was one of the lucky ones. Mine blew up in the driveway instead of on the highway. Dodge seems to have remedied the problem in 2006 & later models but still won't admit that there is a major and potentially dangerous problem in the 2004 & 2005 models. I feel that dodge should have to repair these vehicles and reimburse the owners for repairs we have already done thank you

Filed Jan 14, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 110,000 miles · IN

Water is getting under the cowl and onto my motor. I have taken my 2004 hemi durango to several shops/dealers and the water is causing all kinds of problems. The cylinders are misfiring, some of the metal parts under the hood have rusted irreparably (ie. Motor heat guards), the windshield gets ice on the inside of the vehicle, my headlights blink on and off while driving, the heat works only sometimes due to the wires under the passenger side dash getting wet, and this water getting through is also causing my car to stall or almost stall every time it rains or take it through a car wash. This water is causing electrical problems. It is also rusting horribly fast near the wheel wells and on the back trunk hatch. Within only 2 weeks of cold weather I now have a solid hole from the rust. Why can't they recall some parts and fix this? The dealer is no help, they only want to charge me huge amounts of money to repair problems that were factory defects.

Filed Oct 16, 2013 · Engine · 130,000 miles · TX

Vehicle stalled out on me during a heavy rain. I was going about 60mph on the highway, when vehicle started to shake. About 5 minutes after heavy rain, I lost all power and had to pull my vehicle off to the side of the road. I waited about 30 minutes and rain began to slow to a drizzle. Vehicle cranked right up after that. This is a very dangerous situation as I could have been rear ended on the highway. I have looked into this issue as I have had rough idles and stall outs when in automatic car washes. The issue seems to be with the cowl and a replacement cowl is available through the manufacturer at our own cost. If this issue has been addressed as a defect on an oem part then why should the consumer who has already paid for a vehicle be liable? I hope that this is more thoroughly investigated and it does not take the fatality of an unsuspecting consumer for issue to be addressed.

Filed Apr 20, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 180,000 miles · IL

Went out to start 2004 dodge durango morning after a heavy rain, turned key and rod went thru block. Had problems with it when it rained (caused multiple misfires) found out later after the engine blew that the company was aware of the cowl leakage problem that allows water to leak onto motor. Think there should of been a recall or letter advising us this needed fixed. Evidentially these complaints aren't being read or no one is paying attention to them. Guess were all screwed by dodge. Vehicle was maintained proper every 3000 miles just for information dodge will not help anyone if engine is out of warranty, they will tell you your on your own. Sale, sale, sale, your dodge durango and don't buy another one. Sale it and don't keep because it will happen again. By selling it the problem is then solved because dodge or these guys wont do anything for you.

Filed Apr 17, 2013 · Body, Engine · 120,000 miles · NJ

After a snow storm and the snow melted, when I attempted to start it, the starter was grinding. The engine was hydrolocked and broke the connecting rod for #3 cylinder. Subsequent investigation turned up a tech bulletin (not mandatory recall) to replace cowl at the base of the windshield due to water leakage onto the top of the engine which can cause misfiring. I never received notice of this tech bulletin or the potential catastrophic consequences of not implementing it. There was no indication the defective cowl could cause total engine failure in the tech bulletin. The melting snow seeped into the #3 cylinder, possibly from a failed intake manifold seal or warped intake manifold (yet to be determined), and caused hydrolock. I found evidence of a small amount of water in the oil pan which leaked from #3 cylinder. I also found water under the intake manifold near the #3 cylinder. This is a safety issue because a broken connecting rod usually punches a hole in the block causing oil to spill on the road! This was a 5.7l hemi. The engine needed to be completely rebuilt.