Recently when rain falls heavily the engine starts sputting & cuts off then engine light comes on. Took it to mechanic & they put the machine on it. It shows nothing is wrong. Put keeps doing it only when heavy rains falls. Finally went online to all the other complaints to dodge & found out its the cowling. Changed the cowling but its still doing it. Its a dodge problem but they will not fix their problem & its costing me a lot of money. Dodge needs to do something about this immediately
2004 Dodge Durango engine complaints
Page 3 of 20: complaints 41 to 70 of 575, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My 2004 dodge durango suffered the catastrophic engine failure due to hydrolock from the poor cowl design. I live in bear country, if this had happened while I was in a remote area I could have easily been stranded with 800lbs of claws and teeth. I started the motor in my driveway during a light rain shower only to hear an obvious problem in the engine, it ran for 5 seconds then died. Plenty of vehicles have been affected by this issue, but no recall has been issued. The 2012 hemi had a very similar issue and a recall was issued.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. The contact recieved notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14v770000 (air bags) and 15v313000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. Also, the check engine light was illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. While the vehicle was parked, it failed to start without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the push rod fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Whenever it rains or I go through a car wash my car dies and the service engine light comes on. The steering wheel won't move, therefore I have no control over my car. We were in tennessee the first time this happened and we were coming down the mountain when it died and we lost all control and almost got hurt and almost hurt others.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. While the vehicle was parked, the power outlet in the center console started smoking. The contact and the passenger found the source of the smoke, pulled the panel off the center console, and noticed the outlet was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. On another occasion, the contact heard loud grinding noises coming from the engine. While driving 50 MPH and without warning, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted and driven to the contact's residence. Once home, the vehicle stalled. Upon further investigation, the contact stated that the spring separated from the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 135,000.
After noticing a difference in driving power from a stop the RPM's would almost hit 2k before moving. Engine light came on and said that I had a miss-fire in cylinder 8 and I needed a new ignition coil. Bought new plugs and an ignition coil and proceeded to change them out. The drivers side of the engine plugs still looked clean and new. The passengers side were burnt, had moisture and the cylinder 8 plug was fouled and broke off in the engine. Finished changing everything out and put the truck back together with still no change in codes or power. Found that the starter was corroded and information concerning a bad cowl design causing hydro-locking of the engines. Also replaced the exhaust gaskets 3 times in 5-6 year period each time with broken bolts found. Changed out the PCM, then replaced all the injectors which were found to be cracked and swollen. The truck is still going into limp mode and turned my focus on the transmission (replaced as well) and still having cylinder 8 miss-fire codes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, a loud knocking noise emitted from the engine as the front end vibrated severely. The vehicle stalled without warning. After restarting, the vehicle resumed with an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to locate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,714.
Rod pierced thru the bottom of engine and locked up (110k miles), family on board and happened while turning at busy intersection.. Had to replace engine used( found one with 70k, waiting on this one to do the same) consumes tons of oil. Electrical within driver seat and cd player are faulty/broken. Rust on rear outer wheel wells. (noticed this rust is apparent in every same model make year that I run across)
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate severely and various warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle with no failure present. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the throttle body was serviced. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion, while parked, the vehicle was unable to start. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure was not found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,953.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. The contact stated that the engine compartment flooded in the rain causing the vehicle to stall without warning. The vehicle failed to start on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.
While entering a highway and accelerating up to speed there was a loud bang, both heard and felt, followed by very rough engine operation. Turned onto the first available side street and stopped the vehicle. While examining the vehicle and looking in through the driver's side front wheel well discovered a hole in the engine block. The crankshaft is visible through the hole.
We were very happy with our durango until a few days ago. My husband and kids loaded up a few days before christmas to go drive up the mountain, they made just as far as the neighbors driveway when they heard a loud bang and were able to pull in to the driveway of a neighbor. The engine completly seized, all oil leaked out. The car has always been well maintained. No warning at all! A few days earlier I had drove it to town in the rain and it was idling rough, but the next day seemed fine. Now the engine is shot. We have been having heavy rain for days and looks like water was leaking in to the engine due to a faulty cowl or something, which caused the engine to fail. We had just put brand new tires on the vehicle and just received new tags for it! All this with absolutely no warning! We are just out a vehicle and 2 days before christmas! Had we known this was an issue we would have gladly done everything we could to fix it, but we have only had the vehicle for a few years and had no idea rain could cause our engine to seize up! Thankful it happened close to home and no accident, but very scary when something like this happens!
I purchased the vehicle in 2009, within a 1 years, I noticed while driving during a heavy downpour the car would shake and sometimes stall out. I took it to the dealer in 2011 and they replaced the intake gaskets. I am now realing that this seems to be a common problem and should have had a recall on it.
11/18/15. It was raining hard here in oregon as I was on my way back from taking my girlfriend to the doctors. I was first in line at an intersection. When the light turned green I proceeded. Half way through the intersection, without warning, I heard a terrible repeating bang. My vehicle died and I was able to coast into a near parking lot. I had it towed to my mechanic and he took it apart and had found out the engine was shot. He reported to me, that he has had a few of these durangos lately with the same problem.
Purchased vehicle in april 2013. First week fuel pump went out. In late 2013 replaced fuel pump again after it went out a second time. By now we realized that if we drove the vehicle in the rain or through a car wash it would shutter and cut off. In early 2014 the fuel pump went out again. We replaced fuel pump again and also cowl as we had found information that the cowl was allowing water to drip down on the engine and electrical box. This helped for about 14 months. In july 2015 replaced fuel pump twice. Now it is november 2015 and as I type this it is back in the shop having the fuel pump replaced again. Water is again leaking onto the engine and computer block. It causes shuttering and stalling and then within a short time the fuel pump goes out. Driving down the road in the rain is terribly dangerous because there is no way to tell if the vehicle will shut off or not. I have contacted dodge and there is a technical safety bulletin about this issue, but no recall as of yet. A quick search shows hundreds of other dodge owners having the same issue. Because most of the vehicles are no longer under warranty dodge has not address the issue as a whole. I hope it doesn't take someone or a family being killed before a recall is issued.
2004 durango 5.7 every time we have a hard rain the motor stalls or runs extremely rough and we have to pull to the side of the road. I travel for work, and received a call from my wife that the durango would no crank over but was not caused by battery issue as it had just been replaced. Had several people look at it and they said motor was locked up (had rained the night before). Let it sit until I got home and it started up with a little kick back against starter. Let it warm up and went and had the battery and starter checked, both were within specification for voltage and amp draw. Drove on county hwy with 45 mile speed limit approx. Three miles to the bank. Leaving the bank made a right turn onto main street and the motor went thump, clunk, bang and died. Coasted off road and looked under vehicle thinking we had thrown a belt or hit something. Saw oil dripping from passenger side of motor and found a hole in the oil pan with part of the connecting rod sticking through it. I used to be a mechanic so I know what I was looking at. After doing research I have found that the rain gutter channels water onto the top of the motor where the plastic intake manifold has cracked allowing water into the motor, this water can become trapped in the intake manifold and be pulled into the motor while it is running and you are making a turn. Talked to my local dodge dealer, they said they had never heard of such a problem but kindly told me $8000 to replace my motor. Talked to the parts department and they did not have any information on an updated rain gutter, even though there appears to be a service bulletin on this problem. The number of complaints I have seen says to me that there should have been a recall on this problem as every thing I have read says it is quite common
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.
Engine blew. A rod or something blew without warning through the engine case as I was driving at 35 MPH on straight road on a town street
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.
Vehicle would stall during heavy rains and taking it through a car wash while driving. Sometimes it would even cut off. One day it cut off and I had to have it towed to the dealership. I bought my vehicle brand new and this problem has been going on since then. Goodyear could not determine the cause of the issue and the dodge dealership informed me that it was the fuel pump. So they replaced my fuel pump and the problem still occurs during heavy rains and going through the car wash. I replaced the battery a third time after contacting roadside assistance. Now the vehicle is making a knocking sound. I'm afraid it's the engine. After researching, there are thousands of complaints about the issue with the wiper cowl leaking. There is a service bulletin 18-006-05 put out by chrysler.
Stalled in rainstorm while driving on interstate 95, a day before. We had battery tested at advanced auto. Battery good. Drove home. The next day we started it up and it made a loud noise. Shut it off and then restarted it. The engine was rapping. Needed a new engine. Upon lifting hood to see problem we saw a hole in the block. You could see connecting rod in there.
It was a rainy day on friday oct. 2, 2015. That morning my vehicle started fine, it wasn't until I came out of work that evening when I went to start it the engine made a loud sound and it wouldn't start. I tried a few times until suddenly it turned on and it was making a knocking noise. I then called my mechanic and explained the situation and he told me to bring it to the shop so they can put it on a lift to take a look underneath. As I drove away the sound was unbearable and the faster I drove the louder it got, suddenly I heard a loud explosion and the vehicle stopped. It felt like the engine fell out, there was a lot of smoke and oil everywhere. I got the vehicle towed to the my mechanics shop for further diagnosing when they told me the engine blew out. The next day I got a call after they took the engine apart and told me the block had a hole because the piston blew through it. They told me it would cost more money to rebuild my original engine than buying a used one, I opted out on the used one. As I was home I went online and did some research when I come to find out that many people had the same problem happen to them with the same vehicle on a rainy day or when they took their car through a car wash. So as I did more research it turns out the wiper cowl which at some point chrysler came out with an upgrade tends to leak water on top of the intake manifold which is another bad design, then sucks in water into the engine eventually causing it to hydro lock. I bought my vehicle brand new in 2004 and now I'm disappointed they never issued a recall to fix this problem. I just paid over $4000 to repair it and god knows how long until this used engine goes out with the same problem. I filed a complaint with dodge and spoke to someone yesterday for them to tell me that my vehicle is out of warranty . Please help me with this matter.
I have had this SUV for just a few months the day I mad my first payment it went into the shop to be fixed. At first it was apparently my #5 piston shot thru the block with only 120,000 mile on it. Than after spending the $3,700 to get that fixed it was still smoking and having issues. Next thing I know it is now the intake manifold whitch was another $700.00 and it was 84 in back order when I seen that I pulled it up online were I read that thousans and thousands of people have had this same problem with the first year of the hemi motor in the durango. I have three small children and I support my kids and husband due to his spine surgerys. I feel if there has been this many parts go bad that it should have a recall with it. I cant afford to keep putting money in something that is still not going to drive properly with my children in it. It has shut off while driving the SUV. It is not safe for my kids to be in im afraid they will be hurt or killed if it happens again. Dodge needs to do the right thing and have thiss recalled as soon as they can. The vechile turned off while on a street thank god it was not on the free way.
Just purchased this vehicle two months ago from dealer in nj. We had a hard rain about a month ago, and the durango wouldn't start immediately. I turned it over again a few hours later and it started with a hard rumble, but it started up. It drove fine for about a month, and just as the wife and I were leaving a gas station, we drove about fifty feet and heard a loud bang. Smoke was coming out of the passenger side of the engine, and the durango was making a noise like metal was rolling around in the engine. I stopped the car, pulling over to the side of the road. I looked under the durango and saw oil dripping out from the engine. I got under the car to inspect it a little further and saw a dime size hole in the engine block. I got the car towed back to my home as it was saturday and the mechanic was not open. The tow truck driver told me that this was the third durango he picked up that day. Not saying that all of the other cars were towed because a blown engine, but you get the idea. Dealer wouldn't warranty vehicle because of mileage. I couldn't get anyone to warranty the durango because of the mileage being over 150000. Now im told I will have to buy a remanned/new engine for this clunker. I will be making a complaint to the manufacturer. I know it may not go anywhere. I have read all of the complaints here and on the internet, forums, etc. All the result of blown engines due to "hydro-locking", and the wiper cowl defect were water would get into the engine during heavy rains or car washes. I hope our government would intervene on behalf of its citizens and force chrysler to issue a recall or at least be responsible for a defect that they created, but I won't hold my breath. My durango currently has 160131 miles on it, and I guess it's gonna stay that way now because it can't move, and I still owe money on a SUV that I cannot drive. The federal safety agency do the right thing.
Bought this vehicle 3 months ago with just 52000 miles and running in good condition. During the weekend of 25th of september 2015 it rained and upon trying to turn on the vehicle to go to work on monday as usual, the motor/engine was hydrolocked. Water had seeped into the cylinders and the motor suffered failure and broke rods. I had installed the newly redesigned cowl vent grille that was supposed to prevent this ,but it didn't work. Dodge company is very well aware of their bad engineering but won't recall the vehicles and protect their customers. I just lost over 9000.00 dollars in investment, including taxes for 700.00 + getting the vehicle registration, inspected, tags, etc. The vehicle wasn't in motion when this happened. It was parked. Not even their redesigned cowl vent grille prevents hydrolock, water from leaking into the intake manifold, from happening.
Consumer stated that he filed a pro-se lawsuit against fca us llc that he will be mailing the complete lawsuit and other supporting documents to substantiate his complaints in regards to issuing recalls. *bf the consumer stated his issue involved a defective cowl panel, which allowed water to penetrate the spark plugs and engine combustion cylinders causing it to hydrolock and/or throw a rod. The damages cost the consumer $8,900.00.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. The contact stated that there was excessive smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the motor was replaced, but the failure recurred. The contact mentioned that the original owner previously replaced the motor. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold needed to be replaced, but the part was on back order. The contact was placed on a waiting list where the vehicle was number ninety-five. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being on back order. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
After an overnight rainstorm, vehicle was started and driven approximately 1/4 mile when the engine threw a rod through the engine block. We had had issues prior to this of the vehicle not starting after a rain event. It would start after drying out. Thought it was the starter and had the starter replaced twice. I just replaced the engine with a used engine that with parts and labor cost me $4,800. I see that this is a somewhat common issue with this vehicle and wanted to be on record.
This complain involve several issues that constantly happens. The first issue is that the interior lights and instrument panel lights illuminated intermittently and I can hear a buzzing sound when it does this. The second is that the battery dies and I have to jump start or charge it manually most days. Third, every day I have to pour coolant into my radiator because there is a leak somewhere either the water pump or radiator. Fourth, when it rains, water gets inside via the door seams. Fifth, then my radio/dvd player stopped working and I had to pull the fuse because it would not turn off. Sixth, my head lights goes very dim and even sometimes shut off. This is very scary in the middle of the night coming home from work. Seventh issue involves the engine stalling on several occasions, mostly when its pouring down raining.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2004 Dodge Durango?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history