2004 Dodge Durango: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Dec 20, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · SC

Head lights flicker off and on while driving at night!

Filed Feb 11, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 145,000 miles · TN

In early november 2015 while driving 45-50 MPH the instrument panel randomly went haywire and all the lights started flashing and the interior lights at the same time. About two weeks later I realized that the outside headlights were also flickering when the inside lights flickered. I took to the local dealership and after 4 day's I was told they could not re-produce the issue. I quit driving after dark due to the lack of control in keeping the lights on then noticed I would have intermittent flickering with the headlight knob off. After researching the dodge forums and ruling out the fuses I purchased a new "redesigned" headlight switch and installed it. Took care of all the flickering light issues and now I can drive at night again.

Filed Dec 26, 2015 · Electrical · PW

I have a 2004 dodge durango 5.7 and it has been having an issue with the battery continuously draining. It started in nov 2014 when the battery drained and would not hold a charge. I let the vehicle sit until march 2015, when I need an inspection, the shop recommended I purchase a new battery. I did and the battery drained with 3 weeks, so I eventually schedule an appt. With the dealer to have a drain on the battery check, they sent the vehicle back stating there was no drawl on the battery, it sat for months again, because it drained back out. In nov. 2015 I found out about the g07 instrument panel recall and took it back to the dealer for that. They claimed they repaired a wire in the panel and that fixed the drain, however I still lost power 2 weeks later. I then took it to another dealer to have the recall checked again, because of a dead battery again the headlights and interior dash lights would flicker on and off. 3 days later still nothing they stated they were unable to duplicate failure and they did not find any drain or flickering. The very moment I picked up the vehicle and drove it home with my headlights on they began to flicker on and off. Two days later my battery was dead again. This makes no sense to me that the dealer can not pin point anything, so I began to proceed to fix on my own, I have found that the headlight switch was shorted out causing the lights to go on and off, and I replaced it. I still have a drain somewhere though, battery died within 8 hours of the last start.

Filed Sep 20, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 229,500 miles · FL

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.

Filed Sep 12, 2015 · Engine · 140,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

I have a 2004 dodge durango slt 5.7l hemi. Never had any big issues with it until in 2014 I was driving home from work on the highway when I heard a loud bang and loud knocking noises followed shortly by an abrupt shut off. I tried immediately to get to the side of the road but when I lost power steering from the engine ceizing and couldn't correct myself enough so I went down the hill off the side of the highway while trying to break with no brake booster anymore as well. I ended up running into a couple small tree's and finally stopping . Air bags didn't deploy and I only jammed my finger and hurt my back some but I only missed a larger group of tree by inches. My front bumper was ripped off, my drivers side headlight was broke as well as my grille and my windshield cracked. I took it to my mechanic and found out that the engine "hydrolocked" and a piston rod punched through my engine and broke a lot of other things internally. Needless to say the engine is gone. After doing some research I have found that there are hundreds more people that had this happen to their 04 and 05 dodge durango with the 5.7l hemi. Apparently the water runs right down onto the engine and pools up and the intake is faulty so it sucks that water up and causes a catastrophic hydrolock with the engine which could kill someone if they lose power steering and power brakes within a second. I've been trying to save to get a new engine (which will cost about $3800 alone) because I bought this for too much and neither dodge or my insurance would cover it so it's now a pile of scrap until I hopefully can get a new engine or have dodge buy this death trap back. Dodge needs to buy these back or fix them! This is by far not an individual case and it is very dangerous and costly!

Filed Dec 4, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 126,000 miles · VA

All alert lights on dash remain on. Windows headlights, speedometer, wipers all not working.

Filed Jan 27, 2014 · Lights · 144,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. The contact stated that the headlights and the instrument panel to flicker on and off. The contact had to engage the headlight high beam button in order for the headlights to function and the instrument panel to remain illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 144,000.

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 May 8, 2009 · Electrical, Visibility · 12,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. The contact has experienced several failures with this vehicle from the date of purchase. In rainy weather conditions, the instrument panel completely fails, the headlights blink on and off, the windshield wipers do not work, and the gear shifter will not shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they found water in the junction box, which caused corrosion to the wiring system. They also found a small crack in the windshield, which allowed water to leak into the junction box. The vehicle is being repaired at the cost of $3,800. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that no compensation would be provided because the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 12,000 and current mileage was 71,000.

Filed May 8, 2009 · Electrical, Lights · 71,366 miles · VA

I bought my 2004 dodge durango in 2005 january with 666 miles on the truck. The first year I had no problems at all until about march 2006 I was driving from washington state to california when I notice the check engine light came on. I took it to the dealership and had it cut off in california. Well, on my way back to washington state after a week I notice the check engine light came back on I took it back to the dealership for repair. The dealership cut off the light and told me there was a recall out on the 2004 dodge durango to fix the instrument panel. So I took the 2004 dodge durango back in to fix the recall problem and they said it was fixed. Well, in the summer of 2006 I was driving my 2004 dodge durango when the lights starts to go off and on while I was on the highway. It was raining hard and then my check engine light comes on again, so I just left the light on. Now I'm driving around in my 2004 dodge durango in the rain when I go to put gas in it when I stop. All of a sudden all my interior lights starts to go on and off with my headlights going off and on. The windshield wipers did not work so I cut the vehicle off for a minute. When I turn on the vehicle I could not move it out of park and all the lights was on. So, I left the vehicle there in a parking spot and walk back to work. I later came back to the vehicle about 2 hours later and I started up the vehicle and the gear shift worked. So I drove back to my office and use the computer to see if anyone else was having these types of problems and what do you know I'm not the only one. I took it to the dealership like I was told by headquarters and they gave me some paperwork to go to me local dodge dealership. The dealership made me pay for a diagnostic on my vehicle and said it was from water intrusion in the junction block and my warrant does not cover it. Headquarters told me to open a blog and try to get a recall started. But in the mean time call your insurance company. Lives are at stake.

Filed Jan 26, 2009 · Electrical, Engine · 5 miles · MN · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge durango. When the contact first purchased the vehicle, the oil light would illuminate, indicating that an oil change was needed. The vehicle also shut off at least five times on the freeway. It would usually immediately restart, but then kick back after it would start. She took the vehicle to the dealer and asked about recalls and other complaints and was informed that none were available. She received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign id number 03v528000 (electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash). The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and was informed that they did not have the parts available. She took the vehicle back to the dealer numerous times, but was informed that the parts were unavailable. She constantly changed the oil in the vehicle and would go three weeks before the oil indicator would illuminate again. The vehicle began to smoke under the hood and she returned to the dealer. The contact noticed a chemical smell and used an extinguisher to prevent any further damage. Someone attempted to place the vehicle into drive, but it would not budge. The vehicle was then placed into reverse, which caused more smoke emission. The vehicle was towed to the new dealer and the cluster was replaced with a defective part. The contact then noticed headlight, dome light, vanity light, and window issues. She took the vehicle back to the dealer and they charged her for the diagnostic and stated that the cluster was defective. After they repaired the cluster again, the issue seemed to worsen and the horn began honking intermittently. She spoke with the dealer and manufacturer, but they offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 72,300 and failure mileage was approximately 5.

Filed Mar 16, 2006 · Engine · 24,000 miles · CT

While driving on I-91 south in ma (in the evening, with two of my kids ages 5 & 7) in my 2004 dodge durango SUV the engine suddenly and unexpectedly cut out - turned off. The vehicle lost power steering and power brakes. The dashboard lights went dark. The headlights remained on and the radio continued to function. The car was in drive and the ignition key was in the proper position - this was not caused the my having inadvertently put the car in neutral or park, etc or by the car having been inadvertently turned off. This was a sudden engine shut down while traveling at highway speeds on an interstate. Fortunately, I was able to put the flashers on (they worked) and coast over to the shoulder and stop the vehicle. I shifted the transmission from drive to park. I turned the key to the off position. I checked the headlights -- they went on and off. I checked the radio it went on and off. I waited a moment to collect my thoughts. Then, I turned the key and the car started right up no problem. I let the engine idle for a moment and checked for any engine warning lights - there were none. I put the vehicle in drive and proceeded on the shoulder for a short distance to see if the car would go. It did. I was able to enter back on to the interstate and resume by trip. The vehicle functioned perfectly normally for the remainder of the trip. I vehicle has also continued to function properly since then without incident. This engine cut out problem had never happened before. I am concerned, however, that the problem could recur at any time without notice. While fortunately this time that an accident did not occur and no one was injured, it is entirely possible that given a different situation and this same problem happened there could easily be an accident resulting in death and/or serious bodily injury, as well as property damage. A mechanic look at the vehicle and didn't find anything wrong.