Dodge Durango check engine light comes on

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Fuel system · 180,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal gasoline odor coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered fuel leaking on the top of the fuel tank. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · 145,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the vehicle independently started, and the contact was alerted by the audible sound coming from the horn. The contact exited the residence and became aware that the windshield wipers and interior and exterior lights were flashing. The contact stated that the key fob was used to lock and unlock the vehicle, but the horn and wiper blades continued to activate. The contact opened the hood and disabled the horn fuse, which turned off the horn. The contact’s wife was able to start the vehicle after 30 minutes. The exterior lights turned off, but the interior lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was left to run, and after several minutes, the wiper blades stopped. The contact disconnected the battery for all the functions to stop. The battery was reconnected, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that after three attempts, the vehicle failed to start; however, the interior lights failed to turn off. The battery was disconnected and reconnected, and the vehicle started without further issues. The contact stated that several messages were displayed, including the engine and electronic stability control warnings. The engine warning light turned off, but the electronic stability control warning light remained illuminated. The contact had not driven the vehicle since the failure occurred. The dealer was contacted by phone about the issue; however, the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact researched the failure online and found the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), as the failure mentioned the electronic stability control (ESC). The vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

Filed Jul 9, 2026 · Airbags, Engine · 55,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that upon startup and while driving, the check engine and airbag warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the gear shifter became stuck when shifting into drive(D). The rearview camera flickered, displayed incorrect images, and the display screen intermittently froze or turned blue. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on ten occasions, and an unknown diagnosis was provided. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Jun 10, 2026 · Electrical · NM

"Service Shifter" alert came on at about 2250 miles and engine light came on about 100 miles later . Dodge service at dealership looked at and could not determine issues, lights did not illuminate in their care. Picked up my car after service and both service shifter and engine lights came back on.

Filed Apr 16, 2026 · Engine · CA

Engine light came on, no warning. Took to garage to check diagnostic system, went through system, did some work and light went off. Week later, light back on..took back to garage - they documented all they saw within diagnostic system and sent me to dealer. There was no indication of failure, drove fine but dealer made appt. Did some research and found out this year/make/model had complete engine failure at low mileage. No recall ever made. 3.6L Pentastar V6. Dealer took apart manifold, ran compression test, intake/exhaust valves leaking, engine block flatness - had to replace engine block. No precipitation of this issue other than engine light. A complete engine failure without an accident, at low mileage and a known issue without a recall on a specific engine is quite concerning. I basically paid $14, 400 for a new engine where I could have bought a used Durango . My 2000 Durango had well over 100k miles when I donated to charity and purchased this 2015 in 2016 off lot as used with 22 miles on it. I am not sure how to reconcile this damage and out-of-pocket expense for a known issue when no recall was made. Did I buy a lemon? Given the same engine was put back in, will I have to replace again in another 50k miles? I feel like I am due some type of refund given this problem is a known problem but no recall was issued. Thankfully it did not overheat, blow the engine while driving or cause an accident given this issue was a ticking time bomb.

Filed Apr 2, 2026 · Engine, Suspension · NJ

1) Major transmission failure, fluid leakage, and visible undercarriage corrosion on a newly leased car with under 3K miles on it. Additional: Losing vehicle function. Car would not shift into gear and would not move. Car is currently at the dealership in which it was leased. 2) Yes, huge safety concern. Losing vehicle function while traveling on a bridge—with limited ability to safely stop posed a serious risk to our safety and to others on the road. 3) Yes, problem has been confirmed by dealer. 4) The vehicle has not been inspected at this time by anyone other than the dealership in which it was leased. 5)While accelerating at approximately 30–35 mph, the vehicle began emitting a high-pitched whining noise, similar to sound of a remote-control toy car. The vehicle then started jerking back and forth during acceleration. Shortly after, the “Check Engine” light illuminated. We activated our hazard lights, reduced speed to approximately 10-20 mph, exited the bridge, and pulled into an emergency stopping area. There was no prior warning that there was a problem.

Filed Mar 4, 2026 · Engine · 66,700 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the spark plugs had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, a week later, while the vehicle was idling, it was vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the same mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam lobes were worn and needed to be replaced. The mechanic confirmed the findings with the dealer, and it was confirmed that it was a known issue due to the heat treatment to harden the steel not being properly performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,700.

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · 190,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated. Approximately three weeks later, while stopped at a light, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The gear shifter was shifted to park(P) to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the timing chain was blown. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was subsequently taken to an independent mechanic on several occasions, where it was diagnosed and determined that there were failures with Oxygen sensors, head gaskets, oil pan, oil pump, B2S1 heater, that the intake manifold was cracked, there was cylinder #2 misfire, and the circuit harness needed to be repaired, and DTC: P0300 was retrieved. The vehicle was repaired each time, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.

Filed Mar 1, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

The vehicle experiences sudden engine shutdown while driving. The engine completely turns off without warning. There are no warning lights, no check engine light, and no prior indication of failure. The exact component causing the failure is unknown at this time, but it appears to involve the engine and/or electrical system. The vehicle is available for inspection and has been taking to doge and nothing is being done yet. The vehicle shuts off while I am actively driving, causing immediate loss of power. This creates a dangerous situation because I lose acceleration and power steering while in traffic. I transport six children daily in this vehicle. Sudden engine shutdown while driving significantly increases the risk of a crash, especially in traffic or at higher speeds. This is a serious safety hazard for my family and others on the road. The dealership has not confirmed the cause. The vehicle has been taken in multiple times for service and diagnostics, and over $4,000 has been spent on repairs. However, the stalling issue continues and has not been resolved. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Dodge dealership service department multiple times. No manufacturer representative has inspected the vehicle yet. There were no warning lamps, no check engine light, and no dashboard messages prior to the engine shutting off. The shutdown occurs without any advance warning. The vehicle operates normally and then abruptly turns off.Given the sudden loss of power while driving and the risk of collision, I believe this may be a broader safety defect that could potentially affect other vehicles of the same model.

Filed Jan 13, 2026 · Engine · VA

Over time, the valvetrain in my engine became gradually louder. Because there were no check engine lights or fault codes, I initially assumed this was a normal characteristic of the engine. That changed on January 2, 2026, when I began to hear a pronounced knocking/loud tapping noise accompanied by a cylinder 8 misfire. At that point, I stopped driving the vehicle and had it towed to a repair shop. Based on the symptoms, we initially believed the issue would be limited to a camshaft and lifter replacement. However, after draining the oil and cutting open the oil filter, a significant amount of metal debris was discovered. Further inspection revealed that one camshaft lobe had been worn down nearly smooth and the corresponding lifter had failed. When the camshaft was removed for full evaluation, all other lobes showed normal, even wear. Only the lobe associated with the failed lifter exhibited catastrophic damage beyond repair. As a result of the metal contamination throughout the engine, a full engine replacement was required rather than a repair of individual components. The basis of my complaint is that this failure appears to be a well-documented and common issue with the 6.4L HEMI engine equipped with MDS. I have since reviewed numerous reports and forum discussions describing nearly identical failures—often beginning with increased valvetrain noise, followed by a single-cylinder misfire and extensive internal damage. This was not the result of neglect or abuse, but rather a known failure mode that ultimately led to the complete loss of the engine.