I am writing to formally escalate an ongoing and serious safety issue involving my 2019 Dodge Durango R/T, VIN [XXX], which was originally transported from Canada and is now registered in New York, United States. I have experienced repeated incidents involving sudden loss of engine power, multiple dashboard warning lights, and extensive ABS-related fault codes. Despite multiple visits to my local dealership and substantial diagnostic expenses, the underlying issue remains unresolved. My vehicle is now immobilized at my home, and I am being asked to incur additional expenses for further diagnosis and repairs without a clear explanation of the underlying failure or whether it may be related to an outstanding ABS recall. I am requesting a formal safety investigation, a review of my vehicle’s recall eligibility, and a resolution that does not leave me financially responsible for repeatedly diagnosing what may be a known safety-related defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Dodge Durango loss of power problems
347 of the 13,795 owner complaints about the Dodge Durango describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 347
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,432
- typical mileage
- 83,000
By model year
Often reported together
Stalling 101Power steering loss 83Check engine light 50Won't start 24Fuel pump 24Engine failure 23Wipers 21Fire or smoke 20
Trouble codes mentioned
U0001 1P2099 1P2074 1P1391 1P0700 1P0441 1P0440 1P0308 1P0123 1P0068 1
What owners say
The vehicle fails to start reliably. I have made all the necessary repairs in an attempt to have the car to start reliably. I have replaced items that the average owner would think are normal wear-and-tear items around the starting system. I have also replaced items that the average owner would not think would wear out and need replacing. All of this work was done out of pocket. A warranty or recall covered none of the work. Yet the car still does not start reliably. I believe this is a safety issue because it could lead to the vehicle losing power on the road and leaving occupants stranded. This is not a normal issue. This must be a manufacturer's issue. Producing and selling a vehicle that has known electrical and fueling problems. Also, Dodge, the manufacture clames the ZF 850RE-based 8-speed automatic has fluid for the life of the vehicle. Dodge claims that the transmission fluid in this transmission does not need to be changed and/or serviced. More information about this ZF 850RE-based 8-speed automatic transmission claim by Dodge would be helpful.
The component or system failed or malfunctioned, is the accelerator, brakes, stirring and electrical. The car is available for inspection upon your request. The car is having problems coming to a stop and it is very difficult to control the vehicle because the steering becomes so hard when the power shuts down on the vehicle as I'm driving it. I think and believe that that poses a high risk of someone getting hurt or injured and then some cases perhaps death. the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Yes the problem hasi been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. No, the vehicle has not been taken to an inspector, manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Here is what my vehicle is doing. symptoms. While driving the vehicle the car experiences a sudden total power loss, the engine cutting off and restarting on its own, the AC cycling on and off strangely, and the weak acceleration combined with the vehicle jerking.
Vehicle was unable to start upon attempts in the morning. Was able to get it jumped and started. Less than 5 minutes later the dash lights along with radio lights began to flicker, the front windshield wipers activated, and the battery light came on. Immediately after the vehicle completely stopped, steering wheel got tight and hard to turn and a pole was barely missed as I attempted to maneuver the vehicle as close to the side of the road as possible. There was a complete loss of power, and I was stranded semi in the middle of a busy road during morning traffic. The vehicle was towed to out preferred shop to determine the cause of the loss of power and it was determined that the alternator was dead. The vehicle had the mandated Safety Recall T36 completed 15 months ago. The replacement has failed prematurely. The vehicle has been confirmed by an independent service center. It was inspected by the independent service center, but the incident was witnessed by Missouri Highway Patrol and our local police as they directed traffic around the stalled vehicle to ensure my safety. The evening before there were no indications of failure. The morning of the vehicle was unable to start and had to be jumped and then immediately before the failure the dash lights along with radio lights began to flicker, the front windshield wipers activated, and the battery light came on. Within seconds of these warnings the vehicle stalled and completely stopped. No police report was filed but my husband did notify dispatch of the situation to have police routed to direct traffic. Highway Patrol happened to already be on the scene as they were passing by and saw me.
Started having problems with the engine losing power and sputtering was told by a repair shop that the engine needs replaced it has been sitting since
Vehicle Component Failure Description: The electronic gear shifter intermittently shifts into neutral without the driver pressing the release button or applying the brake, and can also slide back into drive without button engagement. This has occurred multiple times since service on 08/27/2025 and continues to occur. The issue has been demonstrated to dealership personnel, who confirmed they could replicate the condition but stated it is “normal.” Two separate dealerships (Suncoast Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Dayton Andrews Dodge) 3x both acknowledged the behavior and classified it as normal operation. Safety Risk: On 04/30/2026, while pulling from a center median on Gulf to Bay right before Bayside Bridge into traffic (vehicles traveling approximately 45 MPH), the vehicle unexpectedly shifted into neutral without warning. The vehicle lost power and would not accelerate, creating an immediate hazard. I was forced to veer back into the median and narrowly avoided colliding with an arrow board trailer. This condition creates a serious risk of collision, especially in traffic, intersections, or highway conditions, as the vehicle can unexpectedly lose propulsion without any driver input. Inspection / Reproduction: -Issue has been reproduced by dealership personnel -Dealerships claim the condition is “normal” -Manufacturer (Chrysler) has been contacted and a case opened -Vehicle is under warranty (~18,200 miles) Warnings / Symptoms: -No warning lights or alerts prior to shifting into neutral -Occurs without pressing the shifter button or brake pedal Additional Information: Dealership personnel advised to “make sure nothing touches the shifter while driving,” indicating the system may be overly sensitive or defective. This is not a reasonable or safe expectation for normal vehicle operation. If this behavior is considered “normal,” it represents a design or safety defect, as unintended shifting into neutral while in motion creates a high risk of crash or injury.
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.
The engine cooling system on my 2021 Dodge Durango GT failed due to ruptured coolant lines, including the rear coolant tubes supplying the rear air conditioning system and both transmission heater hoses. These lines carry engine coolant to the rear HVAC system and transmission. The ruptures caused coolant loss and engine overheating during normal operation. The failure appears related to the routing of the lines near the transmission housing, causing excessive wear not attributable to driver error. This model year has a documented history of similar failures. The vehicle and components are available for inspection and are currently at the dealership. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle overheated while I was driving at normal speed in traffic. A major overheating warning appeared while driving. Overheating in traffic creates a risk of sudden loss of power or the need to stop unexpectedly, which could result in a collision. Although I was able to drive slowly due to proximity to home, this condition would be hazardous on longer trips. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Dodge dealership, which verified failure of the coolant lines and provided an estimated repair cost of approximately $3,600. The vehicle has only been inspected by the dealership. A third-party warranty provider (Warranty Solutions) denied coverage, and I am disputing the decision. The vehicle remains at the dealership because I do not feel it is safe to drive. No prior warning signs were present. The overheating warning appeared suddenly at approximately 62,000 miles. I noticed the smell of coolant upon arrival at the dealership, indicating an active leak.
When accelerating, the vehicle tends to lose all power and starts to decelerate and check engine lights comes on, also states the start stop function is disable. Really tough trying to drive on highways because of this happening quite often.
While driving on the Thruway, the vehicle tends to misfire which results in lost power to the engine and shaking of the vehicle. The check engine light starts flashing and it becomes unsafe to maintain speeds. The issue was diagnosed as Cylinder 5 Misfire caused by camshaft and lifter failure. This sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds could cause an accident if it happens during traffic or passing situations. This is a known issue with the 2018 Dodge Durango GT V6 and should be a recall on the vehicle. This is a major engine issue.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- Risk
- An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z31.
Recall number 22V284000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 chrysler vehicles, including 200 and town and country models, dodge vehicles, including charger, durango, grand caravan and journey models and jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured from august 31, 2011, through september 13, 2011, that are equipped with 3.6l engines. These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block.
- Risk
- Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 18, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 11V487000 · Recall details
Questions about the Dodge Durango loss of power
Which Dodge Durango years have sudden loss of power problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (66 complaints), 1999 (45 complaints) and 2005 (45 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix sudden loss of power on the Dodge Durango?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,432 (median of 31 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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