Dodge Durango overheating problems

Filed May 25, 2026 · Engine · CA

Vehicle overheats while at a stop. Problem has been happening for past 8 months. Leaking antifreeze under transmission. Shop unable to diagnose problem after various attempts. Researched problem online and discovered many 2017 durango owners are having issue. Many saying it's due to manufacture problem. It's a safety issue for my family and I since I don't know what the problem is to fix it.

Filed May 11, 2026 · Electrical · TX · fire

My 2020 Dodge Durango experienced a severe interior dashboard fire that appeared to originate in the center dash/radio area while the vehicle was parkedin driveway. The fire caused extensive melting and burn damage throughout the dashboard, center console, wiring, and surrounding interior components. The infotainment/radio area and electrical wiring sustained significant destruction, resulting in the vehicle becoming unsafe and unusable. After inspection, the dealership indicated that the radio or related electrical components may have overheated. The estimated repair cost was approximately $33,000 due to the extent of the electrical and interior damage.

Filed Apr 29, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · PA

The vehicle involved is a 2017 Dodge Durango. The primary systems malfunctioning include the engine cooling system, braking system, and electrical system. The engine repeatedly overheats while driving and has produced smoke from under the hood, creating a risk of breakdown or fire. The braking system is unreliable, with the brake pedal going down too far and not providing proper stopping power, increasing the risk of a crash. The electrical system malfunctions unpredictably, including windshield wipers and interior controls turning on and off without input. These issues have occurred multiple times and have left the vehicle stranded on the side of the road, including at night. This has placed the driver and passengers at risk in unsafe conditions and traffic environments. The problems began shortly after purchase and have been ongoing. The issues have not been properly resolved. A mechanic was supposed to inspect the vehicle, but it is UNKNOWN if a full inspection was completed. Warning signs included overheating temperature readings, smoke, weak braking response, and electrical irregularities prior to failure. The vehicle is currently not reliable or safe to operate due to these ongoing safety defects.

Filed Apr 17, 2026 · Engine · WA

At 37008 miles my coolant started to leak and it overheated, when taking to a mechanic they replaced the coolant and tubes and advised that it was rubbing on the hose, so they replaced the hoses and put in new coolant fluid and said it was all addressed, not even a week later, it started to overheat again even though it has all new hoses and they wrapped the hoses so it doesn't wear and cause the leak again and it still happened.

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 Feb 10, 2026 · Electrical · MI

Radio screens keep going bad causing the backup camera to not work until after a power cycle of the screen takes place. Sometimes a power cycle is not possible and the screen take a minute or two to turn on. I have had multiple radios in our car do this. I was told at the dealership that Stellantis admits they have a design flaw which causes the radio to overheat and melt the components in the radio unit. This is a series safety concern, not only because of the backup camera not displaying but a possible fire hazard if components are over heating.

Filed Dec 16, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · NC

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.

Filed Dec 4, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · WI

My vehicle just clicks when I try to start it. The engine will not turn-over; it just clicks. Risk is that there wasn't any engine light warning or anything, and it is 19 degrees Fahrenheit with a -14 windchill outside. My vehicle was brought to the Dodge/Chrysler Dealership a few times for noises and overheating issues, but they said there weren't any problems. I knew there were issues because my vehicle's temperature gauge would go high for no apparent reason. I've been consistent with oil changes and fixed recommendations of wear and tear.

Filed Oct 7, 2025 · Engine · NC

I was driving my vehicle and the engine light came on and the car started overheating. I had to immediately pull over. There was fluid underneath my Vehicle again. This occurred twice in 6 months. The engine coolant lines have a whole in them. This is the 2nd repair for the same issue in 6 months. The Vehicle has been sitting for over 3 weeks at dodge. They have not answered or responded to our claims. The Vehicle poses a safety risk as it instantly overheats and you lose power. The coolant lines under the Vehicle are not secured at all and rub against other parts under the vehicle.

Filed Sep 5, 2025 · Engine · 260,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine overheated after idling for 10 minutes. A mobile mechanic arrived at the residence and replaced the upper and lower coolant hoses and the thermostat; however, the failure persisted, and the coolant reservoir was significantly hot. A second mechanic diagnosed that the head gasket had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another mechanic to be diagnosed. The used car dealer where the vehicle was purchased was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 260,000.