Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2002 Dodge Durango, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Dodge Durango year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Risk: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 04V596000
Issue: SKF IS RECALLING 2,805 HUB UNITS, PART NO. BR930361, SOLD AS A SERVICE PART FOR 1997-2004 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES AND 1999-2003 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2-WHEEL DRIVE & REAR AXLE ABS. DUE TO A SPECIFICATION ERROR, THE ROTOR PILOT FOR THE HUB UNIT MAY BE TOO LONG. THIS RESULTS IN THE WHEEL TO NOT BE SEATED FULLY AGAINST THE HUB FLANGE FACE DURING MOUNTING.
Risk: IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. SHOULD WHEEL-END SEPARATION OCCUR, THE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: SKF WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HUB UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SKF VSM NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-644-8999.
Campaign 08E064000
Issue: ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Risk: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 07V555000
Issue: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BENCH SEATS ONLY, IF FLUID IS SPILLED FROM THE FLOOR MOUNTED CUP HOLDER, AN UNUSED CONSOLE POWER OUTLET CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED.
Risk: THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONSOLE WIRING CONNECTOR FOR CORROSION, CLEAN AS REQUIRED, AND INSTALL A CAP TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL FLUID FROM CONTAMINATING THE CONNECTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 06V339000
Issue: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Risk: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Campaign 06E024000
Issue: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.
Risk: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 04V216000

NHTSA frontal crash test
5 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2002 Dodge Durango 4-DR.
The parts named most often across 436 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
4 crashes · 1 injured
1 crash · 2 fires
2 crashes · 1 fire
6 crashes · 1 fire · 2 injured
4 fires · 1 death
9 crashes · 9 injured · 2 deaths
2 crashes · 7 injured
1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
3 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.
I have had my front wheel hub replaced 12 times yet my car isn't part of any recall
The hub on my 02 Durango has had to be replaced 8 times since I bought it in 2018 but everyone says my car isn't part of recall.
While pulling a travel trailer I got onto the freeway. As I have been pulling the trailer for a while now with this vehicle my comfort speed is around 45mph but will push up to 50mph maybe 55mph at the most. Anyways while entering the freeway I accelerated and as I got ready to merge I let my foot off the gas but the peddle stayed down and the vehicle continued to accelerate until around 80mph to 85mph when I finally got the peddle to release and stop acceleration. I quickly got off the freeway to calm myself as I was terrified I was going to crash. During this incident the first thing I did was tap the brakes lightly which did absolutely nothing and the car kept accelerating next I grabbed the floor mat thinking that maybe it was obstructing the peddle, it was not. Then I quickly used my foot to wiggle under the peddle and pull up multiple times until it finally released and came up stopping acceleration and luckily to my relief I did not crash although I had come very close had there been any more traffic or if I had got going g any faster I may not have been so lucky. This only happened the one time where I got to dangerous speeds but since then the peddle has started to stick two other times but this times it was much easier to get the peddle to release and I wasn't towing a trailer. I read that this happened in another model in freezing temperatures fro. The same manufacturer but couldn't find anything to it without freezing temperatures. I think it is a manufacturer defect that maybe affects other 2002 Dodge Durango I dony know if pulling the trailer triggered this or not as I said it has happened twice since and that was without a trailer attached. Definitely scary and should be looked at.. I don't have the funds to take it to a shop so I haven't had it professionally looked at yet
WHEN DRIVING TO THE STORE I SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND WENT IN . WHEN I CAME OUT I CRANKED IT OVER AND IT STARTERED AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE BY FIREWALL AND WAS INGOLFED IN FLAMES
WHEN DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND THE CAR DIES. IT HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I'M ON THE ROAD. REPLACED CAMSHAFT SENSOR BUT IT IS STILL DYING. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH YOU WILL FIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS DANGEROUS AND MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS CAN BE AT RISK. *TR
AFTER STARTING MY DODGE DURANGO AND TRY TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN PARK, IT WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING AROUND WITH IT UNTIL IT MOVES OUT OF PARK. IT DOES THIS OFF AND ON, JUST STATED THIS ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. TODAY IS 2/16/2020. YESTERDAY, I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON YOU TUBE, AND FOUND OUT THAT I COULD TAKE THE BOOT OFF AT THE COLUMN BY THE SHIFTER AND SPRAY WD40 ON THE GEAR LOCK TO UNSTICK IT. I DID DO THAT AND IT WORKED. BUT WHAT IS MAKING IT DO THAT TO BEGIN WITH?
THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. HAVE REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS. AT THIS TIME WE CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER WAS CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE HOLDER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
WHILE DRIVING, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUTTER, LOSES POWER AND WILL STALL. I WAS LOW ON GAS, AND TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL GAS STATION FOR FUEL. AFTER PUTTING $10 IN MY CAR WAS RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH. I WAS DOING ABOUT 20 MPH, WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF. BRAKES GOT REAL HARD. AFTER RE STARTING THE VEHICLE ALL SEEMED NORMAL. THEN, I DROVE ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS AND IT DID IT AGAIN AT A RED LIGHT. I TRIED PUSHING THE GAS TO SEE IF THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING, IT DIDNT. I DROVE ALL IN , ABOUT 3 MILES, AND THE CAR STALLED 7 TIMES. WHILE IN THE DRIVE THROUGH, IT STALLED 3 ABD AT ONE POINT JERKED SO FAR I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. VEHICLE SPEED DOES NOT MATTER , AS IT WILL SLOWLY LOSE POWER AND TURN OFF. I WAS DRIVING LOCALLY ON A CITY STREET. MY BEST GUESS TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE EVAP SYSTEM, QUITE POSSIBLY THE PURGE VALVE BUT IM NOT 100% SURE BUT THIS SITUATION IS VERY UNSAFE, I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. DURING MY TRIP THE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 20-45 MPH
MY VIN TAG: (XXXX) I REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR, AND PLUG MULTIPLE TIMES ON MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO AND IT KEEPS MELTING/BURNING UP. IF I LEAVE IT ON LOW OR MEDIUM FAN SETTING EVENTUALLY IT WILL CATCH FIRE, I'M FINALLY COMING TO YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP. OWNERS OF THE 1998-2007 DODGE DURANGO'S & DAKOTA'S ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM MANY WILL HAVE FIRES DUE TO IT AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY FROM IT! I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER SNOW PLOWING AND NEEDED TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS SO I PUT IT ON MEDIUM AND WITHIN 6 MINUTES SMELLED A STRONG BURNING SMELL. GO HOME AND THE WIRING HAD MELTED THE FAN, PLUG AND HARNESS. I'VE CHANGED THIS PART NOW ABOUT 12 TIMES IN ABOUT A YEAR, LOW & MEDIUM SETTINGS CAUSE IT SO NOW I CAN ONLY USE HIGH FOR ANY USE UNLESS I WANT ANOTHER FIRE, 9TH TIME IT ALMOST CAUGHT BECAUSE IT WAS DRIPPING PLASTIC ABOUT TO CATCH WHEN I SPRAYED WATER ON IT AND PULLED CONNECTION ON BATTERY. MILD TO WILD ON RTE-34 IN ORANGE, CT WORKED ON IT AS WELL. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
HEADLIGHTS FLICKING ON AND OFF AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT.
HAPPENED TWICE SINCE DEC. 2018 WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT SPEED OF APRX. 35-45 AND ABS WAS DEPLOYED IT IMMEDIATLY UNLOCKED AND JUMPED FORWARD CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. CAME VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD I BEEN CLOSER.
Showing 12 of 436 complaints.