2003 DODGE DURANGO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
484
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
4
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2003 DODGE DURANGO
The 2003 DODGE DURANGO has received a total of 484 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (47 complaints), Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint (47 complaints), and Exterior Lighting (23 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO, potentially affecting up to 998,829 vehicles.
Recall 08E064000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
| 2,805 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 06V339000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
| 35,103 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 06E024000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 44,386 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 04V596000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
| 592,707 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 04V216000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
| 320,188 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 02V322000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
| 3,640 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) HAS AN IMPROPERLY SIZED CIRCUIT BOARD TRACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RIGHT HEADLAMP LOW BEAM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CTM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO
484 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The obd reader on my 2003 Durango brings up code for central timing module and eeprm checksum error were the safety recall is in order but the vin number is not in the list of recall. It has all the specification of recall but vin number isn't in the list of recalls. I'm driving around in a unsafe vehicle due to manufacturing error that my vin number is the only thing why they won't fix it. Why do they not care if I kill myself or others from this that the recall is
The obd reader on my 2003 Durango brings up code for central timing module and eeprm checksum error were the safety recall is in order but the vin number is not in the list of recall. It has all the specification of recall but vin number isn't in the list of recalls. I'm driving around in a unsafe vehicle due to manufacturing error that my vin number is the only thing why they won't fix it. Why do they not care if I kill myself or others from this that the recall is
The obd reader on my 2003 Durango brings up code for central timing module and eeprm checksum error were the safety recall is in order but the vin number is not in the list of recall. It has all the specification of recall but vin number isn't in the list of recalls. I'm driving around in a unsafe vehicle due to manufacturing error that my vin number is the only thing why they won't fix it. Why do they not care if I kill myself or others from this that the recall is
Clogged or leaking A/C drain hose. This hose is responsible for draining condensation from the A/C evaporator, the condensation pools in large quantity on the passenger floorboard. This constitute a hazard for the electrical systems near it and a risk of corrosion not to mention potential toxic mold and basically the car self flooding. A few videos document the issue and it is due to bad design where the drain hose is oriented upward and/or the seal blocking water from penetrating the passenger cabin is cracked or falls away in time. Cars from 20+ years ago like my Dodge Durango would certainly experience a degradation of such a seal. The seal itself is very difficult to get to but the issue is pressing. This is an example of a video documenting the issue where the narrator describes this as bad design. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the battery had been replaced after being drained due to an unknown electrical failure. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the alarm would inadvertently sound while the vehicle was turned off. Additionally, the lights would flash on and off intermittently. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would only restart while in Neutral. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would be an out of pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Safety Rating for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 DODGE DURANGO in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
0500703 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE SHUDDER OR VIBRATION. *TT
1800503C — POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SHIFT / SPEED CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS / POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION. *TT
02026A — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION MAY OVERHEAT DUE TO A RESTRICTION IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER DRAIN BACK VALVE AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TT
10023 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
POWERTRAIN DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION. SERVICE INFORMATION TUNEUPS. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 DODGE DURANGO
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2003 DODGE DURANGO.
Investigation PE03032 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM Closed
Opened:
FRONT SUSP. UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE
Other Model Years of the DODGE DURANGO
- 1998 DODGE DURANGO — 1,553 complaints
- 1999 DODGE DURANGO — 3,172 complaints
- 2000 DODGE DURANGO — 1,471 complaints
- 2001 DODGE DURANGO — 963 complaints
- 2002 DODGE DURANGO — 556 complaints
- 2003 DODGE DURANGO (current)
- 2004 DODGE DURANGO — 1,420 complaints
- 2005 DODGE DURANGO — 2,001 complaints
- 2006 DODGE DURANGO — 1,038 complaints
- 2007 DODGE DURANGO — 241 complaints
- 2008 DODGE DURANGO — 127 complaints
Other DODGE Models
- DODGE GRAND CARAVAN — 18,729 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 1500 — 15,420 total complaints
- DODGE CARAVAN — 14,266 total complaints
- DODGE DAKOTA — 9,227 total complaints
- DODGE CHARGER — 8,114 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 2500 — 8,092 total complaints
- DODGE INTREPID — 8,078 total complaints
- DODGE JOURNEY — 7,849 total complaints