2005 DODGE DURANGO Power Train Problems

DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: NOV 02, 2005 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: AUG 29, 2007 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA05018 COMPONENT(S): POWER TRAIN ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INVESTIGATION DETAILS 26 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS MANUFACTURER: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC SUMMARY: ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT, FIELD REPORT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOWS THAT THE MAJORITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE ENGINE CALIBRATION CONCERNS THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER ADDRESSED WITH SERVICE BULLETINS RELEASING REVISED PCM SOFTWARE. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINTS AND ODI'S SURVEY OF OWNERS OF VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES UNDER TSB #18-013-05 SHOW THAT THESE STALLING INCIDENTS HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: - THEY OCCUR AT LOW SPEEDS, OFTEN DURING PARKING LOT OR DRIVEWAY MANEUVERS; - THEY OCCUR DURING DECELERATIONS, SUCH AS BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL; AND - THE OPERATOR IS ALMOST ALWAYS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS...

TRANSFER CASE TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 4LO AT RANDOM (YELLOW 4LO LIGHT ON DASH FLASHES & CAN FEEL IT TRYING TO SWITCH) & IT ALSO TRIES ENGAGING WHEN THE KEY ISN'T IN THE IGNITION. I'VE READ THAT IF IT ENGAGES IN 4LO AT A HIGH SPEED IT COULD DO MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE POWER TRAIN & POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I'VE SEARCHED IN GOOGLE & IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THE POWER CONNECTOR TO THE "TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE" DISCONNECTED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2012 SO I CAN DRIVE BUT I'M UNABLE TO SWITCH TO 4LOCK OR 4LO IF NEEDED (SVC 4WD LIGHT STAYS ON). *TR

MY TRANSFER CASE WILL SHIFT FROM AWD TO 4LO WITH NO WARNING. MY TRANSFER CASE ALSO SHIFTS INTO 4WD, WHEN I SHOULD BE IN AWD. THESE SHIFTS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY AND AT ANY SPEED. *TR

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SWITCHING INTO 4LO. WHEN I UNLOCK MY CAR IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE CAR LIKE IT IS SWITCHING FROM AWD TO 4LO. ALSO, MY 4LO LIGHT FLASHES ON MY DASH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO SWITCH EVEN THOUGH IT IS LEFT IN AWD. *TR

THE VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ITSELF INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE MODE. THE INCIDENTS USUALLY HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH, THE INCIDENT CAN, HAS, AND WILL HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN IT OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SLOWLY AND REFUSE TO TURN. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL SEEMINGLY LOCK THE TIRES AND IF NOT HANDLED CORRECTLY THE DRIVER CAN LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE SUV. THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG DODGE DURANGO 2ND GENERATION OWNERS. MANY SAY THE DODGE DEALERSHIPS ARE SKEPTICAL ON WHAT EXACT REPAIR IS NECESSARY TO FIX THE APPARENT SAFETY ISSUE. DURANGO OWNERS EXPERIENCES WITH TECHNICIANS SHOW MANY TIMES THEY REPORTEDLY POINT THE FINGER AT VARIOUS HIGH DOLLAR REPAIRS. SOME HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR BUT SOME WHO HAVE PURSUED THIS REPAIR HAVE AGAIN REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS...

VEHICLE SWITCHES IN AND OUT OF 4WD AND 4LO WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION. AS READ ON INTERNET, A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES YET CHRYSLER DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR ACCIDENT AND VEHICLE DAMAGE. FROM WHAT I READ, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR AND IS A MAJOR OCCURANCE. *TR

THE VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ITSELF INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE MODE. THE INCIDENTS USUALLY HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH, THE INCIDENT CAN, HAS, AND WILL HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN IT OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SLOWLY AND REFUSE TO TURN. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL SEEMINGLY LOCK THE TIRES AND IF NOT HANDLED CORRECTLY THE DRIVER CAN LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE SUV. THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG DODGE DURANGO 2ND GENERATION OWNERS. MANY SAY THE DODGE DEALERSHIPS ARE SKEPTICAL ON WHAT EXACT REPAIR IS NECESSARY TO FIX THE APPARENT SAFETY ISSUE. DURANGO OWNERS EXPERIENCES WITH TECHNICIANS SHOW MANY TIMES THEY REPORTEDLY POINT THE FINGER AT VARIOUS HIGH DOLLAR REPAIRS. SOME HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR BUT SOME WHO HAVE PURSUED THIS REPAIR HAVE AGAIN REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS...

FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED COMING INTO A TURN. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MOST DURANGO OWNERS HAD LUCK WITH FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING AND/OR EGR VALVE REPLACEMENTS. I DID BOTH, AND THE VEHICLE RAN FINE UP UNTIL TODAY (2 MONTHS LATER). THERE WERE PREVIOUS "INVESTIGATIONS" FOR RECALL SERVICES A FEW YEARS BACK, BUT THEY WERE CLOSED OUT. I HOPE DODGE DECIDES TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION AGAIN.. I DO NOT WANT TO BE PAYING $200 EVERY 2 MONTHS FOR FUEL CLEANING SERVICES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIFT HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IN ADDITION, SHE MENTIONED THAT ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION THE FOUR WHEEL SERVICE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND ALL FOR TIRES SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,759.

2005 DODGE DURANGO 5.7 LITER HEMI. ON FREEWAY, ENGINE STARTED "PULLING" AND "MISSING" AND SHUT OFF. 75 MPH FREEWAY SPEED, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD A CAR LOAD OF KIDS. WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND START THE ENGINE (DOESNT START IMMEDIATELY). RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 50 MILES AFTERWARDS. HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 50 MILES OF DRIVING. HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 6 MONTHS. GIVES NO CODES AS TO WHAT IT CAN BE. CLEANED THROTTLE, WORKED A FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN PROBLEM CONTINUED TODAY. ITS GETTING HARDER TO GET IT STARTED ONCE IT GIVES OUT. EGR REPLACED ($500.00), BATTERY (200.00), SPARK PLUGS (150.00), REPLACED FUEL PUMP LAST WEEK (220.00 WITH LABOR)...I'M BASICALLY TIRED OF THIS!!!!!!! CHECKED DODGE FORUM AND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURED AS OF YET, BUT WHATS TO SAY SOMEONE ISNT GOING TO BE KILLED BY THIS HAPPENING!...

2005 DODGE DURANGO STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IN LOCAL AREA DIAGNOSE IT, AND THEY REFLASHED THE PCM AND GAVE IT A TUNE-UP. THERE AREN'T ANY CODES COMING UP DURING DIAGNOSTICS. $400 AND AN HOUR LATER IT WAS STILL STALLING. IT STALLS ON AVERAGE THREE TIMES A DAY WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPING OR TURNING. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, I NEED TO DRIVE TO GET TO WORK. *TR

2005 DODGE DURANGO STALLS AND POWER STEERING SEEMS TO GO OUT WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS 5-6 TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS IN GETTING REAR-ENDED BY A CAR BEHIND US. THE DODGE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG! *TR

MY 2005 DODGE DURANGO SPILL GAS WHENEVER IT NEAR THE END OF FILLING CREATING A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD ALSO NOW WHEN EVER I AM COMING TO A STOP OF A SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE STALLS WHICH KILLS THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. TOTALLY UNSAFE AND WHEN YOU CALL CHRYSLER THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE CLEARLY RECALL ITEMS. THE WEB IS LITTERED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND NO ONE CARES. *TR

BOUGHT 2005 DURANGO 12/05-NEEDED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SERVICES---DEALER STATED LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON (9/06), STALLING 3/07, AT LEAST 5 TIMES-LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID BLAMED, STALLING 2/08--4 TIMES IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, AGAIN BLAMED LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID. DIFFERENTIAL LEAK IN 3/07, NOW REAR GEAR SHOT WITH A $900+ PRICE TAG AND THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY 3 YEARS/36,000. (NEWS TO ME--IN 2005 THEY WERE ADVERTISING 7 YEARS-70,000 ON DRIVE TRAIN). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING THEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN. IN ADDITION, SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICAL HARNESS, AND OTHER PARTS HOWEVER THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,468.

SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS GIVEN TO NHTSA, MY 2005 DODGE DURANGO STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE. TO DATE, NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. THE OCCURRENCE IS INTERMITTENT, AS IT HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 8 MONTHS. DODGE SERVICE REPS ARE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM AND OFFER NO SOLUTION.

WE PURCHASED A 2005 DODGE DURANGO USED MARCH 11, 2006 WITH 16,568, MILES ON IT. ON MARCH 13TH TWO DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT AND 16,614 MILES LATER (48 MILES LATER) THE TRUCK BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY! WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED IN TO EARNHARDTS DODGE, FIND OUT THE RING GEAR AND PINION SET NEEDS REPLACED, DIFFERENTIAL SIDE BEARINGS - ALL AXLES REPLACE (INCLUDES CASE AND SIDE GEARS IF NECESSARY) THIS IS QUOTED FROM ALL MY RECEIPTS. 2ND TIME AROUND (JULY 18,2006) - NOW HAS 24,795 MILES ON IT, REAR END ISSUES AGAIN! AGAIN THIS IS THE REPAIRS - SEAL, AXLE SHAFT OIL - REPLACE ALL OTHER AXLES-RIGHT. BRAKE PADS, DISC BRAKE-BOTH SIDES REAR REPLACE DUE RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING CONTAMINATED PADS, ROTOR HAS FLUID BURNED INTO THE SURFACE. REPLACED RIGHT AXLE SEAL AND BRAKES. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE WATTS LINK SWAY BAR, REPLACED BELL CRANK AND LINKS....

I HAVE AN 05 HEMI DURANGO LIMITED WITH 3,300 MILES ON IT. SINCE NEW THE VEHICLE HAS OCCASSIONALLY DIED WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE PCM FLASH PROVIDED BY DODGE HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON A FIX. OVERALL THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED FIVE TIMES. I HAVE ALSO FILED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT FOR MY 05 RAM 2500 WITH THE HEMI ENGINE.