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Engine & cooling

2018 Dodge Durango SRT Engine problems

Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 11% of all its complaints, most recently on November 4, 2025. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11697385
Engine & cooling

2018 Dodge Durango GT with 47,000. The check engine light came on. Took it to a Dodge dealer for service. Diagnosis was head gasket failure, allowing coolant into the cylinder causing engine misfire and potential overheat and a blown engine. This appears to be an ongoing issue with the Penstar V6 engine. This is a safety concern because the vehicle may break down while driving or overheat without warning, creating a power loss while driving

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11669729
Engine & cooling

Right hand and left hand intake camshaft were damaged by the slider rocker finger follower. Cylinder 5 was the worst. Metal was sent through the overhead and got into the intake phaser. Parts were recently removed by the dealer and should be available if request is made shortly. Failure was found prior to catastrophic failure due to noise from the engine compartment. Vehicle was dropped off in the overnight drop box to allow vehicle the best chance to replicate the noise. Noise was only noticeable during cold...

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starts below 30°f at idle and no load. Once the car warmed up, the noise was much less noticeable and could easily have been overlooked. No check engine lights were illuminated. If problem was not corrected, I'm confident this vehicle would have left me stranded by loss of power during driving putting me and my family in an unsafe situation. I first noticed the objectionable noise in November 2024 but was unable to get it to replicate reliably so a dealer could diagnose it. The problem was replicated by a dealer and components were replaced under warranty @ 53,272 miles. Oil changes were completed in line or ahead of the oil life monitor system in the cars instrument cluster. This seems to be a cold climate design issue with no oil being provided to the intake camshaft to sliding rocker finger follower interface during start up as oil appears to be fed from exhaust side lash adjuster. I suspect this same issue will reappear as the replacement parts are the same with no apparent improvements. Since the repair I've noticed improved fuel economy, smoother accelerations and shifts, and overall less noise. The degradation of these things before was slow enough to be unnoticeable.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11640992
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Between the transmission slipping since 30k, the engine knocking. The check engine flashing. I have changed the coil packs spark plugs, all filters and still nothing, the auto stop/start does not work it flashes Boggs out and loses power. The whole steering wheel and truck vibrates and shakes to a point you feel like you're on an incline going up a roller coaster. I have replaced batteries 2x the windows no longer auto roll down when using fobs even w new batteries and re programming electrical system power randomly fails and all lights go out the. Screen goes out stops working for days on end .

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11598418
LightsEngine & cooling

Rear tail lights are out. All the Dodge Durangos on the road are ! Safety hazard for people behind me and me! Initially part of the light went out tonight the whole light went out . Cam shaft has went bad twice

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11571544
Engine & cooling

I bought this car, brand new off the dealer and it has been in perfect shape until 120,000 miles. All of a sudden the check engine light comes in and turns out it was the head gasket!! 5 years old, hasn't needed a thing and the mechanic tells me I need a new engine!? What good is it if I buy a brand new car and take perfect care of it all to end up with the engine going to [[redacted]]. I have heard other people saying the same thing with their 3.6l pentastar engine. AT 120K...I don't see that being a coincidence...

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if it keeps happening with the SAME engine at the SAME AMOUNT OF MILES. There is definitely a problem here. P.s won't let me upload documents on the mechanics diagnosis. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11562839
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

My car randomly won't start could be due to one of the 4 recalls for my make and model I would like have this investigated

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11553909
AirbagsEngine & cooling

Engine light on for to EVAP leak. Airbag warning light on and off periodically throughout drives.

Filed Incident Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11523331
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated after attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. The contact then stated that after several attempts to start the vehicle she smelled a burning odor. No warning lights were illuminated. The AAA was notified of the failure and the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that coolant had leaked in the engine and burned the starter; however, the vehicle...

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was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the repair cost would be covered. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11514842
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Multiple occasions I have taken my vehicle to the local dealership I bought it brand new only owner any time it rains my vehicle stops. I have been going down the highway and it has just shut down in the middle of the highway. My vehicle will no longer start after this last rain and snow dealership is not helping and pretty much says I'm on my own still in the vehicle is paid off and I have had nothing but issues with electrical the car randomly shifting out of gear, brake lights leaking because I feel with water and floorboards, becoming soaked when it rains

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11507120
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. During the failure, the vehicle had not lost electrical power with the interior lights and instrument cluster illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer on multiple occasions for the same failure and the power train control module, engine mounts, and an unknown wiring harness were...

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replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V524000 (Electrical System). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11476930
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Throwing codes of of lost communication of body control module and cylinder 3 misfire.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11475802
Engine & coolingFuel system

Had to replace fuel canister and sensor. Had to redo fuel system . The evap sensor appeared while driving, engine light came on and car started driving really weird and shaking. It was freaking out did not drive right.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11472821
SteeringEngine & cooling

My engine is not cooling while my vehicle drives more will the transmission cool down now my transmission won't work the correct way

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11464665
Engine & cooling

2018 Durango GT purchased at 30k miles and the oil pan gasket was already worn and leaking oil. Tensioner and pulley also failed. Seems like Mopar utilize low quality parts in general, as minor as they may seem they are vital for me to operate my vehicle safely.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11455371
Engine & cooling

Doing some checking problems with this particular vehicle it seems that the water pump/ radiator has problems. My vehicle has a anti-freeze leak when at idle leaving a stream in the driveway. Thus causing a problem for pets and wildlife. The engine warning light has come on. The a/c compressor makes a noise also. FYI.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11442599
Engine & cooling

My car is a dodge durango srt8, year 2018 , vin# [[redacted]], with only 20,000 miles and the engine transmission broke. It is under guarantee and the dealer has being compliant. I am affraid that in the web media more owners with the same engine are experiencing the same issue as me. There is a notification that the engine had a factory error in the manufacturing, they mention a park lock rod causing problems with the transmission. I am searching if there is any recall, but it seems that the problem is beginning...

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to flourish. Please I will appreciate more information and suggestion from you of what should I do. Thanks. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11439523
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Vehicle would not start after sitting 45 minutes. Started after jump and died again next day. Recharged battery and it worked scan tool had three codes dead battery fog light switch and drivers door switch second issue is oil in the air box which the dealer is trying to resolve with a pcv valve. However this vehicle only has 39 k miles

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11388464
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

I stopped at a stoplight, and when I tried to accelerate the car stalled engine light was blinking, drive light on the drive stick was blinking even though it is already on drive. Tried to shift it to park and drive again but the drive stick is locked and the break pads were also locked in place. Turned off the auto start/stop and pushed the start button with the key fob and the car started again. Good thing it was a red light, but I don't want to happen again especially if I'm driving with my family. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11324178
Electrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

This letter is a written notice to dodge/chrysler corporation that I am tired of the way they are treating me. I purchased a 2018 dodge dealer gt, with only 2,800 miles. It was a dealer demo and it has been nothing but problems. Starting from inside of interior falling apart, which was fixed by dealer. However, at 8,000 miles or so the engine started developing an intermittent rattle, that has gotten worse over time. I have tried communicating with dodge with very little help. Right now I have an open case with...

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dodge but so far my case manager has not been any help. My engine is getting damaged, and last time I took truck to dealer for service the service advisor told me they would not open engine to look into engine without engine light. Dodge is treating me bad. The truck even turned of while driving but that was only once, who knows of later it will happen again. I feel this truck is a big safety issue that dodge is simply just ignoring.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11298892
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

While drive my 2018 dodge durango on the fwy around 65+ the engine just turn off. With kids in the car we were stuck in the slow lane of the fwy unable to move the car. I tried restarting it with no luck. The car still had power(lights were on). The car wouldn't go into neutral .. The car had to be pulled off the road by a tow truck. After about an hour( car was towed) when we got it home we tried again to start the car it started! No check light came on during anytime. A very scary experience.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11193032
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

I have 3 major issues. 1 While driving the entire center console electrical system has locked completely up, turning the air off and not allowing any change to the system until the vehicle is pulled over and shut off, continuing with electrical 2x's I've shut the car off and the radio would not turn off, until the battery was disconnected which reset the entire system. My second issue is when starting the vehicle there is almost a grinding noise associated with the start up. Third the car seemed to be stuck on...

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cruise control but with enough time to push enough buttons and shift to neutral it came out of cruise, the car has 3000 miles on it and I pay?D almost 50 grand for a brand new vehicle and it continually has issues, is there/will there be a technology fix? *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11100777

Dodge Durango SRT engine complaints by year

Durango SRT engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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