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Engine & cooling

2006 Dodge Durango Engine problems

Owners have filed 68 complaints about the 2006 Dodge Durango's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 8% of all its complaints, most recently on February 8, 2021. They describe 3 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
68
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

SuspensionAirbagsEngine & cooling

The vehicle surges and makes a rattling soud when excelling. Feels like it's losing power. It delays starting when the ignition is on. The suspension feels like it's going to snap. The engine light and air bag light is displayed on the instrument panel/cluster.

Filed Incident Suspension · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11395128
Engine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. The contact stated that the front of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames while parked in her employer's parking lot. The fire department came and put out the flames. There was no police report filed and the contact was told it was her responsibility to have the vehicle towed. The front end was charred and burned out. There were no injuries. The dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The failure mileage was 253,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11302188
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingVisibility & wipersCrash

Heavy rain when wipers are on vehicle shut off while driving. Wind sheild wipers

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11202846
Engine & cooling

Common problem persists with this model exhaust manifold bolts are faulty and cause a exhaust leak on both the driver and passenger side of the engine costing around 1,000 to fix. Mine has the same issue when you have a cold engine you hear a ticking noise and it is caused by bad parts from the factory. This repair is very common on these models. This issue is a major issue with changing them due to breakage of the manifold bolts that cost extreme amounts to fix and sometimes if repaired wrong costing a engine replacement.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11154399
AirbagsEngine & cooling

The vehicle will shut off without any warning. No warning lights or anything, the vehicle just stalls in the middle of traffic, brakes or power steering doesn't work when vehicle shuts down. This can cause a very serious accident or death to myself and others around me. Help! This happened several times and when I take it to the shop they can't find anything wrong with because no error codes come up.

Filed Incident Air bags · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11045931
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingCrash1 injury

My 2006 dodge durango stalled out in the middle of traffic and caused me to be injured in a rear end collision because my pcm shut my engine down per design of the vehicle because my oil sending unit had a faulty wire and my pcm thought I didn't have any oil in my car which disabled my car completely by design of the manufacturer to keep my engine from damage because it thought I had. O oil. I have a faulty design product and not enough warning. I have been off work for a year with the injuries from the accident...

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and luckily I wasn't hurt worse. My car shut down immediately without proper warning someone could be killed I have photos and a service repair documents stating the faulty oil sending unit disabled my vehicle..Updated 09/21/17 *bf updated 10/23/17 *bf...Updated 11/13/2017 *bf *js updated 7/18/18*jb *tr

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · EngineNHTSA 11024241
Engine & cooling

My durango shut off on me this morning while cruising down the highway. I was just driving along maintaining 65mph and out of nowhere the engine just shut off as if the key had been turned off, no sputtering or anything.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10971486
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle jerked without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10953741
Electrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

My wife was driving the vehicle on a country road about 35 mph when the engine died and she had no power steering or brakes and had to drift to the side of the road. When she tried to restart the car the dash lights would light but the starter would not crank the engine. Shop says the computer has failed. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10945529
Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine & cooling

While driving my durango will just shut off (it doesn't run rough or sputter, it just shuts off) leaving me with no power steering or braking. I will coast to the side of the road, put it in park, then try to start it again. Most times it will start right up and other times it may take 2 - 5 minutes. This will happen about once or twice a month for the past couple of years. Otherwise it runs fine before and after it shuts off on me. One oddity that I notice is that all the gauges seem to work fine except the...

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speedometer drops to 0 even through I am still coasting along. The engine light does not come on during this. This is very dangerous as I have almost hit other cars before since I loose my steering and braking abilities. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10937099
Engine & cooling

I was driving during a rainstorm and my 2006 dodge durango started sputtering and stalled on the highway. We were fortunate enough to get the vehicle to the side of the road. After my car was towed & looked at by a mechanic I was told that water was running down the windshield & dripping directly on top of the air intake. The mechanic told me it was a common problem for the 2004 through 2006 models. After doing some research I found this to be true. I spoke with dodge and they told me that it was a design flaw and...

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I could purchase a replacement updated cowl part # 55362453ak this part is supposed to divert the water away from the intake. I also found out that no bulletin has been issued for the public. In my opinion a vehicle that stalls because of the rain is an issue. It typically happens when the vehicle hits a 100000 miles due to the weather stripping failing. I also found out that when this happens the engines can become waterlogged and the engine can blow a rod through the motor when trying to start the car after the rain. Any research into the second generation dodge durangos should produce more information including electrical problems. Please look into this issue as I would hate for someone to lose a life because their vehicle stalled.

Filed EngineNHTSA 10908363
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

I am experiencing a problem with the engine cutting off in full drive situations, all of sudden my check engine light pops up and that's my pre warning that my truck is getting ready to turn off. It is hesitant sometimes and waits till I am complete stop or sometimes it totally shuts down while driving in traffic. Very scary.

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10898881
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and was able to be restarted. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,118.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10897195
Engine & cooling

Driving vehicle and it started to stall. Felt like the front end was ready to give out. Vehicle has been at the dodge dealership where it was purchased brand new. Mechanic is unable to determine the problem. All major maintenance and repairs have been at this dealership. Vehicle has 214,000 miles, but has always been reliable. Can't understand why it has taken a week to diagnose the problem. Had vehicle towed by aaa to dealership.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10883397
Engine & coolingFuel system

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. Whenever the contact refueled the vehicle to its full capacity, fuel would spew out onto the ground and the contact's clothing. In addition, the engine warning indicator illuminated continuously when the vehicle was operable. The contact replaced the fuel cap; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10874903
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. While driving 65 mph, there were a loud knocking noise coming from the engine, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a lifter or a pring from the engine caused the knocking noise. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10853259
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

As I braked to park the durango, the engine abruptly stalled. Not sure why it stalled, but I know there was a problem with the 2004-2005 durangos where the engine would stall during sharp turns while braking.

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10763595
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

While driving down the highway, without any warning, my 2006 dodge durango stalled out. I still had radio and power steering, so I pulled over to the side of the road. I restarted my durango, the check engine light was on, but was able to continue without any further issues. The same type of issue happens sporadically, regardless of weather or speed. There are times, after sitting at a light or stop sign, when you press the gas to go the gears are slow to engage and actually start moving. Sometimes the durango...

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shifts roughly as you accelerate or decelerate. As time has gone on the problem has become more persistent. I finally took my durango in to our mechanic and he replaced the egr valve and the throttle position sensor. Within 2 weeks of these parts being replaced, my durango again began stalling out. I did have the durango stall out twice, back to back, losing all power in the vehicle, including power steering. I managed to get home and called the mechanic. This time he replaced the throttle control module. The durango is still stalling out and sometimes very slow to engage gears when starting off from a stopped position. This problem was supposedly address in the 2004-2005 models and corrected. I am afraid to drive my durango as it is not reliable; this is an accident waiting to happen. Clearly the problem has not been fixed.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10758600
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. In addition, while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle seized without warning. The contact was able to merge over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 143,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10746235
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge durango. While driving at 45 mph, the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10730101
Engine & cooling

Vehicle ran hot on this date,follwing the next day itshowed no problem. For the past 2 year at a stand still for about 5-10 minutes vehicle gage monitor is going up showing signs of running hot. I would imediately shut the engine off for about 1 minute. Then crank back up. The gage would go down back to normal status. If I come to another stop at a stop light it will go up again. Took vehicle to the shop several times to get it checked, accessor finds nothing wrong with it. It's a funny thing winter months my suv...

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would never run hot. Here in south carolina it is getting hot and the problem has now started again. I have had 3 to 4 incidents with my vehicle running hot 2015 and is sure more are to come. As usual I shut the engine off to make the gage go back to normal. And yes the running hot light does come on. We just don't understand what is going on. I would like to know if there are others having the same problem and what should I do to fix it.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 10717852
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Ignition switch locks up frequently. Vehicle stalls out during stops, turns and backing up.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10681248
Engine & coolingElectrical system

1] Engine stalls out during stops, turning, and reversing. 2] Ignition will not turn to on position occasionally. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10680930
Electrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

Approximately during summer of 2013, upon starting engine, the ignition would "stick" when key was turned forward. Durango would have to be turned off and key taken out of ignition switch to try it again. Then, upon shifting into reverse and backing up, the vehicle would come to an abrupt halt and be immovable for a time, usually until putting into park and re-starting vehicle. This is when the malfunction indicator light came on. We had to have vehicle towed at which time the wheels were locked in place,...

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causing black skid marks from its point of tow to tow truck. The auto shop replaced the emergency brake which was "stuck or locked in position". Malfunction indicator light went off temporarily. It came back on again in august, 2014. Took to auto shop to diagnose. After 677.74 Dollars in repairs, light still remains on. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10659811
Electrical systemEngine & coolingVisibility & wipers

I have a 2006 dodge durango, bought it used about 4 years ago. About a year and half ago, approximately march of 2013, the vehicle started to stall while driving. It happened at all speeds and after it happening multiple times we figured out that it happened when it was wet/raining out. This is extremely scary and dangerous when going 70mph on the highway...To have your vehicle jerk numerous times and then completely shutoff (aka no power at all!). We have spent a few thousand dollars since spring of 2013...

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trying to fix the issue. We worked closely with our dealer to figure out the exact problem...Figured out it was electrical (possibly when the windshield wiper are used...)But that was about as far as we got. Some of the things they found and/or fixed or replaced are as follows: wiring that was frayed, re-ground numerous wires, replaced a handful of sensors, resealed connections between electrical components and main module (as well as resealed the boxes themselves since water was found in them), replaced the electrical module ($2k), and replaced entire electrical box(which included having to re-wire)...Found a used one since brand new would have been $1200! . I have recently seen that there was a petition to the government to investigate (and hopefully recall) vehicles that have situations similar to what I have described above but they reference vehicles manufactured 2007 and forward but our 2006 is having the same issues!! Since it has been to the dealer last (less than a month ago) we have not had the problem but there was a stretch over the winter where it didn't happen at all either so I am not convinced it is fixed...It seems the dealer mechanic is about out of ideas and so are we... *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 10629055

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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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