Is the 2004 Dodge Durango a bad year?
1,115 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 565, 23× a quiet Durango year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2004 Dodge Durango were filed between 78k and 130k miles. You're at 105,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Durango owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 105,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 561 (50%) | 79k–130k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 243 (22%) | 40k–110k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 143 (13%) | 79k–162k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 99 (9%) | 54k–150k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 49 (4%) | 8k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 35 (3%) | 63k–121k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 31 (3%) | 42k–110k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 30 (3%) | 57k–126k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 21 (2%) | 71k–136k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (2%) | 34k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 30 (3%) | 17k–79k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 25 (2%) | 20k–86k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 18 (2%) | 15k–93k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 13 (1%) | 23k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 105,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,115 complaints: 45 mention a crash · 74 mention a fire · 34 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I purchased the vehicle on 8/27/2010. On 9/4/2010 while driving on the highway at 70MPH, the car made a jerking movement then stalled.
Drove the durango home from work around 8PM the night before. When I got into the vehicle the next morning about 7:30AM , heard a load pop noise and then it shut off.
On 12-7-11, I was driving through an intersection at about 25 MPH when I heard and felt a loud bang and rattling from the engine.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 105,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Dodge Durango: 9
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
On some sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, an integrated circuit in the instrument cluster that controls interior lighting may overheat. This could potentially cause an instrument panel fire.
On certain sport utility vehicles built with a 5.7L, 4.7L, or 3.7L engine, the positive battery cable may contact the front suspension upper control arm mounting bracket. This contact could abrade the cable and cause a short circuit, which may result in an underhood fire.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.7L and 4.7L engines, the throttle control cable may ingest water and freeze during extended cold temperature. This could cause the throttle to stick in the open position and result in a crash.
On certain sport utility vehicles, an instrument cluster circuit board capacitor may overheat. This could potentially result in an instrument panel fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 19
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Dodge Durango. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Service Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
NHTSA defect investigations: 9
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Instrument panel fires
Instrument panel fires
Neighbouring years
2003 Durango: 338 complaints, keep it · 2005 Durango: 1,566 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Dodge Durango year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Durango years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Dodge Durango a bad year?
1,115 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 565, 23× a quiet Durango year. At 105,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2004 Dodge Durango were filed between 78k and 130k miles. You're at 105,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Dodge Durango?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (561), electrical system (243), air bags (143), transmission and drivetrain (99), speed control (49). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 78k–130k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Dodge Durango have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 17V-824), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-352), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-313), Air bags (NHTSA 14V-770) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.