Is the 2012 Dodge Durango a bad year?
639 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 149, 6× a quiet Durango year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 50k–105k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 5 of 110 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 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 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 346 (54%) | 50k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 148 (23%) | 50k–104k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 99 (15%) | 45k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 42 (7%) | 70k–94k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 37 (6%) | 30k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 28 (4%) | 46k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 24 (4%) | 32k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 19 (3%) | 34k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 10 (2%) | 72k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 8 (1%) | 62k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 75 (12%) | 21k–76k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (1%) | 23k–57k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Interior lighting | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 639 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 32 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 36 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were 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
Upon arriving home, a strong odor of electrical burning was present coming from the engine compartment. The electrical light came on and smoke was visible coming from the engine compartment.
Engine has cutout (Turns off) while driving on 4 occasions. On all four occasions it has occurred while I was exiting a road/ramp.
The car hesitates to turn on and the battery has been changed, the fuel pump remains running when the car is turned off.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Dodge Durango: 10
The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability. If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring. This recall is also addressing certain vehicles that have not been remedied under that prior recall. The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after a service repair is performed. If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire.
The subject vehicles have a brake booster with a center shell that may corrode and allow water to get inside. The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Under certain braking events, the Ready Alert Braking System (RAB) may result in the driver experiencing a hard brake pedal feel. If the driver experiences a hard brake pedal, the driver may not push the pedal as intended, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block. Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
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: 102
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Dodge Durango. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
COOLER Engine Oil Please be aware that the oil cooler seal is serviceable as a standalone part and should be considered for replacement as a remedy for fluid…
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Ts may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Post 14V-391 Headliner Fires
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Headliner Fires
Headliner Fires
Neighbouring years
2011 Durango: 800 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2013 Durango: 640 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Durango year
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Questions
Is the 2012 Dodge Durango a bad year?
639 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 149, 6× a quiet Durango year. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 50k–105k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 5 of 110 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Durango?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (346), engine (148), fuel system (99), steering (42), transmission and drivetrain (37). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 50k–105k miles.
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Durango have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 19V-813), Brakes (NHTSA 17V-572), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-435), Interior lighting (NHTSA 15V-879) 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.