Is the 2018 Dodge Durango a bad year?
234 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Durango years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Dodge Durango are in line with other Durango years. Electrical system and exterior lighting stand out for this year: see below.
5th quietest of 18 Durango years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 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 29,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 88 (38%) | 12k–42k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 57 (24%) | 23k–61k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 28 (12%) | 8k–64k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 26 (11%) | 18k–80k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (6%) | 4k–35k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Seats | 21 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | 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 29,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 234 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 5 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
23 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2018 Dodge Durango: 5
A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may incorrectly illuminate the brake lights and disable the ABS and electronic stability control (ESC). In addition, the vehicle operator may be able to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied. A vehicle that can be started and shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle rollaway. Disabled ABS and ESC systems can reduce vehicle handling and control in certain driving situations.
A malfunction in the antilock-brake system (ABS) module may illuminate the brake lights, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied. A vehicle that starts and shifts out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning and/or injury to others outside of the vehicle.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission. If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and 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: 215
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Dodge Durango. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
Engine PNs: MY 24-26 WD/DT (5.7L) Code P00B is being misdiagnosed and incorrect parts are being installed causing over repair
Rear Heater Coolant Tube Repair Customers may comment on one or more of the following: SYMPTOM
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2017 Durango: 215 complaints, keep it · 2019 Durango: 146 complaints, keep it.
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 2018 Dodge Durango a bad year?
234 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Durango years. At 29,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Dodge Durango?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (88), exterior lighting (57), engine (28), brakes (26), transmission and drivetrain (13).
How many recalls does the 2018 Dodge Durango have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 24V-838), Brakes (NHTSA 22V-426), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-524), Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332) 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.