When shopping for a used car, it’s essential to keep the model year in mind. Problems tend to plague some model years more than others. This same concept applies to the Dodge.
While some models, like the 2009 and 2009, received very few complaints, others received hundreds. Some of these included dangerous problems such as engine failures and fires. Here’s a look at the Dodge Durango models you should avoid at all costs.
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The most reported category of problems was that of the engine. Of these, the most common problem experienced by drivers was their cars stalling while driving. The average cost to fix this problem is $800 and the average mileage this problem occurred at was 134,000 miles.
Other common problems included incorrect shifting and ABS and brake lights flashing. CarComplaints says the worst problems other than the cars shutting down were bad ball joints and engine failures. Engine failure is the most expensive repair, costing an average of $2,300.
2. 2000 Dodge Durango
The 2000 Dodge Durango is similar to the 1999 Durango in regards to the issues that drivers typically complain about. The most commonly reported type of problem involved engine problems, although at a lower rate than in the 1999 model year.
Oil sludge in the engines was the most common problem, followed by engine stalling/stopping while driving. The average cost to fix oil sludge in your engine is $3,800. On average, this fix is needed when the car reaches 96,000 miles. Meanwhile, for stalls/shutdowns, the average cost is $300 and the average mileage is 130,000 miles.
3. 2004 Dodge Durango
CarComplaints listed the 2004 Dodge Durango as the worst model Dodge Durango. This had nothing to do with the total number of complaints as the 1999 model surpassed it. Instead, he was dealing with the most common problems that were very costly.
There are currently over 400 total complaints for the 2004 Durango. Again, most of the problems were with the engine. The biggest problem, according to , was engine failure. The average cost to fix this was $5,000 and the average mileage was 115,000.
The next was an oil sludge in the engine, which caused the engine to fail. This costs about $4,900 and usually occurs when the vehicle reaches 87,000 miles. Finally, another major problem that 2004 Durango drivers faced were instrument cluster fires, which cost $18,000 to fix with an average mileage of 43,000 miles.
Of the three, this is the most expensive issue, which is concerning considering the average mileage is much less than the other issues.
Which Dodge Durango should I buy?
After all these awful Dodge Durango models, you might be wondering, ““Based on the data, there are a lot of different model years to consider.
All 2016-2021 model year models had fewer than the others. However, this could be because the models are relatively new, with problems not occurring until later in the vehicle’s life.
If you are looking for a reliable older Durango model, the 2009 model year may be your best choice. It has fewer than 10 complaints, compared to nearly 300 in one of its close successors, the 2011 Durango.
