NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A malfunction in the ABS module may cause brake lights to stay on, disable ABS and electronic stability control, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without pressing the brake pedal.
This page covers 6 recalls, 225 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Dodge Durango.
17–21 mpg combined
11.2–13.8 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Electrical faults and lighting failures dominate the complaint picture for the 2018 Dodge Durango. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins ranging from warning lights illuminating unexpectedly, including the electronic stability control light, to stalling events where the vehicle sometimes won't restart. Exterior lighting draws nearly as many complaints, with owners describing headlight and taillight failures. The engine category shows a smaller but consistent cluster of reports covering rough idle, abnormal vibration, and check engine light episodes often tied to spark plug or ignition issues. A separate recurring pattern involves the active front headrests: multiple owners describe the headrests deploying forward without any collision or hard braking, striking the occupant in the back of the head while the vehicle was in normal motion.
225
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Dodge Durango has 6 recalls, the most serious being an ABS module malfunction that can allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being pressed, creating a rollaway risk with no warning.
The ABS module issue also ties into a separate consequence: the same malfunction can disable the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control entirely, and can cause the brake lights to illuminate falsely, giving trailing drivers no accurate signal of your intentions. On the transmission side, two recalls address the same underlying problem: an incorrect park lock rod may have been installed in the 8-speed automatic transmission, meaning the transmission may not hold the vehicle in Park at all, again allowing unintended rolling on any grade.
Two additional electrical concerns round out the list. Certain underhood wiring can develop a fault that causes the engine to stall without warning, raising crash risk in traffic or at highway speeds. There is also a software recall affecting the cruise control system, where a bug can prevent the driver from canceling cruise control, leaving the vehicle maintaining or even building speed against the driver's input.
At a glance
What can fail
A malfunction in the ABS module may cause brake lights to stay on, disable ABS and electronic stability control, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without pressing the brake pedal.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the pressure transducer and update the ABS module software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A malfunction in the antilock-brake system module may cause brake lights to illuminate incorrectly and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without applying the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Updated antilock-brake system module software prevents false pressure readings in the primary brake circuit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A voltage regulator chip in the powertrain control module may fail, causing the engine to stall or not start.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the powertrain control module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring short circuit can prevent cruise control from disengaging. When engaged, you may not be able to turn it off by braking or using manual controls, causing the vehicle to maintain speed or accelerate unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the engine or powertrain control module software at no cost to fix the cruise control disengagement issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission may have an incorrect park lock rod installed, which could affect the transmission's park function.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the correct park lock rod at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles with 8-speed transmissions may have an incorrect park lock rod installed. This could disable the Park function, allowing the transmission to slip and the vehicle to move unintentionally.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the park lock rod with the correct part.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
