2008 Dodge Durango — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving, the fuel line from your fuel pump disconnected even though it had never been serviced and was factory original. You discovered two other hoses were also disconnected and had no clamps installed from the factory. This creates a serious fire hazard since fuel can leak onto hot engine components. The repair will likely involve reinstalling the fuel lines and adding proper clamps to secure them.

When you fill your fuel tank to three-quarters full or more, about 2-3 cups of fuel splash back out of the filler neck. If the engine has been running recently and is hot, this fuel can run down the side of your vehicle and potentially ignite when it contacts the hot exhaust pipes. The fix likely involves inspecting or replacing the fuel filler neck, vent hose, or related fuel system components.

Your fuel pump unit is leaking because the plastic casing has cracked and deteriorated, and the metal attachment ring has severely rusted. You'll see a dashboard warning light come on, and the problem may only become visible after the fuel tank is dropped for inspection. The fuel pump unit will need to be replaced to stop the leak and turn off the warning light.

Your fuel spills out of the filler hole when you remove the gas pump nozzle during refueling. A mechanic diagnosed that your fuel tank needs to be replaced to fix this issue. This is a fuel system problem that prevents normal refueling and creates a mess.

Your 2008 Dodge Durango hit two concrete-anchored mailboxes after hitting a pothole at 65 mph, but the frontal airbags did not deploy—only the side curtain airbag activated. With 200,000 miles on the vehicle, the failure to deploy frontal airbags in a front-end impact is a serious safety concern that needs diagnostic evaluation. A technician will need to scan the airbag control module and inspect the frontal airbag sensors and wiring to determine why the system failed to trigger.

You received a recall notice for a faulty airbag system (Takata recall campaign 16V352000), but the replacement parts weren't available for an extended period. You felt unsafe driving the vehicle and asked about getting a loaner car while waiting for the repair, but were told the manufacturer isn't required to provide one or cover related costs. The manufacturer is working to get replacement airbags in stock, with another notification expected in late March 2017. The repair will involve replacing the recalled airbag inflators with new, safe ones once parts become available.

Your Durango is subject to a Takata airbag recall, but replacement parts are currently unavailable. This is a serious safety concern because the airbags can rupture and release metal shrapnel, which prevents you from safely selling or using your vehicle until the recall is completed.

Your car started smoking from under the hood and through the air vents, then overheated. When you opened the hood, smoke came out forcefully and something hit you in the face, breaking your oil dipstick. Your engine is now running hot, smoking, and making loud noises that sound concerning. The engine may have a serious internal problem causing overheating and smoke, which typically requires professional engine inspection and repair.

While driving, your electrical system, engine, and steering all shut down without warning, leaving you without lights or power steering in the dark. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause a crash. The issue likely involves a complete electrical system failure, possibly related to the alternator, battery, or main electrical connections that need to be diagnosed and repaired.

You purchased this 2008 Dodge Durango, but the day after buying it, an inspection revealed the vehicle needs frame restoration and a salvage title—neither of which was disclosed at purchase. A mechanic determined the car is not roadworthy and unsafe to drive, posing a danger to you, your children, and other drivers. This complaint is primarily about undisclosed major structural damage rather than a specific mechanical defect.

Your transmission randomly shifts into 4WD mode at unpredictable times—both while stopped and at highway speeds—sometimes with a warning light and sometimes without. This has happened at least 10 times in the few months you've owned the vehicle, and on two occasions while driving, it caused sudden lurching across lanes and loss of power, leaving you stranded in traffic. The transmission may need to be inspected for electrical or mechanical faults that are causing unintended mode engagement.

Your 2008 Dodge Durango is experiencing a steering control issue related to a known recall (TAMARA). You've lost stable control of the vehicle, and your airbag warning light is illuminated along with the ESP, ABS, and traction control lights. This combination of warning lights suggests a potential problem with your vehicle's stability and safety systems that needs immediate diagnostic attention.

Your Durango becomes unstable and hard to control when you hit bumps or road grooves at highway speeds (40-50 mph), sometimes pulling hard enough to drift into another lane. Your suspension has been inspected multiple times without finding a mechanical problem. This issue is sometimes called "death wobble" or "road walk," and you've found it's a known problem affecting other Dodge SUVs.

Your passenger seat belt won't retract properly — when pulled to fasten, it continues coming out instead of staying in place, and now it's stuck and won't rewind back into its housing. The seat belt is no longer usable. Fixing this will likely require replacing the seat belt retractor mechanism or the entire seat belt assembly.

Your alternator keeps failing and needs to be replaced repeatedly. You'll hear a ticking sound before the alternator dies, and when it does, it drains your battery completely — even though you've installed a brand new battery. This pattern has happened multiple times, suggesting the alternator failure is damaging the battery each time. The fix will involve diagnosing why the alternator is failing prematurely and replacing it along with the battery.

You were sold this vehicle with inaccurate mileage that wasn't disclosed to you. This is an odometer fraud issue, which is illegal. You may want to contact the dealer and consider reporting this to your state's attorney general or the FTC.

Your sunroof assembly has repeatedly failed to seal properly, allowing rain to flood the interior of your vehicle. This problem has occurred at least 10 times over 10 months, starting in June 2017, and has required multiple repairs at the dealer. The sunroof will likely need to be fully inspected and either resealed or replaced to prevent future water damage.

Your fuel tank is spitting fuel back out and overflowing when you try to fill it, with no automatic shutoff when it gets close to full and no warning lights. Additionally, your transfer case has dropped out of gear while driving and then refused to engage any gear, leaving you stranded. These issues will likely require inspection and repair of the fuel filler neck assembly and transfer case system.

Your car has widespread electrical issues affecting multiple systems. Your driver's side brake light and license plate light don't work when the car is in drive, which is a safety violation and has resulted in police stops. Your window rolls down on its own and you've had to disconnect it, and your rear windshield wiper motor doesn't work. The owner believes faulty wiring is causing these problems and that they should be covered under a recall.

Your vehicle has developed rust spots on the hood, body, and rear—especially noticeable on the white paint—which you believe is due to inadequate rust protection in the factory paint. Additionally, you've been waiting over a year for a Takata airbag recall replacement, and the dealer says they only have parts to replace one airbag at a time rather than both, requiring multiple visits and leaving you without a rental vehicle in between. A complete airbag replacement addressing all affected units should be performed to ensure your safety and your passengers' safety.