2016 Dodge Durango — Known Issues & Recalls

Your vehicle sometimes displays a "Shift to P before changing gears" error message while driving, which causes the car to stop accelerating and may require a complete restart to shift into Drive again. This can happen unexpectedly in traffic, creating a dangerous situation. Dealers and mechanics have been unable to consistently replicate or identify the underlying cause, though the shifter has been inspected without obvious problems.

While driving, your Durango's engine shut off without warning and the steering wheel stopped responding. The vehicle wouldn't restart until about an hour later, but the same problem happened again. You took it to multiple dealers (at least 5) and they all diagnosed a failed TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module), but even after repeated repairs, the engine kept shutting off and steering kept locking up. This appears to be related to a known electrical system issue that Dodge has issued a recall for.

Your car's F13 fuse keeps blowing and melting inside the fuse box, creating a burning electrical smell. When this happens, certain components like the blower motor stop working, but your dashboard warning lights don't alert you to the problem. The fix will likely involve identifying what's drawing excessive current to that fuse and replacing either the fuse, the affected component, or the wiring causing the overload.

Your Dodge Durango may have trouble starting, especially after you've been driving for a while, and sometimes takes a long time to start. You might also notice a fuel smell when the vehicle is struggling to start. This issue is similar to problems from previous recalls involving the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) on other model years.

Your Dodge Durango has a design flaw where the transmission oil cooler (TOH) coolant line rubs against the rear heater return line, causing friction that wears a hole in the line. This causes coolant to leak out, which led to the engine overheating and the vehicle shutting down on the highway. The fix will likely involve rerouting or securing the coolant lines to prevent them from making contact with each other.

Your tire pressure monitor light came on while driving. When you checked the tire and started adding air, the tire suddenly exploded with a loud bang, and you discovered the inner sidewall had blown out. The tire was a Cooper Discoverer SRX 265/50 R20. The repair will likely involve replacing the damaged tire with a new one.

Your driver's side headrest unexpectedly popped out while the vehicle was parked overnight. When you tried to put it back in place, it wouldn't return to its original position. This appears to be a mechanical failure of the headrest locking mechanism.

Water has been getting inside your headlights and brake lights over the past 4 years, causing them to fill up and stop working properly. Your running lights and brake lights no longer function correctly, and your vehicle failed its safety inspection. The lighting seals or housing will likely need to be replaced to prevent moisture from entering and to restore proper light function.

Your rear LED racetrack lighting has a dark segment that's no longer working. The manufacturer requires replacing the entire lighting assembly rather than just the failed segment, which costs over $1500. You may want to check if there's an applicable class action lawsuit for this issue.

Your rear exterior lights aren't working properly, even though no warning lights appeared on your dashboard. You noticed this during a visual inspection. The issue may involve replacing failed bulbs, checking the wiring connections, or repairing the light assembly itself.

While driving on the interstate at 75 mph, your car's engine suddenly lost power and slowed down by about 40 mph without warning. A dashboard message appeared saying "service transmission continue in D. Do Not Shift or Turn Engine Off." Because your brake lights didn't illuminate, following vehicles had to swerve to avoid you. Your car was stuck in what the dealership called "Limp Mode" — a safety feature triggered when the transmission computer detects a serious problem — but it happened so suddenly at highway speed that it created a dangerous situation. The transmission likely needs diagnostic testing and repair to identify what caused the computer to trigger this failsafe mode.

While driving, your car suddenly loses power and won't respond until you shift into Park and then back to your desired gear, at which point it stops moving. During these incidents, you're unable to steer the vehicle.

Your vehicle is unexpectedly shifting into park while you're driving, forcing you to stop and restart the car to continue. This has created dangerous situations and remains unfixed even after the dealership replaced the alternator and battery. The problem likely involves the transmission control system or electrical connections that signal the transmission, which may require diagnostic testing and possible replacement of transmission sensors or wiring.

Your vehicle is shutting off while you're driving, and the ignition button is moving to the accessory position without you touching it. When this happens, your dashboard displays a message telling you to press the brake and put the vehicle in park. This is occurring frequently, happening every couple of trips. The issue likely involves the ignition switch or electrical connections that control the engine's power supply.

Your vehicle has stalled while driving twice, causing loss of power steering and braking that made it difficult to stop and steer. The instrument panel displays a "Shift to Park" message during these incidents. You're also experiencing multiple electrical issues including a radio screen that freezes, Bluetooth that randomly disconnects and turns volume up on its own, A/C activating unexpectedly in winter, and a non-functional rear brake light. Additionally, three tires keep losing air despite new tires and replaced valve stems twice in 14 months, and the hood and liftgate show rust damage that the dealer won't cover under warranty. A full electrical system diagnostic and inspection of the fuel delivery or ignition system may be needed to identify why the vehicle stalls, along with evaluation of the tire pressure monitoring system.

Your passenger seat's active headrest deployed by itself while the car was parked and turned off. This happened without any accident or impact. The headrest may need to be inspected or replaced to prevent unexpected deployment.

You've noticed a strong fuel smell inside your Durango both while driving and when parked, but no warning lights appeared on the dashboard. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle but wasn't able to identify the source of the odor. You may have a fuel leak or faulty connection in the fuel system that needs to be located and sealed.

Your rear license plate light has stopped working because water has gotten inside the LED light assembly and caused rust and wire damage. This is a widespread problem affecting multiple Durango owners, and the dealer is charging over $1,100 to replace the entire light unit. Your vehicle may fail its state safety inspection until this is fixed.

Your fuel pump has failed at 99,000 miles, causing your car to hesitate when starting and malfunction while driving in traffic. This is dangerous because the engine can stall unexpectedly, potentially causing a crash. The issue was confirmed by a Dodge dealer, and you experienced the same problem with a previous Durango at 100,000 miles. Fixing this will require replacing the fuel pump, which is typically located inside the fuel tank.

Your engine is leaking oil from the top, even though your Durango is well-maintained with only 61,000 miles. You discovered this during a routine monthly check-up. This appears to be a known issue affecting other vehicles with the same 3.6L engine, and repairs can be costly.