Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving about 30 MPH and failing to stop for a stop light, the vehicle t-boned another vehicle driving at an unknown MPH. The seat belt failed to retract causing the contact to hit the windshield. The air bags also failed to deploy. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a concussion and bruises on her chest and her abdomen. The contact was transported to the emergency room in an ambulance. A police report number: z-z0 was filed. The other vehicle involved did have air bags deploy but there was no further information. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a impound lot. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000. The consumer provided photos.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Dodge Durango. While driving 5 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the front driver side by the door and quarter panel by another vehicle. All the air bags failed to deploy and the driver's seat belt failed to engage. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the nose, head, lips, left and right legs, and both arms. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was towed and destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown. Updated 02/07/2017 updated 09/05/2017
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Durango. While driving 60 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid a deer and the vehicle rolled over nine times. She was knocked unconscious and does not remember much about the crash. The air bags failed to deploy. The owner of the vehicle sustained a broken elbow and both the owner and the passenger sustained minor cuts and bruises. A police report was filed. The contact believes that due to the severity of the crash, the air bags should have deployed. The vehicle was considered to be destroyed. The current and failure mileages were 89,000.
I was sitting at a stop sign, the car in front of me pulled out into the path of an oncoming car. It swerved to avoid hitting her and his wheels locked to the right and his car turned onto the road I was on and he hit me almost head on at about 30 to 35 miles per hour. My steering rack in penion was broken, my radiator, radiator core, fan, both fan housings, grill, front left lights, driving lights, bumper, transmission line, and damage to inside of dashboard where my daughter's knees hit. Airbags did not deploy!!
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Durango. While driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a thumping noise. The vehicle veered to the right and rolled over. The contact felt that the cause of crash was the drive shaft. The vehicle was destroyed. The driver sustained serious injuries. A police report was filed. The manufacturer and dealer have not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of failure. The current and failure mileages were 115,000. The consumer stated the air bags did not deploy. Updated 09/11/07
The other driver was at a stop and I was driving between 50 and 55 MPH on the highway. The other driver pulled out infront of me from my left to right. As we impacted my air bag did not deploy but the passenger's air bag did deploy. I was the only person in my car. I struck him with such force that the vehicle I was driving was forced off the road and then was stopped by a tree. After 2 hits the driver's side air bag still did not deploy. The vehicle was deemed a total loss.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the front driver side power seat independently shifted forward in a rocking motion whenever coming to a complete stop. The seat would reset to the correct position after resuming normal operation. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the air bag warning light illuminated and the air bag clock spring was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH in rainy weather, the vehicle swerved several times. The contact applied the brake and lost control of the vehicle, entering the oncoming traffic lane and crashing head-on into another vehicle. The contact stated that the front driver side air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the back. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 1,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Durango. While driving 45 MPH, the contact crashed the vehicle head on into a tree. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by a dealer and the contact did not notice any differences beforehand. The current and failure mileages were 45,000. Updated 10-29-08 the consumer stated there was a large tree in the road. The consumer suffered injuries. Updated 10/30/08.
Consumer stated that while driving at 65 MPH an 18 wheeler came toward her lane. Consumer pressed the brakes to avoid the 18 wheeler and lost control of vehicle. Vehicle rolled and flipped down an embankment, and the air bags did not deploy. Consumer and two passengers were rushed to a hospital, where the consumer sustained back injuries. Passenger sustained no injuries.
Airbag complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Dodge Durango, 6% of the model year's 665 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Durango airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2001 Dodge Durango, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Durango airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 27 crashes, 0 fires and 28 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.