2004 Dodge Durango Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  5
• Side/window
  1
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  612%
• 25k–50k
  24%
• 50k–75k
  36%
• 75k–100k
  510%
• 100k–150k
  2038%
• 150k+
  1631%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Airbag warning dash light comes on intermittently. The Takata airbag recall has been corrected, but the light still comes on. This warning light first appeared on, or about 6 months ago. I have not taken this vehicle back for dealer to re-inspect the issue. The obvious concern here, is whether or not the airbag will fail, when needed, or the airbag might deploy inadvertently.

I was driving my wife to work that morning, it was a bright clear day. I was parked half out of garage. As my wife came out of the laundry room I touched the gas to pull forward. However this did not happen, SUV revved all the way up and would not rev down. I tried to apply brakes but they did not work. I came within a foot of killing my wife. To make this so bad I complained about this before so has my wife. My SUV literally went through 3 walls and several rooms. I have 3 disk fused in my neck and several of the screws are broke. I can live being a cripple but I cant live with out my wife. Chrysler had independent inspector take a look at it. I told him it was at Eagle paint and body, and did he need me to stop all repairs. He told me know he could get his data from computer. …

I brought my vehicle to an Phoenix AZ dealership off of Black Canyon Highway or I-17 on Camelback for airbag safety recall and interior lighting recall and any others needed. When I dropped it off initially I parked on lot by the garage inc front of the rental car business directly in front. I exited my vehicle walking up to repair garage to make sure I could drive into it for recall repair. I walked back opened my driver's door and sat in the seat.(legally able to safely driver by entering through the driver's door) I drove it up there. Upon arriving after they provided the airbags recall, moved my dome light which was located on driver's door module that also has other functions,(moved to another module preventing an interior fire on long trips which I was moving for a job to Audubon MN that next few days) and I was unable to enter the vehicle by my driver's door. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact crashed into another vehicle and none of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was going down a gravel road and the brakes malfunctioned. As a result, the contact's vehicle did not stop and t-boned the other vehicle. The entire front end of the contact's vehicle was damaged. The vehicle was totaled and the frame was fractured in half. The driver of the vehicle sustained whiplash and injuries to the neck and back. One passenger was transported by to the hospital via ambulance and another passenger was driven to the hospital. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed from the scene. Tri lakes Ford (180 state hwy f, branson, mo 65616, [phone]) acknowledged the air bags being replaced on October 22, 2019, but denied any responsibility for the air bags not deploying. The contact called an attorney who advised her to call NHTSA. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the contact heard a loud banging noise under the front driver side of the vehicle. The front driver side wheel detached and caused the vehicle to veer off the road, crash into several trees, roll over three times, and Land on the passenger side. The air bags did not deploy. The driver's left arm was injured and required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a local garage where it was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V817000 (air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While the vehicle was idling at a traffic light to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The passenger of the vehicle sustained injuries to the neck and the driver sustained an injury to the right hand. The passenger required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving 12 MPH, the air bags inadvertently deployed and the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact sustained face, right knee, hand, and internal injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene of the crash to an auto body repair center. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V313000 (air bags) the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 05/11/16

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving at approximately 35 MPH approaching a curve, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head, neck, back, and spine which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving 40 MPH, the contact swerved off the road and collided into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V352000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 227,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Driver side airbags did not deploy on impact of the car slamming into the telephone pole. It was not until after the driver had unbuckled herself that she smelled smoke and the airbags deployed. She slammed her body and head all over the drivers side of the vehicle and sustained a concusion and other medical injuries due to this malfunctioning air bag. I called my local Dodge dealer and they told me that my VIN wasn't on the list.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Durango years