Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was coming home. As I pulled in my garage, hit the brake to stop and put in park. The vehicle started winding up to a point where my foot on the brake didn't matter. It accelerated forward, going through the wall of my garage, through my backyard, thru a chain guard, and into the corner of the museum wall next door. I was finally able to stop it completely by shutting the vehicle off. Despite the speed and impact to the front of my vehicle, the airbags never deployed.
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. …
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. …
Our Durango had experienced numerous problems, since we purchased it new in 5/04. The engine surged, it stalled, and it felt like the brakes did not grab in the rear. It also racked up more miles on the odometer, than it actually drove. On 12/16/04 we brought it in to the dealership for a recalled battery cable. The next day the engine caught on fire while driving. It was towed to the dealership, the transmission was replaced, and we picked it back up 12-28-04. On 1-16-05 we had a second fire in the engine while driving. This time it was in the shop until 2-1-05. The dealership overhauled the transmission, but did not replace it. On 2-2-05 again while driving, our Durango's engine caught on fire, this time the fire was so big, and so fast my husband barley had time to get our kid out before it exploded, and burned to the ground. …
I recently got back from iraq on nov 30th. I needed a family vehicle, aside from our Dodge pickup that has little room for two kids in car seats. I bought the Durango on a Friday. It was used , so it came with a free full detail on Monday. I dropped it off and went to work. After work, I went to pick it up and noticed that the drivers side rear taillight was smashed and the rear bumper on the left side underneath the smashed taillight, was dented! A week later it was all fixed;or so I thought. A couple of days later, I was on my way home from morning physical training,to change into my uniform. I was about to make a right hand turn onto my street, and then it happened. My brakes and steering wheel locked up. I pumped and pumped, but no response. I hit a utility van that was at the stop sign and almost totaled my whole front end. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled during inclement weather. The vehicle was able to restart after numerous attempts. The contact also stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was driving unstable and there was a loud abnormal noise. In addition, the steering wheel seized and the brake pedal failed to respond. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and spun around causing it to roll over. The contact crashed into an embankment. The contact was unconscious upon hitting her head on the driver's side window. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the head, the chest that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,890.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. In addition, the brakes failed when depressed. The gear shift had to be shifted into neutral to regain control. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,085.
My gas peddle got stuck and when I hit the brake peddle it would not brake . I hit a car in front of and the brakes would not work . There's a recall on the throttle on the Durango's . I had taken my Durango to the shop and I told them that the Durango was sounding wierd that it felt like something was skipping . But they said nothing was wrong .
While driving the throttle stuck, and the brakes failed. This caused the consumer to go into a ditch. Vehicle was towed. Dealership repaired the problem three times, but it recurred. Dealer did not repair problem they installed code reader and said nothing was wrong. They called Chrysler and Chrysler said that there was no problem.
Driving at 30mph on city road the Durango lost full power. No power steering, brakes or acceleration with gas. Had to put Durango in neutral and turn key off and back on. Afterwards it was normal again. Very dangerous and scared to drive with family in it.
Brake complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2004 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Dodge Durango, 3% of the model year's 1,115 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Dodge Durango brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2004 Dodge Durango, though it has 8 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 2004 Dodge Durango brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries to brakes 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.