Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accessories, trailer hitches and other equipment).
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 have a 2004 Dodge Durango slt 5.7l Hemi. Never had any big issues with it until in 2014 I was driving home from work on the highway when I heard a loud bang and loud knocking noises followed shortly by an abrupt shut off. I tried immediately to get to the side of the road but when I lost power steering from the engine ceizing and couldn't correct myself enough so I went down the hill off the side of the highway while trying to break with no brake booster anymore as well. I ended up running into a couple small tree's and finally stopping . Air bags didn't deploy and I only jammed my finger and hurt my back some but I only missed a larger group of tree by inches. My front bumper was ripped off, my drivers side headlight was broke as well as my grille and my windshield cracked. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While the vehicle was parked in a public parking lot, it erupted into flames. There were no prior warnings or injuries. The fire and police departments were called to the scene and a report was filed. The fire department marshall stated that the cause of the failure was electrical due to defective wiring within the instrument panel. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 80,000.
Key fob poorly designed which leads to small interier metal prong breaking causing the key to be no good. Once the key is no longer working you have to open the doors manually by inputting the key into the door lock which sounds the alarm until the car is started. This is a true safety issue when your holding two infants and trying to open the door and stop the alarm from sounding. I was also approached by officers as there had been car break ins in this particular location and they believed I was steeling the veh because the alarm was sounding and I was leaned over attempting to get the key in the ignition to stop the alarm from sounding. I've checked on the internet and many other folks have this same issue. …
I have a 2004 Durango limited ed, and the lights on the stereo screen dim and then turn off. The power on the stereo becomes frozen; if the radio is on when starting the car it will stay on but if it was off, it cannot be powered on. I am able to manipulate the volume via the buttons behind the steering wheel but only the am/fm mode works and not the cd or aud/alternate mode for my ipod. I'm not positive, but I believe that the controls for the heater/ac do not work either and the digital screen is off (has happened about 3 times and is unpredictable and has been months apart). After I bought the car (11/08), I noticed that the battery shut off b/c when I got back into the car and started it, all of my radio stations that were programmed and the time were reset. …
My vehicle is a 2004 Durango limited and I have problems with my remote transmitter that locks/unlocks the doors and sets the alarm. The remote works for a short period of time then I have to open it up and adjust the brackets that hold the battery as if it's loose and I want to ensure contact. That worked for some time along with tapping it upside down so that the battery would transmit to the remote (not sure) but this is no longer working. I have two remotes and only one has worked and I have tried installing new batteries in both with no success. Sometimes I have to open the car with the key and sets off the loud/obnoxious alarm system where the lights flash and the car honks until I turn the car on and it stops. I now think that the remote transmitters are defective as I've always had issues with them locking and unlocking whenever they feel like it.
I purchased a 2004 Durango in nov of 2006. I had no real problems with vehicle until recently. Took vehicle in to dealership for recall of instrument panel. Dealership took care of this and 2 weeks later temperature gauge started reading hotter then usual. Contacted dealership who then stated unrelated. Recently went on vacation and 300 miles from home vehicle temp gauge read hot. Pulled off interstate to nearest service station. No dealership near here. Mechanic found no codes to indicate problem. Replaced water pump, thermostat, hoses, check radiator, new fluids, bill total 377 dollars. 3 miles later car still trying to over heat. Towed to va for 1,000 dollars now at dealership. Car also seems to sometimes not be in gear when placed in drive and you try to accelerate engine just revs. At dealership now we shall see what they say.
After the original purchase of the vehicle 2004, on a hill in a curvy turn, at the stop on the hill the vehicle would stall. Dealer could never recreate the situation, never fixed. Now there is a fix out there. Over the past several months, have noticed vehicle stall when it rains, (wet moisture), the RPM's go up and way down. Been to the dealer several times, first time replace wires, plugs, not it, next flash and upgrade software, not fixed, they cant re-create the problem. The vehicle will stall, unknown when it will stall, May run great day 1 in the am, not run in the afternoon. May run OK first 20 minutes, then will decide to stall. Prior to the software upgrade vehicle would run fine in dry weather., now with the upgrade, vehicle does not start properly. Dealer can not seem to find a fix to the stalling issue.
Car sometimes starts without electrical response: turn the ignition on and engine starts but no electricity. Driving on interstate 95 and all electricity to all panels and power steering shuts off. This happens often and results in having to coast to stop on the side of the interstate with little control of the vehicle. I have to restart engine several times before electrical response is restored. A tumbler kit was installed under warranty (service at pritchard Dodge in ithaca, ny in April of 2005) to reset electrical circuit and it helped but never fixed the problem, but now problem is back and getting worse. I do not have the luxury to buy another car so I have used it, but now is too dangerous.
The fog lights, located in the bumper of the 2004 Dodge Durango is damaged when debris (rocks) from the road way are kicked up. The fog lights are made of glass but the headlights are covered in plastic. Little stones where kicked up by trucks which broke both fog lamps costing 140 dollars in repair for just driving down the roadway. I feel this is a defect in the construction of this vehicle because these lamps are made of glass which caused them to break and needed replacement. They should be covered with plastic to prevent this costly repair.
OEM cd player has become inoperable due to battery change. This is a known issue with all makes and models of dcc. Even new 2013 and 2014 models. Dcc refuses to do anything about this. Dealers charge big bucks to re-flash control module so that cd player is again recognized by computer. Why should a vehicle have to be re programmed every time a battery goes dead? This is an obvious design flaw in software and the public should not be footing the bill for it.
Related recalls
Equipment
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
Equipment complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are equipment problems on the 2004 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the equipment & accessories of the 2004 Dodge Durango, 2% of the model year's 1,115 complaints. The component named most often is electrical › radio/tape deck/cd etc. (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Dodge Durango equipment problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-824 (equipment, Dec 21, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Dodge Durango equipment problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 1 injury to equipment & accessories 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.