Most common 2008 Dodge Durango problems
Share of the 97 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Durango complaints by model year
Best Durango years: 2020, 2024, 2022. Years to avoid: 1999, 2005, 2000, 1998. Compare all years →
2008 Dodge Durango recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Dodge Durango:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2008 Dodge Durango owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 40 →
My Car started smoking from under the hood and coming through the vents . It over heated . So then I opened up the hood and smoke with you coming out a bit crazy then something food from the engine like to hit me in the face but I do. It broke my dipstick oil stick the piece off. Now my car is running hot smoking and making a loud crazy noise sounds like it's going to blow up or something I don't know what to do help me please. my husband just recently passed so I'm on my own and I'm all by myself just me and my daughter so I don't know a lot about cars please help me
When and everytime vech. Is refueled, get blowback of fuel. During 1 trip, fuel ran back down outside of fill pipe and gas tank, and hit hot muffler, luckly it did not ignite. Can't fill gas tank more than half way, without this happening. Called dealer, service mgr. Took VIN#, said wasn't cover under recall of any type, but will correct problem with new gas tank for aprox. $1000. Another problem that happen twice now, is elect. System goes out, loosing all power to steering and brakes, this happen twice. One time was while towing camper on interstate highway with traffic, we just barely got off road. Again dealership, said the recall for instrument and wiring couldn't and wouldn't cause car to just shut down as described. But they would be happy to replace the instrument cluster and correct any wiring problems, saying cost could be a few hundred or more. …
Air bags all 26 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact drove over a pothole and the vehicle veered off the road. The vehicle struck two metal mailboxes that were grounded by concrete. The frontal air bags did not deploy, only the side curtain air bag deployed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not evaluated by the insurance company and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Going west on hwy 20 blew left front tire took me into a tree. Hit it just left of center broke front bumper in half, pushed frontend into engine block. It was repaired. I had cruise control on doing 65 and driving at night around 9 pm. I do not remember hitting the tree and was not injured accept for the memory of it. The body shop told me they would not deploy due to the placement of the sensors. In doing research on this people have t-boned another car at speeds well above the 25 MPH Dodge says it takes to have airbags deploy, and there's did not go off. Really. How do we hold the automakers liable for something like this. Class actions only get the lawyers rich.
Electrical system
My Car started smoking from under the hood and coming through the vents . It over heated . So then I opened up the hood and smoke with you coming out a bit crazy then something food from the engine like to hit me in the face but I do. It broke my dipstick oil stick the piece off. Now my car is running hot smoking and making a loud crazy noise sounds like it's going to blow up or something I don't know what to do help me please. my husband just recently passed so I'm on my own and I'm all by myself just me and my daughter so I don't know a lot about cars please help me
Alternator having to replace. There is a ticking sound that has been going on and the alternator goes out. I have replaced this part twice and each time before it goes out it starts to tick. Also have a brand new battery installed and it is dead again! Each time the alternator goes out it kills my battery. 2008 dodge Durango.
2008 Dodge Durango engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Dodge Durango a good car?
Based on 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Durango rates better than average: 85% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Durango at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Dodge Durango?
The fuel & propulsion system — 40 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the air bags (26) and electrical system (10).
How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Durango have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 Dodge Durango, the most recent from May 24, 2016 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Durango?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2024 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2005, 2000 and 1998. See the full Dodge Durango years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Dodge Durango problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.