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 2012 Dodge Durango owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The component or system failed or malfunctioned, is the accelerator, brakes, stirring and electrical. The car is available for inspection upon your request. The car is having problems coming to a stop and it is very difficult to control the vehicle because the steering becomes so hard when the power shuts down on the vehicle as I'm driving it. I think and believe that that poses a high risk of someone getting hurt or injured and then some cases perhaps death. the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Yes the problem hasi been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. No, the vehicle has not been taken to an inspector, manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Here is what my vehicle is doing. symptoms. …
There is something definitely wrong with my car. I have just now seen a recall but it occurred before the car was sold to me and it had electric issues with break fail, electrical accessories were still on as the dash notified while the car was off. It has had the seats move the steering would lock, it doesn't provide many of the features for safety. The GPS is always wrong. I took it to the dealer several times and was told that the factory resets were fine. I don't think that is the case. Under the hood there seemed to be additional after factory tampering with additional wires that had been added into the car.
I took my Durango to Albany ga to dodge dealership for recall on brake booster water shield repair plus the other recall they fixed one recall and say they can't fix brake booster recall cause they say they will not have part available til a year later which I have concerns about my safety of recall not being repaired for a whole year
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 30 MPH during inclement weather, the vehicle slid on ice, into an embankment, went airborne, and crashed into a tree. The brakes were applied with force, but failed to stop the vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained a fractured back in two places and a ruptured left breast implant, which required medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company to a facility and a yard, but was not investigated by the insurance company or a dealer. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V115000 (electrical system), 17V435000 (electrical system), and 17V572000 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic). The repairs had not been completed. The manufacturer was contacted after the crash to inquire about the air bags not deploying. …
Driving at 35 MPH came to a slow down to turn vehicle shut off and caused me to go into a ditch as no breaks, no steering, and all power lost. Once put into park started back up immediately. This is the second time that has happened first time was at a stop light and I was about to take off. No warning or anything. The first time I didn't have my kids in the car and the second time I did and we could have been extremely hurt. I is not showing any codes to let us know what I could possibly be.
I was driving this morning,approximately 7:40 am. I was coming up to a red light and my brakes would not work. I pushed on the brakes and nothing. It slid into another car. The front of my car is damaged. There was a recall on my brake booster; I had my car serviced months ago. I called the technician today and he stated that he just put foam on it.
Driving on a major highway in nj on 7/21/16 , all the car warning lights went on randomly and unexpectedly, windshield wipers went on on their own, radio shut off, all power was lost and car shut down almost immediately with limited or no braking or steering power and the car would not turn on any longer. I tried to make it safely to the side of the road (left shoulder was the closest) with big trucks and fast moving cars going by. Had it towed to an auto body shop which took 2 days to diagnose the problem which they deemed a failure of the main board which caused the alternator to fail which caused the battery to seize and fail as well. The costs of repair I had to pay to fix the issue on my 4 year old car with 92K miles on it was approx $1,500. …
Started my truck and when I went to put it into drive upon applying the brake the pedal was hard and when I applied pressure there was a "hissing" "air noise". I thought that maybe it was just really cold out and it needed to warm up a bit more, so I pumped the brakes and it seemed better. Definitely didn't think that a truck I have had less than 3 years would have any brake issues. Well I was wrong...when going to pull out of my driveway, which is on a main road, I went to apply the brake and the car wasn't stopping. Quickly thinking I pushed on the emergency brake and stopped myself and my younger son from rolling into traffic going well over 40mph. If I had not been doing under 10mph my son and myself would have been seriously injured and possibly dead. …
My wife and mother-in-law where leaving the house when my wife went to use the brakes she had to press with two feet to get the brakes to stop the car. She reported hearing air when she depressed the brakes. I sent the car to darcars in silver spring md for the recall and I told them what had happened. They told me the problem did not occur when they tried it and did the brake booster recall on February 3rd. On February 13 leaving the house for work the brakes were very hard to work to get the car to stop. The brake booster had gone out again. Both times were when the temperature outside was well below freezing. …
Beginning in dec 2017, we've had sporadic issues while driving on highways and local roads with some portion of the electrical system. When this happens, the center lcd dash screen powers off, and we lose power steering and brakes. Dash lights, exterior lights, radio, A/C all stay on. Typically we have to pull over and turn the car off & back on for it to return. From dec-oct, its happened approx 5-6 times. The dealer wasn't able to replicate the issue for the days they had it, and no error codes were written. A friend also with a Durango described to me similar issues with his, and said his TIPM was faulty. We have lifetime warranty, and the TIPM is covered, but they refuse to replace it until the dealer can replicate the issue and get an error code pointing to the TIPM. I believe because we lose power steering, that this is a serious safety hazard and should be replaced regardless.
Related recalls
Service brakes
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November10, 2017.
Service brakes
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from January 5, 2010, through September 8, 2013. The subject vehicles have a brake booster with a center shell that may corrode and allow water to get inside.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a water diverter shield to the booster after the booster has been tested to confirm it can hold an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 11, 2011, through October 1, 2012. Under certain braking events, the Ready Alert Braking System (RAB) may result in the driver experiencing a hard brake pedal feel.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS module software, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Brake complaints in other Durango years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2012 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA has 75 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Dodge Durango, 12% of the model year's 640 complaints. The component named most often is pedals and linkages (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Durango brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-572 (service brakes, Sep 18, 2017); NHTSA recall 14V-154 (service brakes, Apr 1, 2014); NHTSA recall 14V-104 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Mar 4, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Durango brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.