2003 Dodge Durango Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2003 Dodge Durango, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 41,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ball joints” (42% of reports).
- 91suspension complaints
- 41,000median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ball joints: mentioned in 38 of 91 complaints (42%)
- Front end: mentioned in 24 of 91 complaints (26%)
- Control arm upper: mentioned in 6 of 91 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 55 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 91 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Dodge Durango suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Durango | 2 | 14% | — |
| 2025 Durango | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2024 Durango | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2021 Durango | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Durango | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2019 Durango | 3 | 2% | 3,500 |
| 2018 Durango | 6 | 3% | 11,140 |
| 2017 Durango | 4 | 2% | 26,000 |
| 2016 Durango | 5 | 3% | 37,750 |
| 2015 Durango | 9 | 2% | 30,000 |
| 2014 Durango | 7 | 1% | 25,000 |
| 2013 Durango | 5 | 1% | 1,996 |
| 2012 Durango | 6 | 1% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Durango | 7 | 1% | 39,000 |
| 2009 Durango | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2008 Durango | 4 | 4% | 46,500 |
| 2007 Durango | 4 | 2% | 55,000 |
| 2006 Durango | 10 | 1% | 100,000 |
| 2005 Durango | 14 | 1% | 94,212 |
| 2004 Durango | 18 | 2% | 15,350 |
| 2003 Durango | 91 | 27% | 41,000 |
| 2002 Durango | 144 | 34% | 42,539 |
| 2001 Durango | 265 | 40% | 48,000 |
| 2000 Durango | 507 | 47% | 49,145 |
| 1999 Durango | 1,102 | 56% | 63,671 |
| 1998 Durango | 540 | 56% | 68,000 |
| 1997 Durango | 2 | 50% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
Risk: Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND FELT IT THROUGH THE DRIVESHAFT. IN ADDITION, THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE…
Hub or ball joints
We took the vehicle was to an independent mechanic for a front end alignment. The mechanic stated that the top and bottom ball joints needed to be replaced. In addition, the vehicle was unable to be aligned. The vehicle was not repaired.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Dodge Durangos have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 91 owner complaints about suspension for the 2003 Dodge Durango (27% of the 339 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Dodge Durango suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 41,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2003 Dodge Durango?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joints”, in 38 of 91 complaints, followed by “front end” (24).
Other 2003 Dodge Durango problems
See all 2003 Dodge Durango problems or suspension problems across all Durango years.