2016 Dodge Durango Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Durango years
- Fewer complaints than other years 19th of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Durango. That ranks 19th out of 29 Durango model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (53 complaints, 33%), typically at around 50,000 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 1 fire, 13 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 161owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Dodge Durango problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting problems | 53 | 33% | 50,000 | “race track” (15%) | $1,300 |
| Electrical System | 40 | 25% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 30 | 19% | 23,055 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 26 | 16% | 18,858 | — | — |
| Engine | 16 | 10% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 6% | 31,086 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 4% | 31,250 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 4% | 55,914 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 4% | 40,219 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 3% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 3% | 37,750 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 2% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2% | 33,239 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 2% | 52,870 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 12 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Dodge Durango recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:software; vehicle speed control:cruise control; electrical system:wiring
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 10, 2016, to April 28, 2016 and equipped with a 3.6L engine built at the Saltillo engine plant. During the assembly of the engine, the fuel rail crossover tube may have been damaged, which, over time, may result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly for damage to the fuel rail crossover tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S85.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured December 9, 2015, to January 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the left front brake caliper may crack due to being made from an incorrect material.
Risk: A cracked brake caliper may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper and depending on its casting date, replace it, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S16.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment (PE19014) — opened Sep 9, 2019, closed Feb 25, 2026.
- Vehicle Rollaway (PE16014) — opened Dec 16, 2016, closed Jan 25, 2024.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
On September 4, 2026, the front passenger Active Head Restraint (AHR/headrest) in my 2016 Dodge Durango unexpectedly deployed and struck my daughter in the back of the head. The vehicle was completely stationary and parked in a parking lot after leaving her doctorâs appointment. I had started the…
On August 6, 2026, at approximately 6:00 a.m., I was driving my 2016 Dodge Durango northbound to work at approximately 60 mph. It was dark and the roadway was slightly wet from overnight rain. While traveling in the left lane under normal driving conditions, I suddenly heard a loud pop and the…
Passenger active headrest deployed while parked on driveway.
We had an issue with an error message in the middle of driving that stopped the acceleration of the vehicle, this seems to be common, looking at forums online. The inspection request is acceptable. The message we receive is "Shift to P before changing gears". The vehicle will stop in the middle of…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a strong fuel odor in the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed the strong…
Other Dodge Durango years
← 2015 Durango · 2017 Durango →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Durango | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 Durango | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 Durango | 14 | 0 |
| 2023 Durango | 32 | 2 |
| 2022 Durango | 58 | 7 |
| 2021 Durango | 203 | 8 |
| 2020 Durango | 55 | 2 |
| 2019 Durango | 144 | 4 |
| 2018 Durango | 233 | 5 |
| 2017 Durango | 213 | 2 |
| 2016 | 161 | 3 |
| 2015 Durango | 503 | 4 |
| 2014 Durango | 782 | 11 |
| 2013 Durango | 640 | 11 |
| 2012 Durango | 640 | 10 |
| 2011 Durango | 800 | 8 |
| 2009 Durango | 12 | 4 |
| 2008 Durango | 97 | 2 |
| 2007 Durango | 191 | 4 |
| 2006 Durango | 852 | 9 |
| 2005 Durango | 1,567 | 8 |
| 2004 Durango | 1,115 | 8 |
| 2003 Durango | 339 | 4 |
| 2002 Durango | 423 | 4 |
| 2001 Durango | 665 | 5 |
| 2000 Durango | 1,075 | 2 |
| 1999 Durango | 1,967 | 3 |
| 1998 Durango | 965 | 4 |
| 1997 Durango | 4 | 1 |
See all Dodge Durango problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Dodge Durango?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 53 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Dodge Durango?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Dodge Durango a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Durango model years, the 2016 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.