Dodge Durango Steering Problems
Owners have filed 722 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Dodge Durango across 25 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (170). The words owners use most often: “ball joints” (23% of reports).
- 722steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 46mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 28%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 165 of 722 complaints (23%)
- Tie rod: mentioned in 103 of 722 complaints (14%)
- Upper lower: mentioned in 56 of 722 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Dodge Durango at $2,100, and half of them between $1,600 and $4,900.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 505 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 722 complaints, 46 mention a crash, 11 a fire, 20 an injury.
Dodge Durango steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Durango | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2022 Durango | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Durango | 4 | 2% | 1,427 |
| 2020 Durango | 3 | 5% | 24,085 |
| 2019 Durango | 6 | 4% | 16,000 |
| 2018 Durango | 3 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2017 Durango | 11 | 5% | 20,500 |
| 2016 Durango | 3 | 2% | 52,870 |
| 2015 Durango | 3 | 1% | 3,400 |
| 2014 Durango | 12 | 2% | 65,500 |
| 2013 Durango | 24 | 4% | 79,500 |
| 2012 Durango | 42 | 7% | 87,000 |
| 2011 Durango | 27 | 3% | 57,523 |
| 2009 Durango | 1 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2008 Durango | 8 | 8% | 41,000 |
| 2007 Durango | 10 | 5% | 160,000 |
| 2006 Durango | 23 | 3% | 69,500 |
| 2005 Durango | 70 | 4% | 89,122 |
| 2004 Durango | 31 | 3% | 83,520 |
| 2003 Durango | 20 | 6% | 60,749 |
| 2002 Durango | 28 | 7% | 89,443 |
| 2001 Durango | 48 | 7% | 53,163 |
| 2000 Durango | 83 | 8% | 62,000 |
| 1999 Durango | 170 | 9% | 69,500 |
| 1998 Durango | 90 | 9% | 64,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 2021, 2022
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango and 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The steering gear rack bar may have been insufficiently hardened during manufacturing, possibly allowing it to bind within the steering rack, and resulting in difficulty steering or a loss of steering control.
Risk: Difficulty steering, or a loss of steering control, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 12, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-852-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z18.
Steering
Model years: 2007
Problem: On certain vehicles, the right front steering knuckle may have been improperly manufactured. Because of a broken cooling line, parts cast in tool cavity #63 on july 18 and july 19, 2006, may have a cold shut condition and could fracture.
Risk: This could cause a loss of steering control and result in a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the recalled vehicles to identify the defective parts and replace if they are within that lot. The recall began on november 8, 2006. Owners may 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.
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…
Replaced batteries, and power steering went out, it put my vehicle out of alignment... I tried getting an alignment at local Firestone. Told me they could not connect to the angle sensors and that I need to get a new rack and pinion
1. Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment Driver's side 2. seat warmers and steering wheel warmer won't turn off unless vehicle is turned off and on again.
Electronic power steering locks the wheel while turning. Have to use excessive force to get it out of the stuck position. I have went through several forums trying to figure out why this happens there are many other customers experiencing the same problem. There is no power steering pump to replace…
Manufacture defect, steering column rubbing against brake line causing brake line to rupture causing damages with possible danger of fire or possible collision
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Durangos have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 722 owner complaints about steering for the Dodge Durango. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Durango steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Dodge Durango?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,100 (half paid between $1,600 and $4,900), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Dodge Durango?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joints”, in 165 of 722 complaints, followed by “tie rod” (103).
Other Dodge Durango problems
- Suspension problems (2,762)
- Electrical System problems (2,727)
- Power Train problems (1,318)
- Engine problems (1,296)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,138)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,105)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,071)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (850)
See all Dodge Durango problems.