2002 Dodge Durango Problems, Recalls & Reliability
556 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Dodge Durango, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 21/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Suspension leads the reports, typically around 44,700 miles.
Typical
Where 2002 sits among all Durango years
What owners report
“While driving the vehicle consumer heard a noise coming through the from end. Vehicle was taken to the dealership, mechanic indicated need to be replace the ball joints at owner expenses. And consumer don't have the money.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Durango
“Truck will not go in right gear it skips from park to drive to neutral and now the key is stuck in the ignition. The vehicle will start but it will not go in park.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Durango
“When the driver applied the brake pedal it went to the floor which caused extended stopping distance. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Durango
“Electronic controls of safety equipment do not funtion properly. Turn signals,lights,cruise. Gauges,windows,radio,airbag etc.. All have malfuntioned since the car was picked up from the dealer. It is obvious that a electrical problem exists in the vehicle but doddge/chrysler is un willing to…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Durango
“While traveling on the highway the vehicle shut down without prior warning. The dealership is awre of the problem. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Durango
“The steering is very loose. Has a lot of play in it. Have replaced tie rod ends. At this time we can not seem to find out what is causing it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Durango
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 372 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 61,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 34,000 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
SKF IS RECALLING 2,805 HUB UNITS, PART NO. BR930361, SOLD AS A SERVICE PART FOR 1997-2004 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES AND 1999-2003 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2-WHEEL DRIVE & REAR AXLE ABS. DUE TO A SPECIFICATION ERROR, THE ROTOR PILOT FOR THE HUB UNIT…
Fix: SKF WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HUB UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SKF VSM NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-644-8999.
ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK"…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BENCH SEATS ONLY, IF FLUID IS SPILLED FROM THE FLOOR MOUNTED CUP HOLDER, AN UNUSED CONSOLE POWER OUTLET CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONSOLE WIRING CONNECTOR FOR CORROSION, CLEAN AS REQUIRED, AND INSTALL A CAP TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL FLUID FROM CONTAMINATING THE CONNECTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON…
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL…
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
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…
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.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 06V339000.
Led to recall campaign 04V596000.
Technical service bulletins
51 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 2002 Dodge Durango. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2002 Durango TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Dodge Durango reliable?
The 2002 Dodge Durango drew 556 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 21/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 2002 Dodge Durango problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Dodge Durango are suspension (164 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (73), and brakes & stability (69).
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Durango problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Dodge Durango problems around 61,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 34,000 and 110,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Dodge Durango have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Dodge Durango. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.