2006 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

DURING TIMES OF LOW TEMPERATURES (BELOW 40 DEGREES) THE FOLLOWING OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE RADIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THE RADIO VOLUME SPONTANEOUSLY GOES DOWN, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE AIRBAG INDICATE THE AIRBAG IS NOT ACTIVATED. I AM SURE THERE ARE MORE GLITCHES; HOWEVER THESE ARE THE ONES THAT STAND OUT. THIS MORNING, HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS APPROXIMATELY 22 DEGREES. I SET THE CRUISE FOR 75, WHEN I REVIEWED THE SPEED, THE VEHICLE HAD ACCELERATED TO 95 AND THE CRUISE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF EITHER BY THE CRUISE CONTROL CONTROLS OR BY BRAKING. IN FACT THE BRAKES HAD DIFFICULTY SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 75 AND WHEN RELEASED THE VEHICLE WOULD AGAIN ACCELERATE. WHEN PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED REVVING AND WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE IT AGAIN ACCELERATED. WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUE TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKES, I MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. IT THEN WOULD NOT RE-START. THE IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN OVER FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. ONCE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING. THEY WERE ALREADY AWARE OF THE PREVIOUS IRREGULARITIES AND ADVISED THEY WOULD BE TALKING TO THE SUPPORT CENTER TODAY. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.*JB

MY 2006 DODGE DURANGO MAY NOT STOP CORRECTLY AT ONE SPECIFIC INTERSECTION. THE DURANGO TRAVELS TO THE INTERSECTION TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL OR PICK UP FROM SCHOOL. THE ROUTE IS TRAVELED ALMOST DAILY SINCE JANUARY 3, 2007. ON FIVE OCCASIONS, THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE DRY. THE SPEED LEADING UP TO THE INTERSECTION IS 35 MPH OR LESS. THE FORCE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES IS MODERATE FOR A SIMPLE, CONTROLLED STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. INSTEAD OF STOPPING NORMALLY, WE HEAR THE NOISE OF A SMALL MOTOR. THE BRAKES DON'T FEEL RIGHT AND THE CAR DOESN'T STOP QUICKLY. THEN, THE BRAKES APPEAR TO FAIL AND THE CAR PROCEEDS FORWARD WITH NO BRAKE RESISTANCE. THE REACTION OF THE DRIVER IS TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND THEN PRESS VERY HARD. THE CAR DOES STOP WITH A JERK. AFTER 3800 MILES, THE BEHAVIOR ONLY HAPPENS AT THE ONE INTERSECTION. THE LAST THREE OCCURRENCES HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY. WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON DEMAND AT THE INTERSECTION OR ON ANY OTHER ROAD. WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CAR STOPS JUST FINE WITH MODERATE OR EVEN HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE. ON AN ASPHALT ROAD WITH LOOSE GRAVEL, I APPLIED HEAVY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. I HEARD A MOTOR; THE BRAKES FELT WEIRD; THE BRAKES NEVER GAVE UP; THE CAR STOPPED QUICKLY AS EXPECTED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. WE, THE DRIVERS, ARE TOO AFRAID TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T RELEASE THE BRAKES. IN EACH OCCURRENCE, FAILURE OF THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST, UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE ALMOST DID. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ATTEMPT ANY ACTION ON MY CAR SINCE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THE INTERSECTION OR ANYWHERE ELSE. *NM

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT PANEL'S SEAT MOTOR CAP WAS SUPER GLUED ON AFTER PRONGS HAD BROKEN BY EITHER SELLING DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THIS WAS FOUND TO HAVE HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE WAS 8 MONTHS OLD AND THE CAP FELL OFF. AT 10 MONTHS OLD, THE SAME SEAT PANEL BUSTED WITH NORMAL ENTRY OF THE VEHICLE. I WEIGH 115 LBS. AT MY WEIGHT, THIS PIECE SHOULD NOT BREAK FROM NORMAL ENTRY. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF IT WAS A LARGER PERSON? WOULD THE WHOLE SEAT COME APART? THE LEATHER FORMS A U-SHAPE WHICH IS A NICE CUSHION WHEN SITTING IN THE SEAT, BUT WHEN ENTERING THE SEAT, THE DURANGO IS HIGH OFF THE GROUND AND THE SEAT/STEERING WHEEL DESIGN IS DESIGNED SO ONE HAS TO "SLIDE" INTO THE SEAT. WHEN YOU "SLIDE" INTO THE SEAT, THE SEAT PUSHES DOWN ON THE EDGES WHICH IN TURN PUSHES DOWN ON THE THIN, CHEAP PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC CRACKS. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY THIS ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY STATED THEY FIX APPROXIMATELY 20 VEHICLES A MONTH THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY HAVE CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT REPLACING THE PLASTIC PIECE WITH MORE DURABLE MATERIAL TO NO AVAIL. IF THIS PLASTIC PIECE CONTINUES TO BREAK (AND IT WILL AS THEY ARE REPLACING WITH SAME QUALITY OF PLASTIC), THE MECHANISMS OF THE SEAT WILL BE OPEN TO THE TOUCH WHICH IS A DANGER TO THE SMALL HANDS OF CHILDREN WHO MAY REACH IN THE VEHICLE. THESE DURANGO'S HAVE ELECTRONIC BUTTONS ON THE SIDE OF THIS PANEL WHICH IF MOVED COULD SERIOUSLY INJURE AND DISFIGURE A CHILD'S HANDS OR FEET IF CAUGHT WHERE THE SEAT PANEL SHOULD BE. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MY CHILD'S FEET. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A FAULTY PART EVER 10 MONTHS THAT I OWN THE VEHICLE DUE TO A CHEAP, FAULTY PART. FOR A $39,000 VEHICLE, I EXPECT BETTER QUALITY. I WONDER HOW SAFE I AM IN THE DURANGO IF I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE SEAT CAN'T HOLD UP AFTER ONLY 10 MONTHS OF NORMAL USE. MY HUSBAND'S SUPERVISOR'S 05 DURANGO HAD THE SAME PLASTIC SEAT PANEL BUST DURING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ALSO AT LESS THAN 6 MONTHS! *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT BOUGHT A NEW 2006 DURANGO ON 11/18/06 FROM TOWBIN DODGE AND SHE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE. SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES FOR A SHUTTER IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AT 10-15 MPH. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER HAS HAD POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR 50 DAYS AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KEPT TELLING HER TO CALL THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER TOLD HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. SHE REQUESTED A DIFFERENT DODGE DURANGO AND THEY WILL NOT COMPLY. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 - *NM

TL* - WHILE DRIVING A 2006 DODGE DURANGO AT 12 MPH THE DRIVER 'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DRIVER HAD A BRUISED SHOULDER, SCRATCHES AND A BRUISE ON HER NECK. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DODGE FACILITY. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 14,800. DAIMLER CHRYSLER ASSUMED ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND PAID IN FULL FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK

A/C IN MY BRAND NEW 2006 DODGE DURANGO DOESN'T COOL DOWN PROPERLY DURING DAYTIME OPERATING HOURS. WE LIVE IN TEXAS AND WE BOUGHT OUR DURANGO IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL A/C. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING THAT THE CONDITIONED AIR FROM THE VENTS, EVEN WHEN THE CONTROL IS IN THE MAX POSITION, IS ONLY AMBIENT AT BEST. I KNOW WHAT COLD AIR FEELS LIKE! THIS IS TEXAS! THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT BECAUSE OF ALL THE GLASS AND LARGE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSES THE INTERIOR TO HEAT UP AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN. HOWEVER THE A/C COOLS DOWN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE VERY RAPIDLY IN THE EARLY MORNING AND LATE EVENING HOURS OF THE DAY WHEN THE SUN ISN'T AS INTENSE. *NM

2006 DODGE DURANGO ABS DEPLOYS PREMATURELY WHEN BRAKING WHILE ELEVATION OF PAVED ROAD CHANGES PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER. EXPERIENCE AT INTERSECTION WHERE UPHILL ROAD DEAD ENDS INTO CROSS ROAD AND ELEVATION OF CROSS ROAD IS FLAT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, UPON TURNING EITHER DIRECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

PROGRESSIVELY WORSE ENGINE IDLE AT STOPS ON '06 DURANGO W/ 5.7 HEMI. WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT/SIGN, ENGINE WILL DROP FROM (NORMAL) AROUND 700RPM TO BELOW 500 RPM AND FEELS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO STALL. IT WILL THEN COME UP TO 500RPM (ROUGH IDLE) AND FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 450 AND 550. IF I GIVE AT A LITTLE GAS, IT WILL COME UP TO NORMAL RPM AND STAY. DEALER SAYS THEY COULDN'T GET ANY CODES OR FIND PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY SAW SAME SYMPTOMS WHEN TURNING WHEEL. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR '04 & '05 5.7 HEMI'S AND HAS SOME VEHICLES STALLING DURING A TURN IN INTERSECTION (THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT). DEALER CONFIRMED THAT CHRYLSER IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND HAS NO FIX FOR IT. THE DEALER HAD ME PICK UP THE VEHICLE TO USE UNTIL A FIX IS AVAILABLE. *NM

1 - CRUISE CONTROL OVER SHOOTS SET SPEED 2 - CRUISE CONTROL OVER SHOOTS SET SPEED BY 10 TO 15 MPH ON DOWN HILL , CAUSES YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE 3 - DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. *JB