2007 Dodge Durango 4X4 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about gasoline spraying or burping back out of the filler neck just after the nozzle clicks off, which many say happens at every station and at any pump speed. Other common themes are engines that stall or quit while driving, intermittent cluster and lighting failures, and front-end steering work. Transmission and transfer case complaints tend to appear on higher-mileage trucks.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel spills from the filler neck when refueling

   • 43 complaints (51%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2019

   Complaints describe gasoline burping or spraying back out of the filler neck just after the pump shuts off, sometimes a cup and sometimes a quart or more, running down the body and onto the ground. Owners say it happens at different stations and at any pump rate, and that stopping the pump early or filling slowly does not reliably prevent it. Several reports say the dealer told them nothing could be done, or that the tank needed replacing, or that a check valve in the tank had failed; some owners note that an earlier model year of the Durango had a similar issue under recall. Most often reported between about 17,000 and 90,000 miles, with a few appearing under 20,000 miles and a few past 110,000 miles.

   What to check: Plan an actual fill-up during the test drive and watch the filler neck for several seconds after the nozzle clicks off. Ask the seller whether the fuel tank or its check valve has ever been replaced and whether the truck spills at every station.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When filling my 2007 Dodge durango up with gas, the gas over flows and shoots out of the filler inlet after the pump has shut off spewing gas everywhere including on my person. My durango has 45,000 miles on it and has just started doing this the past 1.5 months. This happens at all pumps and even happens when shutting off the pump by hand.”

   NHTSA complaint #10376911, filed 2011-01, 43,000 miles

   “When filling the tank on my 2007 durango 5.7l 4x4 the auto fuel shut off doesn't work resulting in a major fuel spill. This is an environmental concern as well as a thermal event hazard (fire hazard). Happens at all gas stations that I've used in the last 5 fill-ups. I now have to turn the electrical on to view the fuel gage on the dashboard and stop the delivery pump manually.”

   NHTSA complaint #10384492, filed 2011-02, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls and quits while driving

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 9.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2019

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at speed or at idle, in some cases with the dash lights, headlights and hazards going dark at the same time, and the truck restarting only after several minutes. Some owners link the stalling to a rough or wandering idle, and one reports replacing the crankshaft position sensor repeatedly without a lasting fix. According to the complaints, dealers either could not identify a cause or replaced sensors and other parts without stopping the stalling. Reported from under 15,000 miles to over 170,000 miles, with several between about 45,000 and 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the truck has ever stalled and whether any shop has scanned for stored codes or replaced the crankshaft position sensor, throttle body or spark plugs. A test drive that includes sustained idling and stop-and-go traffic is worth the time.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the durango stalls and loses all powere. Normally happens when showing down. The durango does not start up right away and headlights and hazard lights stop working. The other day it stalled at 5am in the morning while cross a busy traffic light. It was dark and the hazards and headlights did not work. I was scared someone would hit me. It started up about 6 minutes later which felt like a lifetime. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11185503, filed 2019-03, 130,000 miles

   “The crankshaft position sensor consistently going bad , due to faulty wiring harness or other issues. This will cause the vehicle to randomly shut off while either sitting or driving , and the its unknown as to why it is happening. Suggested repair is to just replace , but I replace 1 a year . I have replaced 6 in the last 5 years of owning this vehicle. Dealership is unable to locate the problem to why the cps keeps failing .”

   NHTSA complaint #11223116, filed 2019-06, 160,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster and lighting failures

   • 11 complaints (13%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2019

   Owners report gauges, turn signals, hazard flashers and headlights that stop working, sometimes all at once, with one complaint saying the instrument cluster had to be replaced. Others describe signals that blink for a second, blink in the opposite direction, or quit entirely, along with power windows and washer functions that act up at the same time. The complaints describe the behavior as intermittent, and in one report it was more noticeable in warm weather. Reported from under 1,000 miles on a nearly new vehicle up to about 72,000 miles.

   What to check: With the engine running, check every gauge, turn signal, hazard flasher, headlight beam and power window, and watch for a cluster that flicks off or resets. Ask whether the instrument cluster or any lighting module has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a brand new 2007 Dodge durango on 9/21/07 from hatch motor company in snowflake, az. I had this vehicle for 1 1/2 weeks when it started giving me problems and I reported it to the company and they told me to bring it in. The gas gauge, hazard lights, signal lights, high and low beam lights went out. When I took the vehicle in, they checked it and they said it was the cluster box and they had to order a new one. I asked them if they could provide me with a rental because the truck was hazardous to drive home. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10208157, filed 2007-11, 950 miles

   “Constant problems with turn signals failing to work properly. Sometimes they will blink for a second or two and other times they will not work at all or even blink in the opposite direction. This is a considerable highway safety hazard and could lead to a severe traffic crash. This has been occurring inconsistently over the past year or so. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10411889, filed 2011-07, 72,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Tie rod and power steering problems

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2014

   Complaints describe a front tie rod coming loose or breaking at the knuckle at highway speed, with the wheel pointing outward and the truck shaking before it was towed in. Others report power steering fluid leaks, a replacement pump, and rack-and-pinion seals that let go, leaving the vehicle without power assist. In one report the loss of power steering came at the same time as a loss of throttle response. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 80,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a mechanic check the tie rod ends and steering linkage for play and look for fluid weeping around the power steering pump and rack. Ask whether either part has been replaced and whether the front end has been aligned recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this vehicle new in 2007. I have only had minor problems until this began. The vehicle idle began fluctuating while sitting still. It would rev to 2000 rpms and drop and nearly stall. It doesn't happen regularly, so I wasn't concerned. Then it stalled on my wife in the drive thru. I cleaned the throttle body and replaced all spark plugs and coil packs at around 60000. This had little or no effect. We continued to drive for a few months and then this problem began. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10614829, filed 2014-07, 45,000 miles

   “The vehicle was operating at highway speed when the right front tie rod broke at the knuckle. There was no warning, abnormal tire wear or damage prior to the failure. The vehicle was on a eight lane highway and was able to get off the road with out a crash. The wheel sustained substantial damage from the loose tie rod end.”

   NHTSA complaint #10340313, filed 2010-06, 52,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and transfer case shifting problems

   • 11 complaints (13%)
   • median 94,950 mi at 8.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners describe the transfer case engaging four-wheel drive or 4LO on its own, a flashing 4LO or SERVICE 4WD light, and clunking or motor noise from underneath even with the ignition off. In some reports the truck lost speed or nearly stalled when the shift occurred, and one owner had a transfer case motor replaced only for the problem to return months later. Separate complaints describe the transmission dropping from fourth to third gear with a lack of acceleration afterward. Reported from about 74,000 miles to nearly 200,000 miles, mostly on higher-mileage vehicles.

   What to check: Drive it in both two- and four-wheel drive, listen for clunks or motor noise from underneath, and confirm the 4WD lights behave normally. Ask whether the transfer case motor or transmission has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 durango with hemi engine. The 4lo light flashes and, you can hear it switch under the car even when it is off. When, I unlock my doors you can hear it again. When you switch the dial over to 4lo the svc 4wd light just blinks. While driving this engaged as I was making a turn it almost stalled me while traffic was coming.”

   NHTSA complaint #10969298, filed 2017-03, 199,019 miles

   “I was traveling on i99 southbound and all of a sudden my vehicle downshift from 4th gear to 3rd. I pulled over to investigate but couldn't find anything wrong. I turned the vehicle off waited about 5 minutes and turned my vehicle back on. I positioned the gear shift lever to drive (d) and started driving again. I noticed a lack of acceleration as though the transmission was stuck in a high gear. I had the transmission fluid drained, the filters replaced and had the transmission refilled with new transmission fluid. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10726407, filed 2015-06, 73,950 miles

Buying note. A slow, hands-on fill-up and a highway test drive will tell you a lot about the two most frequently reported problems on this model year, fuel spitting at the filler neck and stalling. Ask for service records covering the fuel tank, steering linkage and transfer case, since those complaints cluster on higher-mileage trucks.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.