2005 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Dodge Durango most often report gasoline spilling back out of the filler neck at the end of refueling, a symptom tied to fuel-system complaints far more than any other part. Complaints also describe the engine shutting off while slowing or turning, and the four-wheel-drive system engaging on its own, including at highway speed. Many of these reports come from vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, though the fuel spill-back reports appear at much lower mileage.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Gas spills out of filler neck when refueling

   • 623 complaints (40%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (545 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 36 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2025

   Owners describe fuel gushing or spraying back out of the filler neck just after the pump clicks off, getting onto the vehicle, the pump handle and the ground. Some say it happens consistently regardless of fill rate or station, and several report that partially filling the tank is the only way to avoid it. Many complain their dealer told them the VIN was not covered by the fuel-system recalls, and some report the spill returning after a recall repair. Reported from roughly 28,000 to 180,000 miles, and just as often on lower-mileage vehicles as high ones.

   Recall 09V003000Recall 05V0340002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank during a test drive or ask the seller to, and watch the filler neck at shutoff. Ask whether the filler tube was replaced under recall 09V003000 or 05V034000 and whether the problem returned afterward.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 Dodge Durango; gas spills out after filling with gas at gas station. Dealer said my vehicle is not covered under the existing recall for other 2005 Dodge Durango's that also spill gas after filling. I logged a case with chrysler and they want me to pay for analysis at the dealer, and then they will determine if and how much to cover; if any. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10303242, filed 2010-01, 108,000 miles

   “When fueling, approx. 1 to 2 quarts of gas burps out of the fuel filler tube. This occurs regardless of how fast or slow the fuel is dispensed. Seems to not be venting properly. I see daimlerchrysler recall # e01 and h45 have been issued, however my manufacture dates do not fall within range. Can my VIN info be checked and/or are there any other options available to have this repaired by the dealer without cost?”

   NHTSA complaint #10440330, filed 2011-12, 85,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls while slowing, turning or at stops

   • 522 complaints (33%)
   • median 65,008 mi at 5.6 yrs old (459 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2023

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning while slowing for a turn, coasting into a parking lot, backing out of a driveway or waiting at a light, with steering and brake assist lost until restart. Some say the check engine light came on and a mechanic found a vacuum leak, others that no fault code was stored. Several owners report multiple dealer visits without a confirmed cause. Reported from a few thousand miles up past 145,000 miles, often at low speed during turns or deceleration.

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has ever stalled and whether any stored codes were pulled. During a test drive, note any idle dip or stumble when slowing and turning into a parking lot.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My passanger airbag light is on all the time even after recall was done. My 05 Dodge Durango stalls randomly while backing up, pulling into parking spaces, making turns sometimes driving down the road. No accident as of yet been going on the hole time I've had this vehicle I am sick of it 2013 to 2020”

   NHTSA complaint #11316032, filed 2020-03, 107,973 miles

   “My Durango has been turning off and I just turned today and it turned off twice on me and a car almost hit me.. And then 1 time same day a few minutes later on a red light.. Just started to make stalling movements nad then turned off... Three times it turned off while I was on my way to get my son from schoo... All 3 times within less than 40 min.. I am told that Dodge has not had a recall on it.. Im scared to drive it !!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10956395, filed 2017-02, 125,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Four-wheel drive engages by itself

   • 134 complaints (9%)
   • median 135,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (124 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,403 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners report the transfer case shifting into 4WD or 4LO on its own, sometimes at highway speed, causing a rapid deceleration, grinding or a swerve. Some say it happens while the vehicle is parked and off, or when locking or unlocking the doors, and the 4LO indicator may flash. Complaints describe replacement of the transfer case motor, front control module or wiring with the problem recurring. Reported mostly between about 85,000 and 230,000 miles, at any speed including while stationary.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check whether the 4WD and 4LO lights stay steady in 2WD, and ask if the transfer case motor or its wiring has been replaced. A scan for transfer case codes before purchase is worth the cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 Dodge Durango limited 5.7. My Durango locks its self into 4x4 on it's own. I cant disengage it. This happens either sitting still or driving down the road. I have carried it to the local dealership and they charged me $2210+tax to fix the issue. They said it was the front control module and the wiring harness. I got my truck back and it was still locking in 4x4. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11192078, filed 2019-03, 230,000 miles

   “While driving on highway, vehicle just threw itself into 4lo 4wd and started grinding. I had to slam the brakes to save the truck and come to a quick stop from highway speeds. Had to limp it home at 15 MPH. Before limping it home, it decided to throw itself into neutral and I couldn't get any motion. After being at a complete stop for a while, the vehicle went back into one of it's 3 modes (I don't know which), awd, 4hi or 4lo. I limped it home and parked it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386019, filed 2021-01, 160,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster faults and charging problems

   • 137 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (117 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $762 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2023

   Complaints describe erratic gauges, a speedometer reading while parked, a blank odometer, interior lights that will not shut off, a burning wiring smell, and repeated dead batteries that recharging did not fix. Some owners link the symptoms to the instrument cluster recall and report the cluster needed replacement. Reported mostly from about 100,000 to over 250,000 miles.

   Recall 07V0920002 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, check that all gauges read sensibly and that interior lights switch off. Ask whether the instrument cluster was replaced under recall 07V092000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All of a sudden on 6/3/2020 my ignition switch decided to stop working to the point I was stranded at the grocery store because none of my keys wanted to work in the ignition,I couldn't turn my wheel to unlock I couldn't start my vehicle at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327503, filed 2020-06, 166,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that his battery had died upon start of his vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who was able to recharge the battery. Months later, the contact stated that the same failure recurred. The contact had the vehicle jump started and taken back to his independent mechanic who charged the battery again. Due to the ineffectiveness of the charge, the mechanic replaced the battery. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11348624, filed 2020-08, 138,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on after recall

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying illuminated, including on vehicles already repaired under the inflator recalls, and one describes the passenger-side air bag cover opening and the dash being damaged. Several tie the light to the air bag recalls but say the dealer found no further remedy. Reported mostly between about 95,000 and 215,000 miles.

   Recall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 14V770000

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light goes out after the bulb test on startup, and confirm by VIN whether both the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the fuel tank spilled gasoline to the vehicle. The fuel also leaked onto the driveway while the vehicle was parked. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power while driving with the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11532008, filed 2023-07, 152,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10664645, filed 2014-12, 98,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2005 Durango inspected for the fuel filler spill-back and ask for the recall repair history by VIN, since many owners report the problem persists or their vehicle was outside the recall population. Budget for a transfer case and stalling diagnosis on higher-mileage examples, and confirm the air bag inflator recalls were completed.

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.