2006 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe fuel spraying or gushing from the filler neck at the end of refueling, reported across many different stations and pumps and often developing gradually rather than from new. A smaller but recurring group of complaints covers 4WD engaging on its own, instrument cluster and exterior lighting faults, and air bag warning lights, with those appearing at higher mileages than the fuel reports.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel spit-back and overflow when refueling

   • 529 complaints (62%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (472 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe fuel spraying, gushing or burbling out of the filler neck immediately after the pump clicks off, sometimes covering the vehicle, the ground and the person refueling. Many say it happens at every fill-up and at multiple stations and pumps, and that controlling the flow rate does not stop it. Several report dealers or the manufacturer said no recall applied to their vehicle, while others were told the filler tube, fuel tank or check valve needed replacement at their own cost. Most reports in the sample fall between roughly 27,000 and 130,000 miles, though a few appear under 10,000 miles, and many owners say the behavior worsened gradually over months.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank at a station during a test drive or ask the seller to demonstrate a fill-up and watch the filler neck as the pump shuts off. A service bulletin describes replacing the fuel filler tube when this condition occurs, so ask whether that repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During every fill up at the gas station, gas spits out of the tank of my 2006 Dodge Durango. It doesn't matter what gas station or which pump I use. I have tried pulling the pump out in the middle of the fueling to vent the tank and this doesn't work either. There was a recall of 2005 Dodge durangos for this very same problem. Obviously it was not corrected.”

   NHTSA complaint #10339405, filed 2010-06, 55,000 miles

   “At about 58,000 miles my 2006 Dodge Durango began to overflow or spit back a large amount of fuel when topping off the tank. The amount of fuel is about 1/2 to 1 gallon in size and spits out of the filler neck in a flowing spray. It does this every time I fill it till the pump auto shuts off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10397197, filed 2011-04, 58,320 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Dash lights, cluster and exterior lighting faults

   • 53 complaints (6%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2021

   Complaints describe dash and instrument cluster illumination failing, warning lights flashing, and headlights or turn signals cutting in and out, in some cases tied to rain or cold, wet weather. One owner reported a vehicle fire and connected it to an overheating instrument cluster. Dealers in these reports were often unable to reproduce the fault or told owners there was no bulletin or recall covering it. Reports in the sample range from about 46,000 to 160,000 miles, with several owners noting the lighting faults appeared specifically in wet or below-freezing conditions.

   Recall 07V092000Recall 06V039000

   What to check: Check that all dash, cluster and exterior lights work, and if possible test the turn signals and headlights after the vehicle has been in rain or cold. Ask whether the instrument cluster or any lighting switch has been replaced, and confirm recall work for the cluster and wiper/lighting circuits has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Turn signal switch malfunctions when it is cold and wet out. Will indicate right turn when turning left and vise versa, high beam also malfunctions and will sometimes turn on washer fluid, wiper function also not working right when others fail. Seems to be when it is wet and below freezing temperatures. Similar complaints all over internet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10447860, filed 2012-02, 46,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. While driving at any speed, the headlights started to flash on and off and the turn signal failed to signal. The failure recurred every time it rained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the technician could not find a failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10838720, filed 2016-02, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   4WD engaging on its own / transfer case noise

   • 32 complaints (4%)
   • median 123,732 mi at 9.6 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2021

   Owners report the 4WD service light coming on at random, the vehicle shifting itself into four-wheel drive at highway or low speeds, and a whirring or clicking from the transfer case motor heard when opening the door or pressing the key fob. Some describe binding or altered steering feel when the system engages unexpectedly. One owner reported a stored trouble code pointing to the transfer case circuit. The sample reports cluster between roughly 90,000 and 165,000 miles, and owners describe the behavior as random and unrelated to any driver input.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, listen for transfer case motor noise when unlocking the doors and watch for the 4WD or 4LO light flashing without the switch being touched. Several service bulletins cover transfer case gear motor and actuator installation, so ask whether that work has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 4wd svc light will come on at random while driving down the highway at various speeds. Sometimes it will be shifting into 4x4 on it's on and when I make a turn, I can feel the 4x4 working without ever physically turning it on. Other times, I can hear the transfer case motor making noise for about 2 seconds when I open the door or press the key fob button. I pulled a trouble code of c1404. Further research of this code and issue results in over 500 complaints online. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389822, filed 2021-01, 165,000 miles

   “My Dodge Durango will engage by itself into 4 wheel drive while driving at slow or very high speed-it is an issue with the transfer case electricly-could cause accident when this does it on it's own out of nowhere & many complaints have been filed about this issue-it does it at stopping,going slow or even at 75 MPH”

   NHTSA complaint #11233675, filed 2019-07, 125,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on / bags not deploying

   • 73 complaints (9%)
   • median 95,500 mi at 9.5 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2024

   Owners describe the passenger side air bag warning light illuminating while driving with nothing in the seat, and the air bag light staying on alongside a check engine light. One owner reported a collision in which the air bags did not deploy despite the warning light being lit. Reports also include the passenger sensing system deactivating the bag when an object was placed on the seat. Mileage in the sample runs from very low (a few thousand miles) up to about 230,000, so the symptom appears both early and late in the vehicle's life.

   Recall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 06V044000

   What to check: Watch the air bag light with the key on and while driving, and confirm the vehicle has had the front inflator and occupant restraint controller recalls performed by checking the campaign numbers against the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle surges and makes a rattling soud when excelling. Feels like it's losing power. It delays starting when the ignition is on. The suspension feels like it's going to snap. The engine light and air bag light is displayed on the instrument panel/cluster.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395128, filed 2021-02, 211,100 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the passenger side air bag sensor illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. Updated 9/8/14 the vehicle was repaired. Updated 1/7/2015”

   NHTSA complaint #10619274, filed 2014-08, 75,000 miles

Buying note. The refueling spit-back is the issue to check first, since it shows up on most sampled complaints and is easy to test with a single fill-up. Confirm outstanding recall work on the air bag inflators and instrument cluster, and budget for transfer case diagnostics on higher-mileage examples.

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.