2008 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Durango most often describe gasoline spraying or spitting back out of the filler neck when the tank reaches full, and a separate cluster reports the air bag light staying on, sometimes tied to the clock spring. Steering and suspension complaints (wandering or shaking over bumps) and occasional stalling or electrical shutdowns also appear, generally at higher mileages.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel spit-back/overflow when refueling

   • 33 complaints (34%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2019

   Owners describe the pump clicking off at full and then a pint to about a gallon of fuel surging back out of the filler neck, running down the side of the vehicle and onto the person fueling. It happens at multiple stations and whether the nozzle is on automatic or held by hand. Several say dealers attributed it to the fuel tank or its inlet check valve and quoted a tank replacement; some report no warranty coverage. A few complaints mention fuel reaching the exhaust or hot engine parts. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 175,000 miles, most commonly between about 20,000 and 80,000 miles, and described as occurring at every fill-up once it starts.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank to full at a station before buying and watch the filler neck, or ask the seller whether the tank or filler tube has been replaced. Service bulletins describe fuel spit-back and a fuel tank inlet check valve, so ask whether either was addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Filling gas tank at fuel pump; set the auto-fil on pump; handle clicked (as normal when a tank is full) as I reached to grab the handle to put away - right before I touch the handle gas is regurgitated and spewed all over me and the side o f the vehicle. I reported the issue to the gas station clerk as a faulty pump and he put an out of order sign on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10444878, filed 2012-01, 68,000 miles

   “Beginning with the first time I filled the tank, when the fuel fuller nozzle is set to auto fill, when the filler clicks off, fuel gushes back out of the tank and down the side of the car and all over the ground. I was standing too close and my pants leg got soaked to the point that my skin burned from the presence of gasoline. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10592868, filed 2014-05, 76,208 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Wandering or shaking over bumps (steering/suspension)

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners describe the vehicle veering or skipping sideways after hitting a bump, groove, or expansion joint, sometimes with violent shaking that they call "death wobble." Complaints mention worn tie rods, a separated tie rod, stabilizer links, and a steering damper as the parts inspected or replaced. Several say dealers could not find a problem or told them there was no recall. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 110,000 miles, often at highway or 40-50 mph speeds over uneven pavement.

   What to check: Test drive over broken pavement and expansion joints at 40-60 mph and feel for wander or shake. Have a shop inspect tie rods, ball joints, and stabilizer links before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 2008 Durango from herb chambers feb 4, 2013 since then it has been in the shop for several suspension noises (at least 3 times) in oct 2013 I brought my vehicle back in complaining that the suspension is noisy over all types of bumps. The technician checked it out and I was told that the stabilizer links needed to be replace and that they had to be ordered, that is when the waiting game started. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10614473, filed 2014-07, 42,000 miles

   “We were traveling thru a reduced speed area on a 4 lane highway at 50 MPH when the vehicle went into what is known by me now as a death wobble . I managed to keep it on the highway and pull off onto the left shoulder. I found the left tie rod had come apart so there was essentially no steering control. Luckily we had to slow down in the area as we were traveling at 70 MPH a couple minutes earlier and had traveled thru quite a number of 2 lane construction zones with heavy traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10561490, filed 2014-01, 51,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling, rough running, or sudden power loss

   • 20 complaints (21%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2019

   Owners report the engine stalling at low speed shortly after refueling, cutting out when going uphill or turning, and occasionally losing power along with power steering and brakes. Some complaints describe rough running with warning lights, overheating, a split radiator, and engine damage; others mention crankshaft or camshaft position sensors, a fuel pump module leak, or an engine control module issue diagnosed by mechanics. Spread from about 35,000 to 200,000 miles, with several reports in the 90,000-140,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for maintenance records and whether the fuel pump module or sensors have been replaced, and listen for timing chain noise on a cold start. A service bulletin covers a no-start/no-crank diagnostic and another covers gasoline engine diagnostic inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dodge Durango 2008 with hemi 5.7 l engine stalls at low speeds after I fill up the gas tank. This happens every time I fill up the tank now. I have read on consumer forums that other Dodge trucks and car owners have also reported this problem. It is dangerous, as the car stalls without any warning. This happens multiple times after fillup and after driving 20 miles or so the problem goes away. It is very dangerous as my car has stalled in busy intersections and while taking yield turns. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10873618, filed 2016-06, 90,000 miles

   “Gas tank fuel pump unit leaking due to severely deteriorated and cracked plastic. This was identified as the cause of a dashboard warning light. Only after dropping the fuel tank is the fuel pump unit visible. Air bubbles could be seen coming from the top of the fuel pump unit. A metal attachment ring was severely rusted and the fuel unit plastic casing was deteriorated and leaking. The white plastic used for the fuel unit does not seem appropriate for the heat and corrosion in that location. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11019504, filed 2017-08, 111,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on / no deployment

   • 26 complaints (27%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners report the air bag light illuminating and staying on, with dealers replacing air bag components or wiring on some vehicles. Several cite the clock spring as the diagnosed cause and say the part was back-ordered or expensive, which also blocks state inspection. A few complaints describe frontal air bags not deploying in a collision while other air bags did. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 200,000 miles, with many between roughly 25,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check, and ask whether the Takata inflator recalls (16V352000, 15V313000) were completed. Ask whether the clock spring or steering-wheel wiring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle air bag light keeps coming on and throwing a code so the vehicle can not get an inspection sticker. The code is for the clock spring with electronic stabiltiy control. This part is not available and is back ordered per the dealer. Called Dodge and got a lot of I don't know with no resolution . This part is a $900 part you would think they would have an answer as to when it would be available. They should supply an extended waranty on this part seeing as every Durango seems to have this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10807971, filed 2015-12, 60,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the air bag light constantly illuminates. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at least three times and they stated that there was an air bag shortage. The passenger side air bag curtains were replaced, and faulty air bag wires were also removed and replaced. The dealer and manufacturer have not been notified. The failure mileage was 3,472 and current mileage was 7,065.”

   NHTSA complaint #10279165, filed 2009-08, 3,472 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical loss and stalling over bumps

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 96,500 mi at 5.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe warning lights (traction control, stability control, ABS) coming on over rough roads, sometimes followed by the engine cutting out. Others report total loss of electrical power while driving, taking out steering assist and lights, or an ignition key that sticks in the start position. Some mention a burned dashboard or seat after the vehicle sat parked overnight. Reported from about 30,000 to 160,000 miles, with a cluster around 45,000-100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all warning lamps behave normally on startup and ask about any history of electrical repairs, key/ignition work, or a burned smell. Service bulletins cover starter no-crank diagnosis and UConnect module replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On several occasions I have had the ignition key stick in the starting position while I was attempting to start the car. This happened as I let go of the key after turning it to the start position. The key can be manually turned back to the off or run position. This has sometimes resulted in a successful engine start and at other times I have caught it before the engine started. I believe chrysler has issued recalls for this on other models or years, but not for this car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759387, filed 2015-08, 95,000 miles

   “2008 Dodge Durango was parked at 11:30 pm. At 3:00 am engine fire occurred and car was total loss. Fire started behind drivers headlamp area. Fire dept and chryslers independent investigators could not determine how it started but did determine no arson was involved. Therefore car ignited on its own.”

   NHTSA complaint #10437504, filed 2011-11, 45,500 miles

Buying note. Have the fuel filler and tank checked for the spit-back symptom, since it is the most frequently reported problem and is repaired by replacing the tank or filler tube. Also confirm both air bag inflator recalls were completed and budget for front-end and electrical inspection 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.