2016 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Dodge Durango most often write about water getting into the full-width rear "racetrack" LED tail lamp bar on the liftgate, which in many reports is followed by flickering or failed LEDs. A second frequent theme is the rotary gear selector and instances where the vehicle moved while the selector was thought to be in Park, often after parking or while exiting. A smaller group of complaints covers rough low-speed transmission downshifts and electrical problems that leave the vehicle without power or unable to start.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Water in rear racetrack tail lamp bar

   • 39 complaints (24%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe moisture, condensation and standing water inside the full-width LED tail lamp assembly on the liftgate, sometimes after rain or snow melt. Many report that the affected section of LEDs eventually flickers or stops working, and in some cases the license plate lamps and reverse lamps in the same unit fail as well. Several say they drained water by loosening a bolt, and that dealers often told them there was no recall or warranty coverage and quoted a replacement assembly at a four-figure cost. A few report the unit was replaced under warranty and the same problem returned. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 124,000 miles, most commonly in the 25,000 to 90,000 mile range, and often noticed after wet weather.

   What to check: Inspect the rear tail lamp bar for condensation, water lines or dark spots and confirm every LED section, the license plate lamps and the reverse lamps light up. Ask whether the assembly has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My LED taillights keep getting water inside them causing the lights to slowly go out. This will cause a safety issue over time. Also will cause an accident. I feel that Dodge didn't do a good job at sealing the lights. By looking at the pictures you will see what I mean by the water. I have drained the water several times by removing a bolt.”

   NHTSA complaint #11291639, filed 2019-12, 84,000 miles

   “Water continues to enter the rear race track tail light and is not covered under warranty. Once the water fills the light the LED goes out and must be replaced for safety (has not gone out on mine yet). My lights are sealed and there is no damage to them yet there is water entering the inside of the lights. I am unable to see if the water enters the lights during motion or when stationary.”

   NHTSA complaint #11071989, filed 2018-02, 21,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Vehicle moves or rolls while reportedly in Park

   • 23 complaints (14%)
   • median 20,715 mi at 2.3 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Several owners describe the vehicle rolling or moving forward or backward after they shifted into Park and exited, sometimes on a driveway slope and sometimes with the engine off. Others say the rotary gear selector allowed an unintended change of gear, or that the vehicle would not go into Park or Reverse until it was restarted. Complaints also describe difficulty selecting Reverse and a check engine light along with it. In several accounts the vehicle struck a garage, another vehicle or an embankment. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles) to about 78,000 miles, and often on sloped driveways or when parking.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a test drive, practice selecting Park, Reverse and Drive slowly and confirm the selector detents clearly and the cluster shows the correct gear. Always set the parking brake and ask whether any gear selector or transmission software work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned the 2016 Dodge Durango since august of 2016. In that time, there have been two cases where I stopped the car, thought I put it in park, thought I turned it off, and exited the vehicle. When I came back to it, I found that it was still running and still in drive. The only reason it wasn't moving was because I always set the parking brake. I think there is a serious design flaw with the transmission on this car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10970491, filed 2017-04, 15,000 miles

   “Computer/transmission issues. Car broke down and could not put in park because the computer thought my speed was too high even though I was standing still. Once the car was towed to the dealer it moved forward while it was in park. (video evidence) in a previous incident the car was placed in park and not turned off. I exited the vehicle with the engine still running. The car idled forward on its own damaging a garage and the car itself. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10898192, filed 2016-08, 654 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or braking at low speed

   • 18 complaints (11%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 1.2 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Several owners describe the vehicle accelerating on its own while pulling into a parking space or while reversing, with braking required to stop it. Others report the brakes engaging without input at highway speed, or that cruise control did not disengage when the brake was applied. Some complaints concern the forward collision warning system not providing the alerts or braking described in the owner materials, with dealers saying they could not test the system. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 102,000 miles, typically during parking maneuvers or steady highway driving.

   What to check: During a test drive, try low-speed parking maneuvers in a clear area and check that the brake pedal disengages cruise control promptly. Ask whether any collision-avoidance or speed control faults have been reported or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fcw does not work as explained in the Dodge manual. No warning to brake or brake jolt or stop of the vehicle. All I get from Dodge dealers 4 of them is we can't test the system and you can run into the car in front of you. I have it set on the most set on the most sensitive setting. This system is according to the manual work under 25mph to 1mph. The adaptive cruise works as described. I called there 1-800 number and all I get is the run around and that they can't test it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10966654, filed 2017-03, 9,000 miles

   “Autonomous acceleration. The vehicle without driver assist accelerated twice when pulling into parking spots. In both cases I was making a left turn into a parking spot when the acceleration commenced. Only by standing on the brake while at same time placing the vehicle in park and pressing engine off button was I able to stop vehicles forward motion. The Durango came close to ramming parked car in the space in front of the one I was pulling into. Durango had approx. 3000 miles on odometer when the 2 incidents of acceleration occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916715, filed 2016-10, 3,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Stalling, loss of power and no-start electrical faults

   • 20 complaints (12%)
   • median 51,800 mi at 4.2 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at a stop light or in an intersection, sometimes with many dashboard warnings lighting up at once, then a failure to restart. In some accounts the ignition went to accessory mode while driving and the cluster asked the driver to shift to Park. Others report the vehicle dying completely and not responding to a jump start, with the alternator and battery testing as serviceable or replaced without resolving it. One complaint notes a dealer diagnosis of a power module (TIPM) failure that recurred after repair. Reported from about 36,000 to 122,000 miles, sometimes shortly after purchase of a used vehicle.

   Recall 18V3320001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has had any stalling or no-start events and whether battery, alternator and power module repairs were performed. Confirm the electrical software recall has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Durango stalled in middle of intersection. Unable to start and vehicle was towed to local mechanic. Mechanic stated the issues involves the alternator and it has affected the battery and we are still waiting to see if the PCM was affected. Mechanic advised me that he worked on the same year chrysler and had the same exact issue, but the alternator in that model was recalled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11403752, filed 2021-03, 49,000 miles

   “While driving my 2016 Dodge Durango limited, my check engine light came on, then the (ABS) light came on and then my battery light came on. Every light on the dash and system warning was lit up. Then they started flickering and then the vehicle died right in the middle of a busy city road during peak traffic. I have replaced the batteries thinking that may have something to do with it. I have had the alternator checked and it is good. I had to get it towed to my house and has been sitting ever sense with no power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366958, filed 2020-10, 122,000 miles

Buying note. Check the rear tail lamp bar carefully for water intrusion and confirm all rear lighting works, since replacement is costly. Also verify the vehicle holds in Park on a slope, feel for low-speed transmission lurching on a test drive, and ask for proof that open recalls and any electrical software updates 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.