2018 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango most often write about electrical problems: infotainment screens that blank, reset or lock onto the Dodge logo, weather pop-ups that cannot be turned off, and batteries that drain unexpectedly. Rear lighting is the second recurring theme — the racetrack light bar and license-plate lamps fill with water and stop working — with seat and headrest complaints and a group of brake-related reports rounding out the sample. Many of these appear at relatively low mileage, and complaints frequently describe repeated dealer visits without a lasting fix.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Tail light bar and rear lamps fill with water

   • 55 complaints (24%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe water collecting inside the rear racetrack light assembly and the license-plate lamps, after which sections of the LEDs stop working. Some owners say they noticed the failure after rain or a car wash, and a few were stopped by police for no rear lights. According to complaints, dealers typically quote replacement of the whole assembly, and parts have been reported as back-ordered. Spread from about 18,000 to 100,000 miles, with several reports in the 30,000 to 60,000 mile range.

   What to check: Look inside the rear light housing for condensation or water lines and check that every section of the rear bar and license-plate lamps lights up. Ask whether the assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was pulled over at night by a police officer for not having any rear lights. The officer informed me that he is always pulling Dodge Durango's over because this is a common problem that the lights fill up with water and the electrical components corrode and no longer function. This is a 2018 that did not pass a pa safety inspection in 2020 without paying $1,888.51 to replace the damaged parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11354127, filed 2020-09, 70,000 miles

   “The racetrack light bar (attached to the deck lid) has gotten water inside it, (it was this way when I bought it) and now the light is no longer working. This is a common problem on the Dodge Durango, as I have seen multiple people who are having this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405966, filed 2021-04, 39,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen blanks, resets or locks on logo

   • 49 complaints (21%)
   • median 12,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the Uconnect touchscreen going blank, freezing on the Dodge logo, or restarting on its own while driving. Climate controls, radio, navigation and the rear camera can become unavailable during these episodes, and some report a hot-wiring or burning smell at the same time. Complaints mention screen replacements and dealer visits without the problem going away. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 50,000 miles, though some appear under 20,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, try the screen through several functions and ask whether the radio has been replaced or updated. Note any repeated resets or delayed startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The display screen went completely off as if I was just turning on the car. You can't see anything in the display screen except for Dodge and also the volume button would not work. When this happens, I used have to turn of the vehicle and turn back on . Sometimes it works within the first try other times it takes several attempts.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330072, filed 2020-06, 48,784 miles

   “Since approximately 4,000 miles we have experience numerous electrical issues. Our back-up camera, navigation, radio, and A/C work intermittently. The dealer initially felt the battery was backfeeding the system causing a short. That was quickly changed and we are still just waiting for an answer. While parked overnight, one of the map lights came on and could not be turned off. The overhead control panel was replaced due to an open circuit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11139028, filed 2018-10, 11,763 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drains and vehicle will not start

   • 22 complaints (9%)
   • median 38,800 mi at 2.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the battery going flat overnight or after sitting, requiring a jump start or charger, and occasionally stalling while driving. In some cases dealers replaced batteries, starters or the power module without resolving the problem, and one complaint noted the auto start-stop feature stopped working. Others report unrelated electrical oddities such as interior lamps staying on. Mostly reported between about 12,000 and 40,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage.

   Recall 18V524000Recall 18V3320002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery has been replaced and whether any charging or battery-sensor bulletins were applied. Check that the vehicle starts cleanly after sitting and that the start-stop system works.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle would not start after sitting 45 minutes. Started after jump and died again next day. Recharged battery and it worked scan tool had three codes dead battery fog light switch and drivers door switch second issue is oil in the air box which the dealer is trying to resolve with a pcv valve. However this vehicle only has 39 k miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11388464, filed 2021-01, 39,000 miles

   “Parasitic draw on battery battery died suddenly and stays charged one or two days first time it was shut off for 30 minutes in park was jump started and operating second time sit overnight and battery was completely drained failed to jumpstart applied charger overnight and vehicle started this has been repeated 3 times automatic start system has not functioned since purchased 3 months ago”

   NHTSA complaint #11385556, filed 2020-12, 38,600 miles
4. 4
   Seats

   Front seat back or headrest moves unexpectedly

   • 25 complaints (11%)
   • median 48,525 mi at 4.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the front seat back reclining on its own while driving, and in other cases a front headrest deploying without any impact. Complaints describe the seat folding toward the rear unexpectedly and the headrest deploying with a loud noise, sometimes striking the occupant. In several cases the dealer or manufacturer declined repair, and one owner was told the seat had been forced. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 108,000 miles, with several cases between 20,000 and 85,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Sit in and operate both front seats through their full range, check the headrests sit normally, and ask whether either seat or headrest has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dogs in vehicle in front passenger side and rear passenger side. Dog in front may have come in contact with switch or control back\lombar seat rest opened to fold open to rear ( sleep position ) front back rest trapped and crushed dog sleeping on rear passenger side, required emergency stop on highway to attempt to locate seat switch in order to release dog from position. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11101459, filed 2018-06, 18,000 miles

   “The contact's wife owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the headrest deployed inadvertently and struck the contact in the back of the head. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road for a moment. There was no injury sustained. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11487213, filed 2022-09, 76,050 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake lights on, no start or hard shift out of Park

   • 19 complaints (8%)
   • median 22,500 mi at 3.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe brake lights staying lit, difficulty starting the vehicle, and the shifter refusing to move out of Park without pressing the brake hard. Some owners tie this to an ABS control module issue and mention a recall notice where parts were not yet available. Others report a loud pop or clunk when coming to a stop, or the brake pedal not responding as expected. Reported from about 8,000 miles up to roughly 65,000 miles.

   Recall 24V838000Recall 22V426000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V426000 or 24V838000 has been performed, check that the brake lights go out when the pedal is released, and confirm the shifter moves out of Park normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V83800(Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the brake lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting intermittently and would start after several attempts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11666560, filed 2025-06, 65,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brakes and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with HECU failure. The contact was informed that the HECU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V426000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) recall repair had been completed in 2023; however, the failure occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11616386, filed 2024-09, 30,000 miles

Buying note. Check the rear light assemblies for water and the infotainment screen for glitches on a test drive, and confirm any open ABS module or electrical recalls were completed. Service records showing battery, seat and radio repairs are worth reviewing before purchase.

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.