2019 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Dodge Durango most often report rear lighting failures, especially water getting into the wraparound rear light bar and corner lamps and leaving the rear lights or license-plate lights out. A second large group of complaints covers electrical oddities, including battery drain, flickering dashboards after bumps, and messages such as "service shifter" or "power steering unavailable." Brake and ABS complaints are also common and are often tied to the ABS module recalls, with several owners saying recall parts were not available when they needed them.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Water in rear light bar and corner lamps

   • 38 complaints (26%)
   • median 71,500 mi at 3.9 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners describe water pooling inside the wraparound rear light bar and the rear corner lamp assemblies, after which the LEDs short out or stop working, and in some cases the license-plate lights go out too. Several say the lenses were never cracked or damaged and that the leak comes from the gaskets or seals. According to complaints, dealers quote large replacement costs for the full assemblies, and some owners report the repair was not covered. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 130,000 miles in the sample, often noticed after rain, and some owners found it within the first few years of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the rear light bar and both corner lamps for condensation, water lines or dark spots, and confirm all rear running lights, brake lights and license-plate lights work. Ask whether any rear lamp assembly has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear light bar (race track bar) does not illuminate. Seems to be a common issue among Durango's. My rear light visibility is low now due to it being out for night driving. It also failed the two license plate lights to work which is required by MN Statute (law). I could be pulled over and issued a citation due to the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11664656, filed 2025-06

   “The rear marker lights which are LED have shorted and are now inoperative. So at night I no longer have any rear running lights. Also the license plate lights are out. Dealer charged me $254.00 to diagnose the failed complaint and and found that the rear racetrack light and passenger rear corner light needs replaced. The estimate of repair is $254.00 for diagnosis and $2746.26 for rear race track light and pas rear corner light assembly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11664799, filed 2025-06
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS module and brake-light faults

   • 33 complaints (23%)
   • median 66,150 mi at 5.6 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the brake lights staying on while parked or driving, ABS and stability-control warning lights, messages about the trailer brake system, and on some vehicles the ability to shift out of park without pressing the brake pedal. Several owners say dealers diagnosed the ABS hydraulic control unit or module, and a few report the problem came back after repair. Others say they were notified of the ABS module recalls but parts were not available. Spread from about 20,000 to 130,000 miles in the sample, appearing both while parked and while driving.

   Recall 24V838000Recall 22V426000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 22V426000 and 24V838000 were completed and get documentation. With the vehicle on, walk around and confirm the brake lights are not stuck on, and check that the shifter will not leave Park without the brake pedal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the messages Service Trailer Braking System and Auto Disabled Traction Control was displayed and the brake light and ABS light remained illuminated. Additionally, the driver was able to shift the gear shifter from park(P) without depressing the brake pedal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11486707, filed 2022-09, 31,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the 4-Wheel Drive and traction control warning lights were flashing and had become permanently illuminated. The contact stated that the electronic stability control was inoperable. The contact stated that while her husband was driving and approaching a red traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle slowly responded, became difficult to control, and was swerving across the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11678484, filed 2025-08, 56,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling or shutting off while driving

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 36,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving or on a grade, sometimes with no warning lights, and occasionally failing to restart right away. Some owners link the shutdown to the TIPM or electrical supply, and a few mention a dealer finding a vacuum or EVAP leak alongside a check engine light. Others report overheating and coolant leaks found after a stall. Reported from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles on a few vehicles) up to about 80,000 miles, both at low speed and on the highway.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records covering any stalling, check engine light or TIPM work, and have a scan tool check for stored codes. Confirm cooling-system repairs such as radiator or coolant tube work were done if the vehicle has higher miles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 4.17.19 while I am driving the car with my family ( 3 people ) from lima linda to rancho cucamonga , we had total 3 x episodes of the engine off suddenly without giving warning at all. What really scare us the car stop at all sudden due to engine off when we are driving on freeway 10.”

   NHTSA complaint #11197060, filed 2019-04, 15 miles

   “My car completely shut off on me while taking a right turn into my driveway. It died at the end of my driveway. It turned back on after I put it in park and restarted the engine. Thankfully this did not happen on a busy road in town or on a highway. When I also turn my car on, my stereo sometimes work and sometimes doesn't . It does this a lot. Is any one having the same issues? My car has just a little over 11k miles and shouldn't be having this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329447, filed 2020-06, 11,100 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and start/stop warning

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the start/stop charging warning lamp coming on, repeat battery replacements, and vehicles that will not start without a jump after sitting. Some describe slow restarts or repeated anti-theft code prompts, and a few traced the drain to settings such as headlight delay rather than a failed battery. A start/stop feature that hesitates when pulling away is also described. Mostly reported between roughly 18,000 and 60,000 miles, often after the vehicle sits or on daily-driven vehicles with the original battery.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check battery age and condition, ask whether the battery or intelligent battery sensor has been replaced, and see whether the start/stop warning lamp appears on a cold start or after the vehicle sits for a few days.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every 2000 miles, vehicle won’t and keeps asking me for an anti-theft code. I have had it serviced at least 7 times and I have not had the vehicle a year. Every time I take it in they just replaced the battery and the battery cell and it works fine for about a month then it shuts down again”

   NHTSA complaint #11420727, filed 2021-06

   “Started receiving an auto start error message on the dash. Then after long drives vehicle would not start up without a jump. Went to test battery and it failed while connected to vehicle. I bought a new battery, I installed it, and then tested it and failed the test. I then checked the old battery (not connected) and it past. Which means there a parasitic battery drain. I then changed the engine off and the headlight delay settings to 0, and tested the connected battery and it passed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11632652, filed 2024-12
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Power steering assist messages and loss of assist

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a "power steering unavailable, need service" message and sudden loss of steering assist, in some cases with the wheel becoming hard to turn while driving. Complaints say dealers sometimes reset the system when the message would not reappear, and one owner reported the steering rack needed replacement but was on back order. Reported between roughly 8,000 and 40,000 miles in the sample, with the message sometimes appearing intermittently over several days.

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering message has ever appeared and whether the steering rack or related module was replaced. During a test drive, check that steering assist is consistent at low speed and while turning.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On my way to labor & delivery, my steering wheel locked up, a light and message came on that said, power steering unavailable . I could not turn left or right and since I was already turning left when it locked up and went straight, I nearly hit all the cars parked on the side of the street. When I left the hospital, the light was off. A week later, the light came back on and stayed on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11413259, filed 2021-04, 38,000 miles

   “While visiting mississippi from indiana, in july, I kept getting a power steering unavailable need service . I called and was going to take it to a shop there but the message went away the next day. We made it back home to indiana and I immediately made an appointment and dropped my vehicle off. They called the next day and said the message never came up for them, so they reset the system to prevent it from happening. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11348939, filed 2020-08, 16,000 miles

Buying note. A 2019 Durango can be a reasonable buy, but check the rear lighting for water damage, confirm both ABS module recalls were completed with paperwork, and test the battery and start/stop system. Ask for service records on any stalling, check engine light or power steering work before committing.

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.