2022 Dodge Durango Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often complain about exterior lighting, especially a driver-side daytime running light or headlight LED that stops working, and about water getting into the rear taillight assemblies. A second cluster of reports covers long or failed starts, stalling and overheating tied to the fuel and cooling systems, and transmission or shifter problems that can stop the vehicle from engaging drive. Many complaints are filed under about 60,000 miles, but several lighting and fuel-system reports come in much earlier, sometimes within the first year.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Driver-side daytime running light / headlight LED failure

   • 22 complaints (37%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the LED daytime running light strip, usually on the driver side, going dark with no warning message or code, and the same happening to headlights or turn signals built into the same assembly. Owners say the LED cannot be replaced on its own, so the dealer quotes a whole new headlight assembly, and several report being told it is not covered by warranty or that no recall applies. A few note repeated replacements. Reported from very low mileage up past 85,000 miles, with many owners noting failures well under 30,000 miles.

   What to check: With the engine running, walk around the vehicle and confirm the driver-side daytime running light strip, headlight and turn signal all illuminate. Ask whether any headlight assembly has already been replaced and under what coverage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I don't understand this vehicle is still fairly new and my daytime running light on the driver side stop working for some reason and I don't understand I also noticed all the lighting system in the rear all has water in it now I'm worried is all the lighting in this car going to go bad because I see it in a lot of cars out here on the road. I tried everything in the settings I've tried everything”

   NHTSA complaint #11708944, filed 2026-01

   “The vehicle suffers some type of known issue that is causing a driver's side daytime running light failure. From all the research I have done and forums I have read, this is ALWAYS the driver's side failure. The manufacturer can offer no solution to this when questioned about it other than offering up a complete headlight assembly at over 2000 dollars. The LED lighting that fails is non replaceable and non repairable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11683561, filed 2025-08
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Water in rear taillight bar (racetrack light)

   • 9 complaints (15%)
   • median 31,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners report moisture collecting inside the full-width rear light bar and rear lights, followed by flickering or complete loss of illumination, and in one case a corroded license plate light found at a service visit. According to complaints, dealers have said the issue is known but not covered once warranty ends, and the fix is replacing the whole rear assembly. Some owners also mention sharp edges on the inner corners of the taillight housings when loading cargo. Reported on vehicles from roughly one year old upward, including a case discovered at about 31,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the rear light bar and both taillights for condensation, water droplets or dark spots, and check that all rear lamps light up; ask whether the rear assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2022 Dodge Durango. During normal loading and unloading of cargo with the liftgate open, I have sustained three separate lacerations to my forearm and wrist from the exposed, sharp inside corners of the rear taillight assemblies. The injuries have occurred on both the driver-side and passenger-side taillights during ordinary use of the cargo area. Each incident resulted from simply reaching into or removing items from the rear cargo area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11753150, filed 2026-07

   “Taillight is retaining water and causing my taillights to go out. This is a very well known issue as the dealer was aware of this issue with a lot of Durangos. The dealer offered no repair as there’s not be a recall and the warranty on my Durango is up. My rear hatch/lift gate is also off and rubbing near the bottom causing the paint to be worn and now beginning to rust. There’s are definitely a quality issue with Dodge as there’s many other Durango’s affected by this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11758942, filed 2026-08
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Long crank, hard starting and stalling

   • 14 complaints (23%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cranking for many seconds before catching, or failing to start on the first attempt and starting normally on the second, sometimes with a fuel smell afterwards. Some report the engine cutting out while driving at speed with no warning, and one owner mentions difficulty filling the tank. Several say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or found nothing wrong. Reported across a wide mileage range, from near-new vehicles to well past 50,000 miles; no clear weather pattern in the sample.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the engine from cold and note how long it cranks, and try a second start after a short drive. Service bulletins describe a fuel pressure test and inspection of the fuel pump connector for these symptoms, so ask whether either was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel System- Had the Durango 1 month spent 50k. At least 50% of the vehicle attempted starts fail. The second attempt the vehicle starts every time. Started researching this, this is very common on the newer Durango's as well as the older ones. I have a huge fear of being stranded and the cost associated with that. I had it looked at the dealer I bought it from and they could not replicate the problem, however when I got into leave it did it the first try. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11650816, filed 2025-03

   “Vehicle engine shut off while driving approximately 50mph. No prior issues or warning lamps. The failure happened without any warning. I had over half a tank of fuel at the time of the stall. Loss of engine propulsion is extremely dangerous as I was in rush hour traffic on a major highway in Houston, TX. Luckily the stall occurred at an exit and I was able to safely get to a area to pull over. Dash read out said I needed to be in park to start the engine. Engine started without issue and I finished my drive home.”

   NHTSA complaint #11688282, filed 2025-09
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission drops to neutral or will not engage drive

   Mentioned in 4 of 54 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the transmission dropping into neutral while driving or after accelerating from a stop, and in other cases the shifter locking so the vehicle cannot be put into drive, at times with a no-start afterwards. One owner links it to improperly heat-treated shifter parts, similar to a prior shifter campaign. A service bulletin describes popping or grinding noises with intermittent no-reverse or no-forward engagement and worn output shaft splines. Reported on vehicles ranging from a few months old to higher mileage; the sample does not show a single mileage window.

   Recall 22V8660001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test shifting into drive and reverse several times, including after a cold start, and listen for popping or grinding. Ask whether the shifter assembly recall (22V866000) was completed and whether any transmission work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On Saturday, 04/23/2022, the Dodge Durango ran fine. I was able to back out of my driveway without incident around 12:00 PM and go to Walmart. I drove to the Sheetz gas station from Walmart and topped off the fuel tank because we wanted to take a family trip during the weekend. At 12:40 PM, I arrived back home, turned off the engine, and went inside my house to pick up my son. We entered the vehicle around 12:50 PM. I put my seatbelt on, put my foot on the brake pedal, and pushed the engine start button. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11461993, filed 2022-04

   “This is a dangerous random problem. In fact has now occurred 6 times. Two separate times 08/23/22 & 10/18/22 at a parking lot, while backing up, the gear shifter lit up, locked, and could not be engaged, and it wouldn't move. Both these 2 times it could not be put in drive and after shutting off the engine, it would not restart. The vehicle was blocking access and other vehicles passage for over an hour each time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11492647, filed 2022-11

Buying note. Check the exterior lighting carefully, especially the driver-side daytime running light and the rear light bar, since replacing a full assembly is expensive. Also cold-start the engine, test shifting through drive and reverse, and confirm any open recalls or service bulletins have been addressed before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.