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2015 Dodge Durango Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2015 Dodge Durango carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering wiring and radio/tape deck/cd etc.. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Rear racetrack taillight water intrusion.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign #18V332000 · May 17, 2018

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

Campaign #15V461000 · Jul 23, 2015

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems.

Risk: Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ or take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R40.

SUSPENSION:REAR

Campaign #15V469000 · Jul 27, 2015

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured June 12, 2015, to June 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with rear lower control arms that may have been incorrectly heat treated. This may cause the rear lower control arm to fracture.

Risk: If the rear lower control arm fractures it may result in a change in ride height, loss of rear end stability, and reduced braking capabilities, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R38. Note: This supersedes Recall No. 15V-407.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Campaign #16V168000 · Mar 23, 2016

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured December 9, 2015, to January 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the left front brake caliper may crack due to being made from an incorrect material.

Risk: A cracked brake caliper may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper and depending on its casting date, replace it, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S16.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2015 Dodge Durango.

Reported to NHTSA

Rear racetrack taillight water intrusion

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

47 NHTSA complaints · 2020-08 → 2026-01

“The rear 'race track' tail lights fail to light or are dim in lower sections of the assembly installed on the rear tailgate. Water enters the assembly over time and collects in the lower sections of the assembly causing the installed LED's and circuitry in those sections to fail”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11576902
“Sections of LED brake light/race track light has stopped working due to water intrusion in rear panel. Back panel is not secured properly, allowing water to enter, corrode the harness and lights to fail. Due to this, the license plate harness & connectors are corroded as well”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11609500
“Water has gotten into the tail light housing and caused the light to go out…a $1300 part. Water intrusion has been long documented in these model year Durangos, with no recall ever issued”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11443385

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine ticking from rocker arm and lifter wear

ENGINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2020-09 → 2025-04

“Audible ticking noise from valve train. Upon further inspection a discovered a damaged roller follower. Cause of damage was the failure of the needle bearings within the roller follower”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11567069
“There is a ticking sound coming from my engine. The dealer told me I need to replace my rocker arms”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11435319
“Oil Filter Housing Cracked resulting in a major oil leak . My vehicle just turned 125,000 miles. it ended up with an engine knock and needing to replace all of the lifters”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11653118

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt retractor and buckle failure

SEAT BELTS

14 NHTSA complaints · 2021-03 → 2025-05

“First noticed the seat belt not retracting completely on the driver seat. When buckled the seatbelt feels loose and when unbuckling it has to be physically moved to the side to be able to exit vehicle. This issue has started happening on the front passenger seat as well”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11448551
“One seatbelt failed completely, refused to retract. The other one is failing”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11507555
“THE PLASTIC SLEEVE ABOVE THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAS CRACKED, PINCHING THE SEAT BELT IN TURN AND MAKING THE BELT ITSELF UNABLE TO RETRACT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11399968

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Active head restraint deployment without impact

SEATS

76 NHTSA complaints · 2020-07 → 2026-06

“The driver's side head rest deployed while I was driving on the highway without any collision and struck me in the back of the head hard. I did experience some whiplash symptoms for a few days as was confirmed by my chiropractor doctor”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11701573
“While the vehicle was parked and not in operation, the passenger-side active head restraint suddenly deployed forward on its own. There was no collision, no braking event, no external force, and no warning lamps, messages or other systems of the problem or that it was going to…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11707352
“The active head restraint deployed without a crash or rear impact. The plastic part that holds a metal pin has broken”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11450935

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump and relay failure causing no-start

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

10 NHTSA complaints · 2020-10 → 2026-03

“The fuel pump system has failed. The vehicle will turn over but will not start, it tries to start but keeps dying out as it’s cranking over”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11727199
“Vehicle will not starts (even though it cranks). The problem as with previous model year Durangos is the Fuel Pump Relay (FPR) inside the Total Integrated Power Module (TIPM)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11444887
“Vehicle came to an abrupt stop on road. I was unable to get my vehicle into neutral or drive to safely move my vehicle to the side of the road. After several failed attempts to restart my vehicle, a tow truck company had to tow my vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11433242

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vehicle fire attributed to electrical system

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2025-08 → 2026-04

“My Durango was sitting for 2days and caught on fire.Started in the rear back of the truck on the passenger side. Fire Dept said it was Electrical and 10,000 dollars of damage”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11690903
“The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact returned to the vehicle to retrieve a work bag from the trunk. The contact noticed that there was smoke inside the vehicle, and flames were coming from underneath the front passenger's side seat”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11679862

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 4 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

29 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

26

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2015 Dodge Durango reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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