AI Damage2016 Dodge Durango: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Dodge Durango filed 161 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. The maker issued 199 service bulletins for this year. We found 3 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 161
- involving a crash
- 23
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 199
- YouTube repair videos
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 4% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 53 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electrical system: 40 complaints (25% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 56.
- Powertrain: 30 complaints (19% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
- Engine: 16 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 29.
- Vehicle speed control: 9 complaints (6% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 161 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 53 | 0 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 40 | 2 | 56 |
| Powertrain | 30 | 10 | 24 |
| Engine | 16 | 0 | 29 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 | 30 |
| Air bags | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| Suspension | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that his daughter was in the passenger seat when she activated the push start button and the vehicle rolled backward while in the park position. The contact's daughter got out of the vehicle midway while it was rolling backward and sustained scrapes to her knees and elbows.
I was pulling in the driveway and put the car in drive to pull into the garage and it jerked hitting te garage. Took the truck in for a wheel alignement and couldnt drive back was told to send car to dealership
While reversing turning the steering wheel, the lower control arm broke causing the tire to come off and causing a collision.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a fractured back. The contact's wife sustained third degree burns to the right side and back. The contact's son sustained a whiplash. Everyone received medical attention. A police report was filed. The police towed the vehicle to an unknown lot.
While the vehicle was engaged in park, it rolled back and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries while running after the vehicle and bruised both knees. Medical attention was not received.
I was saved by my seat belt and the air bags. I can only estimate my speed at the time of collision to be between 40 or 50 mph, as my cruise control was set at 62 mph
While driving to the dealer the voltage continued to drop and the radio turned off and would not turn back on. When I arrived at the dealership the voltage was at ~10.1 volts.
Furthermore, this vehicle has been into the dealer's 5 times for headliner issues which included interior lights not working, rear ac vents not working, pinched wires in the wiring harness and airbag lights on.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 401 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Durango has 94 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 161, above average.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot
Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- COOLER - ENGINE OIL
- Power Liftgate Inoperative
- Power Liftgate Inoperative Or Intermittently Will Not Open Or Close
- Memory Seat Does Not Work There Is No Response from The Seat While Pressing the Memory Seat Profiles from…
Memory Seat Does Not Work There Is No Response from The Seat While Pressing the Memory Seat Profiles from the Switch Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1D9B-54- Seat Horizontal Front Stop Not Learned-Missing Calibration
- Flash
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)…
- The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following…
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may…
- Active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1A10-00, B1A11-00, B1A12- 00, B1A13-00-, B1A14-00, B1A15-00,…
Active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1A10-00, B1A11-00, B1A12- 00, B1A13-00-, B1A14-00, B1A15-00, B1A16-00, and B1A17-00 in The Radio Frequency Hub (RFH)
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)…
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning…
- SPEAKER - NONE
- ISOLATOR - ENGINE MOUNT
- EVAPORATOR - AIR CONDITIONING & CORE - HEATER
NHTSA lists 199 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Dodge Durango?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: exterior lighting, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 161. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (24%), warning lights, check engine (11%), rollaway, parking brake (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Dodge Durango?
NHTSA lists 199 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Dodge Durango from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.