repaired · 2022 Q3
Electrical system
Risk. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
2012 Dodge DurangoProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 640 owner complaints about the 2012 Dodge Durango, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-813 the manufacturer reports only 41% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Dodge Durango has problems
640 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
347Electrical system35 crash/fire/injury
141Engine7 crash/fire/injury
89Fuel/propulsion system
71Service brakes5 crash/fire/injury
42Steering
37Power train
28Air bags
24Vehicle speed control
19Exterior lighting
8618 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 347 | 35 |
| Engine | 141 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 89 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 71 | 5 |
| Steering | 42 | 3 |
| Power train | 37 | 2 |
| Air bags | 28 | 10 |
| Vehicle speed control | 24 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 19 | 2 |
| 18 other systems | 86 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2012 Dodge Durango recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q1
Service brakes
Risk. If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Risk. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2016 Q4
Electrical system
Risk. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Risk. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Service brakes
Risk. The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Risk. If the driver experiences a hard brake pedal, the driver may not push the pedal as intended, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing…
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
71kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 261 electrical system complaints. 74% were reported before 100,000 miles.
17under 30k miles192under 100k miles69100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
17 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $900 – $1,281
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Durango year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Durango median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Dodge Durango safety ratings
2012 Dodge Durango SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 3 stars (21.2% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Dodge Durango, and the recalls they led to.
- Totally Integrated Power Module FailureNo recall
- Headliner FiresLed to recall 14V-391
- Headliner FiresNo recall
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent DeploymentNo recall
- Post 14V-391 Headliner FiresLed to recall 15V-879
In owners' words
What Durango owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The component or system failed or malfunctioned, is the accelerator, brakes, stirring and electrical. The car is available for inspection upon your request. The car is having problems coming to a stop and it is very difficult to control the vehicle because the steering becomes so hard when the…
Vehicle was unable to start upon attempts in the morning. Was able to get it jumped and started. Less than 5 minutes later the dash lights along with radio lights began to flicker, the front windshield wipers activated, and the battery light came on. Immediately after the vehicle completely…
We were driving on the interstate in northern Kentucky when the battery alert LED appeared on the dash. We exited the highway while looking up info on possible car repair shops to go to when the vehicle stalled on the exit ramp. We immediately engaged the emergency flashers but they failed…
Own a 2012 Durango?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.