general problems of the 2004 Dodge Durango

Vehicle switching into 4lock without indication on dash or warning of when it will happen. Svc light coming on and off often at low speeds turning the vehicle is unpredictable and dangerous to drive due to the additional gas that needs to be applied to get the car to move. . . It then just suddenly lets go.

While I was driving the 4 wheel drive turns on and off automatically 1 time in a parking lot going 5 mph and the 2 and time driving 30 mph. The wheels felt like they locked up had to pull to the side of the road.

About a week ago my alternator and battery had to be replaced, a day or two after I had them replaced I was pulling out onto a state road and I heard something got crunched, so I stopped and got out ans looked and nothing. Got back in rhe car and put it in drive and I looked down at my dash and heart something trying to engage and on mh dash my svc 4wd light started flashing. . Im not sure how ro fix it or what to do, it does it quite frequently. I opened the trunk and heard it trying to engage. Stopped at a stop light, I can hear it trying to engage to 4 wd. I have been looking into thia and I see several consumers have had the same issues. It seems Dodge should beable to come up with a permanent fix, but no recalls yet. . . My main concern is, what happens if im doing 80 mps on the freeway and it tries to engage into 4low?? thank you for your time!!.

The vehicle randomly switches from awd to 4wd lock, does not seem to be any one thing that causes it. Also have looked up hundreds of other reports on this from other people. Everyone says that Dodge dealers claim they have never heard this before. Bullshit. Dodge is trying not to have to do a recall. That is obvious. Shame on Dodge.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle jerked and automatically engaged into four-wheel drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Car has a new engine and third water pump. It failed after 5000 miles and engulfed in flames causing the failure of the belt, tensioner, main drive pulley and ac compressor. Today Dodge just recalled these pumps for the very same reason bearing failure and super hot conditions causing fires and failure. I was just redriving along the truck has been running well and showed no signs of issues, no noise, smell, lights or struggle. Car was at normal opperating tempurture and daytime traffic. Stopped for gas stayed for a couple minutes then drive on, within two miles without any warning or noise the car started smoking pulled over and smelled a rubber notices no leaks in the water delivery system oil, trans, or power steering, the belt was red hot and smelled like a house fire car was taken 200 yards to pep boys and repaired at the cost of $1300. Should not happen with 5000 miles on the water pump and 20,0000 on a new engine.

I have an awd vehicle. This vehicle has a knob that you can switch to go to 4 lock. My truck has been shifting into this mode all by itself. This is very dangerous as when it does the vehicle kind of locks up and becomes very difficult/impossible to move. I have 4 children and this is our main vehicle that we use. This is ridiculous. When researching this issue, there are a ton of complaints for the same thing. Dodge needs to take responsibility and fix this issue before someone gets hurt. This has happened to me on more than one occasion. Has happened at high speed, low speed, and stationary.

While driving, the 4wd engages on its own and will not get out of position. It is stuck in 4wd. "svc 4wd" light on the dash appears. Tried doing a battery reset and the problem persists.

Truck svc 4wd light on. Truck goes into 4lo by itself while I'm driving. Later when I went out in truck svc. 4wd is off I get to stoplight & I feel a loud thud like I'm being hit from behind. Now svc. 4wd light stays on & car is hard to turn.

Awd truck puts itself into 4 wd for no reason. Causes vehicle to become hard to drive. This is rediculous. Tons of complaints of the exact same issue on forums. Does it while just idling in park and while driving down the road. Very dangerous, especially with my 4 kids in the car!.

Dodge Durango limited 4x4 engages 4 wheel drive randomly on the freeway at high speeds, without being told to. This is a huge safety issues and I see many people complain about it online.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the 4-wheel drive engaged independently without warning. As a result of the failure, the wheels locked and it was extremely hard to make any turns. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving at approximately 70 mph, the four wheel drive engaged independently. The vehicle shook violently, veered to the right, and the service four wheel drive warning indicator illuminated intermittently. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was an open short in the electrical system that needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Started car for first time after bad rainstorm over weekend. Heard very loud clanging noise. Hole in oil pan, oil leaked out everywhere. After taking apart the motor, service center discovered a rod shaft had sheared in half and shot through the engine block and oil pan. Discovered it was caused by water getting into engine through spark plugs. Because of this, the warranty company won't cover an engine replacement. We have taken in this vehicle to same service station before over the two years we have owned it because it would stall while driving in bad rainstorm. Could never find a problem. Read a lot of articles online attributing all of this to a design flaw in the hood of this vehicle. I know we are not the only owners of a 2004 Dodge Durango who have experienced this. Something needs to be done to resolve the design flaw and compensate us for having to replace an engine that, apart from being in a poorly designed car, is otherwise in great condition.

Noticed the svc 4wd light came on on the dash board and then the vehicle's rear wheels locked when making a tight turn into a parking space. The vehicle stopped and was unable to move as if brake had been applied very hard. Unplugged the battery for about a minute to allow the system to reset. The svc 4wd light doesn't come on. However, the vehicle still locks its rear wheels when making a tight turn into a parking space.

The vehicle goes into random 4 wheel drive at various speeds. The problem is intermittent. This is clearly a safety issue while changing lanes or making turns. The 4 lock ,svc 4wd and 4 lo also will randomly flash. Clearly, there are a lot of the same reported issues. Its frustration to know of a potential safety issue and no one will address it. Some type of user advisory should be issued.

When turning at low speed the wheels locked up and could not move.

Had driven truck earlier in day had no issues at all. Drove and sounded like it always did!! went to start it that evening to get daughter from school event and it made a horrible noise and wouldn't start! mechanic said it was starter. After 2 days of waiting for a starter that noone keeps in stock! put it on and nothing! mechanic said it was stuck flywheel. He got it to turn over but the motor was knocking very loud!! now I'm without a car because I do not have the money for a new motor!!.

Vehicle started to run a little rough. Wife was at a stop light accelerated upon green and heard a loud noise and a jerk. She nursed it home about a mile or so. Pulled into the driveway and shut it off and oil was everywhere. I looked around and discovered a hole in the engine block behind the passenger side tire about the size of my fist. Have had the Durango since it was brand new. Its always ran great. We love our Durango. Very upset that this happened. We do not have much money to spare at months end, but we needed a car so we were forced to go buy another. Would like to maybe get the Durango fixed. But that might take a little while to get the money now. Be nice if Chrysler could send me a new engine or something. I have owned a total of 5 Chrysler brand vehicles.

Similar to all other complaints I read. Was driving the vehicle during rain, engine started ticking. Stopped and had it towed to mechanic. Bent rod and busted piston.

Goes in and out of 4 wheel drive by itself.

Auto drove properly previous day, started the engine at 6pm and it sounded like rocks in the engine. A puddle of oil was visible underneath the parked SUV. Car has been properly cared for, no warning lights on the dashboard oil, engine light - just loud clanking and not drivable. Edmunds and other auto information complaints are exactly like ours. This issue has been fixed in the 05 models but not in the 04. . Read more...

My truck goes in and out of 4wd on its own. Truck can be on, off, driving, parked, it doesn't matter. Apparently a lot of others are having this issue as well.

I've owned my 2004 Dodge Durango 5. 7 hemi since 2005. With only 151,960 miles - taking excellent care and pride in it, the #7 rod has been bent. Water has somehow gotten into my motor causing all kinds of issues. Within the past year, it has had issues running hot, running poorly when it rains and rough idle on occasion. After sitting for 24 hours, I went out to crank it and it jumped (I thought a small animal had crawled into my motor) and it shut off. I then re-cranked it and it sounds like a sewing machine. I had to have it towed and am now looking at $4000 for another motor. I've have researched the internet and am totally blown away at the others having the issues with the same exact make and model of vehicle. This is something Chrysler should make right. I am a single mother and live week to week, I can not afford to do this, but I have to. Working full time, caring for a 10 year old and now applying for a part-time job is what this extra expense is causing me to do. I think someone should do something - if I win the lottery, you best believe I will. Chrysler do the right thing. . . . This is happening too much and is a defect - no doubt. Toyota did a recall - maybe if I'm ever to buy another vehicle, atleast they would make it right. *kicks soapbox*.

At 93000 miles wheel indicator light stays on replaced tire at normal time to change,but light does not go out. . Also having other inside problems, engine is making bad noises, wipers don't work half the time ,air conditioner not blowing cool air even having it fix with freeon ,center panel over heats. Air bag light come on and off while driving with no one else in truck.

I have a 2004 Dodge Durango slt in which the engine stalls and the vehicle cuts off. This normally occurs when braking, deceleration, traffic lights, low speeds. Also the passenger seat airbag is not working according to the visual lighted display in that area. I recently purchased this vehicle this year.

The problems with the vehicle started with a battery issue, my wife went to get in the SUV and all of the lights came on as normal, when she put the key into the ignition to start it everything shut off and the dash panel lights started flickering. We had the vehicle towed to Dodge dealership and they told us that the battery was dead and we had it replaced. Two days after picking the vehicle up my wife went to make a legal u-turn and the vehicle shut off, in the process of the u-turn she pulled into the gas station and re-started the vehicle since then it has happened three other times, most recently she made a right at a stop sign onto a busy intersection, and almost got rear ended at 60mph because her vehicle cut off in the middle of a turn. Luckily the driver behind her was able to swerve into the next lane to avoid hitting her.

Have no clue as to why or what actually causes this failure, but the gear shift will all of a sudden and unexpectedly lock up when taking the running vehicle out of park . This has occurred a various times through out the past year, not showing any real reason or consistency with weather, or other elements playing as a factor for this to occur. One would go to pull the gear shift down and it just was as if it was jammed or locked, during these past times of occurring tried turning the car off and back on, or just releasing the brake and pressing back it (sometimes several times) and it would all of sudden move and allow it to go into gear, until the other day this happened and upon entering the running vehicle and going to place it into gear the gear shifting cable broke. The vehicle is being taken to the garage to have the cable replaced.

During medium/heavy rain the engine stalls badly or completely dies. Also happens during car washes, though not a safety issue then- just aggravating! :( restarts only after rain subsides. This creates a very dangerous driving condition- for myself and those vehicles around me. My research shows this is a very common problem for this vehicle. Despite countless complaints, it appears Dodge has refused to acknowledge or address it for several years, alienating many previously loyal customers (this was a very popular SUV). The factory waranty was expired/near to expire when most of us began to experience this so we had little recourse. As my vehicle was purchased new and has low miles for its age, I plan to keep it for the foreseeable future- circumstances permitting. . . Thank you for letting me post my concern here! I hope something can be done to correct this very serious issue. Long overdue! step up Chrysler and stand behind your product. Thank you again for giving attention to my concern. :).

2004 Dodge Durango 5. 7 hemi engine limited 4x4 engine stalls when I slow down to stop or make a turn, loss or power steering and brakes. It is only a matter of time before someone gets into a serious accident. This problem is well documented on the internet. Recall needed.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. Once the vehicle is started, the contact is unable to depress the brake pedal. The vehicle jumps into gear and moves forward without warning. There are no recalls for this failure. The dealer stated that the repairs would be the contact's responsibility. The failure mileage was 52,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Durango. While driving 10 mph, the gear shift sticks while approaching a stop. The failure makes it difficult to stop the vehicle. The failure has occurred four times within a six month period. The first time the vehicle was taken to the dealer, they stated that the braking system failed. A new master cylinder was installed, which temporarily repaired the failure; however, the failure recurred six weeks later. She took the vehicle back to the dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure. The contact currently has an appointment with the dealer to further inspect the vehicle. The VIN and recall number were unknown. The failure mileage was 5,000 and current mileage was 32,000.

Parked in the driveway which is on a slight upward incline with car running, unloading groceries while kids were watching a video. After 15 minutes I reached in through the passenger side to turn off the ignition and the car released out of park, rolling down the driveway, hit a tree and mailbox. Vehicle was 'clicking' the entire way down the driveway.