Transfer Case problems of the 2006 Dodge Durango

The 4wd svc light will come on at random while driving down the highway at various speeds. Sometimes it will be shifting into 4x4 on it's on and when I make a turn, I can feel the 4x4 working without ever physically turning it on. Other times, I can hear the transfer case motor making noise for about 2 seconds when I open the door or press the key fob button. I pulled a trouble code of c1404. Further research of this code and issue results in over 500 complaints online. It seems to be a common problem that should be fixed by the manufacturer before there is an accident. This just started on my 2006 Dodge Durango on 01/11/2021.

Transfer case motor actuator engages upon unlocking the doors using the wireless remote entry remote, also when using my trunk opening button from the remote sometimes the transfer case motor will actuate the truck will sometimes shift itself into 4 wheel lock and 4-wheel low sitting at a red light while I'm in drive this cannot happen at speed it creates an immediate safety concern because it can create a complete loss of power to the vehicle causing an imminent crash. By the transfer case engaging 4-wheel drive when the vehicle is at highway speeds it creates a violent collision between the transmission output shaft and the input shaft of the transfer case causing transmission and and transfer case failure and loss of power to the vehicle what can cause a collision this has been an ongoing issue for years from 2002 at least 2008 Dodge Durangos and Dodge rams I am a Ford stst senior master certified technician and I cannot believe that this issue has not been addressed by the government yet this is completely uncalled for and Dodge needs to be held responsible for the electrical problems related to this malfunction the problem lies within the electrical wiring in the module between the 4 wheel drive switch inside the cab of the truck and the body control module then it's splices off and piggybacks to the transfer case control module somewhere between those three legs there is a problem whether it be in the module the wiring or both and it needs to be addressed immediately. Beings that I am a technician, I have already replaced my transfer case control motor actuator and fully examined all the wiring running to it and from it and found no shorts to ground no frayed wires or ground faults this is simply a computer related malfunction and during the malfunction it does not throw a dtc for a check engine light so there's for a tech to scan.

Transfer case can be heard engaging even when vehicle is locked and unoccupied. Engaging is sometimes triggered by the remote when locking/unlocking doors. 4 lo light started to flash then my back wheels locked up when I was driving 70 mph on the bypass with children in the truck. It is a miracle we didn't roll over, but another truck was forced off of the road while I used two lanes to try to control the Durango. I took the truck to the dealer and no one could find anything wrong with it (no active code). . . It drove fine for a few days then the srvc 4x4 light came on and the truck switched into neutral while trying to cross a street. . . I couldn't move in the middle of a busy intersection. Towed the truck to the shop. Shop stated they didn't know what to fix. Still no active code, truck seems fine. I drove it a few more days and now it has slipped into a lower gear. Cannot travel over 35 mph. . Parking, reverse and tight turns are very difficult. My take off speed is nearly nonexistent. Truck shifted back into neutral on its own as I was making a right hand turn. I shut off and restarted the truck three times. All three times it sounded like a stun gun sparking behind my dash and it lit up with a white light from inside. The instrument panel cluster has failed. Recall g07: instrument panel cluster: known to overheat and catch fire. The recall was performed on my truck in 2007, there was no warranty on the replacement part. Dealership will not help. I am so sorry I bought this truck. Please. . . Why is Chrysler only responsible for fixing a recall one time/vehicle? they know it will fail again. It did, has and will continue to fail. Numerous owners have the same problem. . . Replacing transfer cases, cpu modules and their problems do not go away because their problem is a difficult to diagnose recalled instrument panel cluster that will never code and tell on itself.

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. While driving 50 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle jerked, attempted to shift into neutral, and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. An independent mechanic suggested that the failure could be due to a faulty transfer case. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000.

Tl-the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the four wheel drive would engage causing the vehicle to lose power steering. The dealer diagnosed that the transfer case selector motor had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure was 80,000. Ne.

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn, the four wheel drive engaged without warning. The contact mentioned that the rear tires would lock intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the transfer case motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 97,000.

Transmission shifts by itself into 4wd. This happens while driving, and when the car is sitting unattended, with the ignition off. The transfer case makes an audible noise, then the wheels become very hard to turn while driving. This could easily result in a loss of control of the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle independently shifted into four wheel drive without any warning, preventing the vehicle from driving normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the transfer case was defective. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was unknown.

At random times, including while sitting in the driveway, the transfer case on my 2006 Dodge Durango awd will engage the 4wd. It can happen while sitting in the driveway when you insert the key and before you start the engine. It also makes the clicking sound as if it is engaging when you unlock the doors (possible electrical problem?) it can also happen when driving while turning a corner, such as the sharp corners in a drive-thru. The effect is such that one wheel locks up as if one front wheel has the emergency brake on. When going straight there is no issue. I have researched on the internet and found forums where others are having the same exact problem. The problem is that it is random and intermittent, and difficult to reproduce at the dealership. Often their response is to simply replace one or more of the three main components without verifying that is the issue. This can be quite expensive for the owner and frustrating after spending large sums of money and the issue remains unsolved. I feel it is a safety issue because an inexperienced driver might have this issue in a drive-thru, and to overcome the lack of movement after pressing the gas pedal, they may rev the engine. This might overcompensate and cause the vehicle to dart forward into another car, or even into the building as the wheels are turned to go around the corner. If the 4wd disengages at the revving of the engine, this could also cause the vehicle to suddenly accelerate into another vehicle, pedestrian, or building.

I first noticed a problem when leaving work by simply unlocking my 06 Durango (all wheel drive/ 4 wheel drive) with the key fob the transfer case control motor starts shifting the truck in and out from awd to 4wd and I haven't even opened the door!! as the weeks pass it does this several more times but what is more unnerving is that as I am driving at hwy speeds, 60 to 70 mph, or any speed really, my "4 wheel low" light on the dash will start to flicker as if it is trying to shift into 4 wheel low un-commanded. After searching several forums I find this to be a common chronic electrical problem with Durangos and a huge safety risk. Please understand that max speed for a 4 wheel drive vehicle that is in 4 wheel low is about 10 to 15 mph, the gear ratio is extremely low and intended for maximum traction when off road. If this vehicle shifts into 4 wheel low at 70 mph all 4 wheels will come to a stop and the driver will most likely loose total control. At that speed this is a dangerous combination. I have read of this happening to Durangos with serious damage and huge expense for the owner. This very scenario happened to a CO-workers wife with his kids in their 06 Durango, luckily she was only traveling at about 30 to 35 mph and no accident occurred. Now my key fob wont even open the door, it acts as if its dead or broken. I have to use the key to unlock the truck manually which sets off the alarm every time I unlock the door. The same electrical problem I started with is tied to the 4 wheel drive electrically, another common chronic problem. My local Dodge dealer deny's having any knowledge of this problem or a fix and from what I have read Dodge deny's it as well. Is it going to take a family's death from one of these vehicles for Dodge to own up to this and recognize they have a very wide spread problem over several years manufacturing!.

The service 4wd light comes on. The transfer case engages and disengages when the interior light comes on when its not running. 4wd turns on at low speeds when turning and locks up the wheels. When the dash light turns on the 4wd dash switch doesn't work. I was told encoder motor or servo motor or front control module. Sounds like it happens a lot and its a wiring problem. Its been going on now for over 2 years just looking for the right answer.

I have a 2006 Dodge Durango which I bought new I took the truck in for a clunking sound from the transmission or rear end at 10,000 miles the dealer said that the sound was normal now at 42,000 miles it is getting louder and more frequent I took it back in and was told it is normal I went on Dodge forums and found several other complaints similar to mine my personal mechanic test drove it and said it was not normal and to take it back to the dealer he thinks it is either the transfer case or transmission.