2004 Dodge Durango: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Dodge Durango: 8 recalls, 1115 owner complaints and up to 16 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #03V528000 · 2003 · 27,586 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, an instrument cluster circuit board capacitor May overheat.
Why it matters: This could potentially result in an instrument panel fire.
The fix: Dealers will remove the capacitor from the circuit board. Owner notification began on December 17, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #04V020000 · 2004 · 21,053 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.7l and 4.7l engines, the throttle control cable May ingest water and freeze during extended cold temperature.
Why it matters: This could cause the throttle to stick in the open position and result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the throttle control cable. Owner notification began on January 19, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical Vehicle recall #04V578000 · 2004 · 71,763 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles built with a 5.7l, 4.7l, or 3.7l engine, the positive battery cable May contact the front suspension upper control arm mounting bracket.
Why it matters: This contact could abrade the cable and cause a short circuit, which May result in an underhood fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the battery cable and, if necessary, reposition it away from the control arm mounting bracket. The recall began December 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical Vehicle recall #07V092000 · 2007 · 328,424 vehicles
What's wrong: On some sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, an integrated circuit in the instrument cluster that controls interior lighting May overheat.
Why it matters: This could potentially cause an instrument panel fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the cluster for damage and replace it free of charge. The recall began on April 2, 2007.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V770000 · 2014 · 250,896 vehicles
What's wrong: Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in alabama, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, texas, puerto rico, u.s. Virgin islands, saipan, guam, and american samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to rupture.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in florida, puerto rico, hawaii, and the u.s. Virgin islands, owners were notified and the recall began on December 5, 2014. For all…
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V313000 · 2015 · 4,077,169 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that May be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for…
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V352000 · 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles
What's wrong: Chrysler (fca us LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 Ram 2500 trucks produced at the st. Louis north assembly plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Ram 1500, 2005-2009 Ram 2500, 2006-2009 Ram 3500, 2007-2010 Ram 3500 cab chassis, 2008-2010 Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep wrangler,…
Why it matters: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators May rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and…
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on…
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V824000 · 2017 · 61,791 vehicles
What's wrong: A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17v824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers May become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle May detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the…
Why it matters: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 74 mention a fire, 42 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (326): the most common themes are noise or vibration (146), stalls / loses power (109), leaks (49).
- Engine & cooling (249): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (125), noise or vibration (71), warning light on (38).
- Electrical (243): the most common themes are electrical failure (110), fire / smoke (72), stalls / loses power (71).
- Airbags (143): the most common themes are warning light on (28), fails to deploy (13).
The 2004 Dodge Durango has 1115 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 29 Durango model years for complaints (2.3× the average Durango year). Complaints peaked in 2015 (129 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 94,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (339 complaints, 4 recalls), 2005 (1567 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Regular |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | Regular |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 13 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Dodge Durango.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Dodge Durango have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Dodge Durango, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Dodge Durango problems?
Owners have filed 1115 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (326), engine & cooling (249), electrical (243).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Dodge Durango get?
EPA ratings run up to 16 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Dodge Durango repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.