The 2011 Dodge Durango marked the return of a body-on-frame SUV sharing DNA with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the 3.6L Pentastar is generally solid, the 5.7L Hemi has significant piston/cylinder wear issues, and both suffer from transmission cooler failures that can grenade the entire drivetrain if ignored.
5.7L Hemi Cylinder Wall Wear & Piston Slap
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start knock or rattle lasting 10-30 seconds, Excessive oil consumption (quart every 500-1,000 miles), Loss of compression in cylinders 2, 5, or 7 most common, Check engine light with misfire codes P0302/P0305/P0307
Fix: Requires complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. Cylinder walls score due to inadequate cylinder liner hardness in early production Hemis. Machine work involves boring cylinders oversize, new pistons, rings, bearings. Figure 18-24 shop hours for in-frame overhaul, more if crank needs machining.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure (in Radiator)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink or milky fluid in transmission dipstick, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Coolant level drops with no external leaks, Sudden transmission failure after coolant contamination
Fix: Internal cooler in radiator cracks, mixing coolant and ATF which destroys transmission friction materials within miles. Requires radiator replacement, complete transmission fluid flush, often full transmission rebuild if contamination went unnoticed. Catch it early (weekly fluid checks) and you might escape with $800 in parts/flush. Miss it, and you're rebuilding or replacing the transmission. 12-16 hours if trans needs R&R.
Estimated cost: $800-5,000
Alternator Failure & TIPM Issues
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Battery light intermittent or constant, No-start condition with clicking, Electrical gremlins: windows, wipers, gauges acting erratic, Undercharging (below 13.5V) or overcharging (above 15V)
Fix: Factory alternators often fail early due to heat and voltage regulator defects (covered by recalls 14V-311 and 15V-175 for some VINs). Additionally, the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) develops internal relay failures causing phantom electrical issues. Alternator is 2 hours labor. TIPM diagnosis can be tricky—requires scan tool with module communication tests—and replacement runs 3-4 hours plus expensive module.
Estimated cost: $450-1,200
Front Differential Pinion Seal & Axle Seals Leaking
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Gear oil drips on driveway under front of vehicle, Whining noise from front end during acceleration, Low diff fluid revealed during oil change inspection, Binding or clunking when turning if severely low
Fix: Pinion seal most common, front axle tube seals second. If caught early, just seal replacement—pinion seal requires setting preload correctly (1.5-2 hours), axle seals are 2-3 hours per side. If run low on fluid, bearings get damaged and you're looking at complete front diff rebuild at 6-8 hours.
Estimated cost: $350-1,800
Transmission Mount Failure (Front Mount)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible engine/trans sag when inspected on lift, Driveline shudder during hard acceleration
Fix: The front transmission mount (crossmember-style) fails from heat and stress. Rubber separates from metal bracket. Replacement is straightforward—support trans with jack, unbolt old mount, install new. 1.5 hours labor. Use OEM or quality aftermarket; cheap parts fail in 20k miles.
Estimated cost: $200-400
Fuel Tank Evaporative System Leaks (Canister, Lines)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 90,000+ mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0442, P0456 small EVAP leak codes, Fuel smell near rear of vehicle when parked, Difficulty fueling (pump clicks off repeatedly), Hissing sound when opening fuel cap
Fix: EVAP canister and vapor lines crack from road salt and heat cycling. Diagnosis requires smoke test to pinpoint leak location (0.5 hour). Canister replacement is 1.5-2 hours, lines can add time if corroded fasteners involved. Some cases involve fuel tank drop for full access.
Estimated cost: $300-900
Owner tips
Check transmission fluid color monthly—catch cooler contamination before it kills the trans
5.7L Hemi owners: monitor oil consumption religiously starting at 60k miles; switch to 5W-20 high-mileage synthetic if cold-start knock develops
Inspect front diff fluid level every other oil change—leaks are gradual but destructive
Keep up with coolant changes every 5 years/100k miles—helps prevent radiator internal corrosion that leads to cooler failures
Buy the 3.6L V6 model if you want reliability; avoid the 5.7L Hemi unless you have maintenance records proving no oil consumption issues—when these are good they're great, but the cylinder wear problem is a $6k grenade waiting to go off.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 3.6, 5.7, or 6.4 liter engine and previously recalled under NHTSA Recall 14V530 or 15V115. The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning.
Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) will replace the affected fuel pump relay and related wire harness. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed beginning December 19, 2019. Vehicles that experience a fuel pump failure will receive an interim repair. Owners will receive a second notice when the final remedy becomes available. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V62.
SERVICE BRAKES · 17V572000
2017-09-18
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles had brake booster shields installed under a previous campaign to prevent water from entering the brake booster and limiting braking ability. This recall is to verify that the brake booster shield installation was performed properly.
Consequence: If the brake booster shield was not installed properly, the vehicle's braking ability may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster shield, correcting the installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November10, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T59.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Consequence: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T36.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 15V879000
2015-12-28 · RQ15003
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring. This recall is also addressing certain vehicles that have not been remedied under that prior recall.
Consequence: The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R71.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Consequence: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · 14V530000
2014-09-04
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, to July 20, 2011, and equipped with either a 3.6L or 5.7L engine. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning.
Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump relay with one external to the TIPM, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P54. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall 19V813.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 14V391000
2014-07-02 · EA14001
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, through December 11, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after a service repair is performed.
Consequence: If the vanity lamp wiring shorts, there is an increased risk of fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair any damaged wiring, and install a new sun visor that properly routes the wire, free of charge. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P36.
SERVICE BRAKES · 14V154000
2014-04-01
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from January 5, 2010, through September 8, 2013. The subject vehicles have a brake booster with a center shell that may corrode and allow water to get inside.
Consequence: The water inside could freeze and limit the braking ability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will add a water diverter shield to the booster after the booster has been tested to confirm it can hold an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure. If the booster inspection confirms an unacceptable loss of vacuum pressure, the booster will be replaced. Repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall campaign number is P14.
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