2016 Dodge Durango Safety Report
2016 Dodge Durango Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Dodge Durango
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Dodge Durango. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (159) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 24 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Exterior Lighting | Compare exterior lighting issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Dodge Durango with 49 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Dodge Durango before buying across this generation. |
Dodge Durango Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Dodge Durango years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Dodge Durango | 204 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Dodge Durango | 497 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Dodge Durango | 221 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Dodge Durango | 131 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Dodge Durango | 49 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Dodge Durango | 167 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2016 Dodge Durango Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Dodge Durango, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Exterior Lighting
40 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Dodge onlyPower Train
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Dodge onlyUnknown Or Other
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Dodge onlyElectrical System,Exterior Lighting
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Exterior Lighting issues Dodge onlyElectrical System
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Dodge onlyStructure
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Dodge onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Dodge Durango
Reliability Score
The 2016 Dodge Durango receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Dodge Durango
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Dodge Durango
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Dodge Durango:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System Issues Frequent electrical system issues, particularly with wiring, have been reported. This can lead to unexpected vehicle shutdowns and steering wheel inoperability. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel System Delivery Problems Fuel system delivery issues, including hose and line problems, have been reported. These can cause unexpected fuel odors and potential safety concerns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brake Caliper Foundation Components Issues Foundation components of the service brake caliper have been reported to fail, leading to potential brake failure and safety concerns. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Rear License Plate Light Bulb Replacement Costs Replacing the rear license plate light bulb can cost over $1500, as the entire LED racetrack assembly must be replaced. |
High | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Dodge Durango:
Issues with the electrical system, particularly with wiring, are common.
Fuel system delivery problems, including hose and line issues, are reported.
Foundation components of the service brake caliper have been reported to fail.
Replacing the rear license plate light bulb can be expensive.
Recall Details for the 2016 Dodge Durango
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Dodge Durango by NHTSA:
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the c...
Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be d...
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 10, 2016, to April 28, 2016 and equipped with a 3.6L engine built at the Saltillo engine plant. During the assembly of the engine, the fuel rail crossover tube may have been damaged, which, over time, may result in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly for damage to the fuel rail crossover tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S85.
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured December 9, 2015, to January 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the left front brake caliper may crack due to being made from an incorrect material.
Consequence: A cracked brake caliper may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper and depending on its casting date, replace it, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S16.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Dodge Durango
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Dodge Durango with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
Passenger active headrest deployed while parked on driveway.
We had an issue with an error message in the middle of driving that stopped the acceleration of the vehicle, this seems to be common, looking at forums online. The inspection request is acceptable. The message we receive is "Shift to P before changing gears". The vehicle will stop in the middle of traffic and sometimes require a complete restart before being able to shift to drive. This has pu...
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a strong fuel odor in the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed the strong fuel odor. The contact was employed by an independent mechanic, so the independent mechanic inspected t...
The Rear License Plate Light bulb (right) was out and I went to have the bulb replaced. I was quoted over $1100 from the dealer, as the LED racetrack lighting was not properly sealed and is collecting water. The collection of water within the light compartment has caused corrosion within, and the wiring to disintegrate. This is a commonly known, yet not addressed safety issue by DODGE. My v...
Driving in the left lane of an interstate highway at 75mph, in moderate traffic, in daylight hours, clear weather, with my young son. Sudden, unexpected decrease in engine rpm resulted in unannounced, approximate 40 mph reduction in speed. The instrument cluster illuminated stating “ service transmission continue in D. Do Not Shift or Turn Engine Off”. Such an unforeseen event, without brake light...
Rear racetrack led lighting is failing. One segment has gone dark. You can only replace the entire assembly for over &1500. I found on line there is a class action lawsuit regarding exactly what I am seeing
Electrical issues involving specific fuses in the vehicle where the f13 fuse constantly fries and melts into the fuse box. Causing an electrical burning smell. No warning lights come on. Certain aspects of the car stop working like the blower motor.
This past week our 2016 dodge durango citadel driver side headrest pop out during the night while parked overnight outside our house. My wife discover the pop out headrest the next morning when she open the door to drive to her work. We are unable to return the head rest to its original position.
I have owned a 2013 Dodge Durango Citadel and traded it when it got to 100K because the fuel pump failed and now I own a 2016 Dodge Durango Limited and I'm currently at 99K miles and this fuel pump has failed. There needs to be a recall on the fuel pumps with the Dodge Durangos. The car will hesitate to start and malfunction while in traffic and that is dangerous to the driver and other vehicles. ...
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Durango. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shut off and the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle failed to restart, and the contact waited for approximately 1 hour later and the vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a TIPM failure. The vehicle was rep...
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that upon visual inspection, the contact became aware that the rear exterior lighting was not functioning properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was unk...
Was driving and the vehicle stalled well driving, Had a hard time trying to stop and could barley steer the vehicle. Vehicle was flashing shift to park. This has happened two times to me now and I took it to the dealership and it happened to them as well. The radio screen sometimes doesn't light up and it will freeze and won't let you do anything, when cell phone is connected via blue tooth it wil...
Vehicle is going into park while driving, when it does that I have to come to a stop and restart the vehicle. I almost got into an accident and I’m scared for my life driving this. The dealership charged me to change the alternator, the batteries and I still have the same issue.
There is a design flaw with the coolant lines. The TOH coolant line makes contact with the rear heater return line and creates a coolant leak in that area. Due to the friction this caused a hole in the line. My car gashed out coolant and shut off on the highway. Only one flash on the dashboard that said engine overheating. This issue is a design flaw that could be Deadly. Luckily for myself I was...
The lighting system allowed water to enter the lights, causing them to fail as they filled up (from bottom to top) to the point that they won't properly indicate running lights or brake lights. This failure has been slowly occuring over the course of 4 years until it now fails to pass the safety inspection.
Intermittent start/stop, or extended start after driving for extended time. Vehicle fuel smell during if vehicle goes into an extended start mode. I have complained to Dodge about this problem. There was a previous recall on older and newer vehicles for TIPM module which caused similar symptoms I'm experiencing.
While my wife was driving our vehicle when the tire monitor light came on the dash. She made it home and showed me the tire. I thought she might have ran over an object on the road then began putting air in the tire. The tire started to inflate and rise then there was a sudden loud bang. I took the tire off the vehicle and saw that the inside sidewall of the tire blew out. The consumer stated t...
WHILE MOVING THE CAR LOSES POWER, SHIFT TO P THEN DESIRED GEAR AND COMES TO A STOP. NOT ABLE TO STEER.
Oil leak from top of the engine, Vehicle has being well maintained barely has 61,000 miles, well taken care of, oil leak from top of the engine, theres more people having this issue, possible cause: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdKLx_INOAY or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm5yuuv5KeI theres alot of issues with this leaks and is expensive repair. i was doing my monthly check up and i found ...
VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION BUTTON GOES TO ACC. THE CLUSTER BOARD THEN SAYS TO PRESS BRAKE AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY COUPLE TRIPS
Showing 20 of 159 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Dodge Durango
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Seats
Opened 2019-09-09 · Closed 2026-02-25
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deploy...
Component: Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Opened 2016-12-16 · Closed 2024-01-25
Basis – On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to Park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents. These complaints involved multiple Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) model and model year vehicles that share a common electronic rotary shifter design. Of the 43 consumer complaints, 25 complaints alleged crashes, and eight complaints...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Dodge Durango
Has the 2016 DODGE DURANGO been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 DODGE DURANGO has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 DODGE DURANGO have?
The 2016 DODGE DURANGO has 159 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 23 involved crashes. 11 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
The 2016 DODGE DURANGO received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 DODGE DURANGO involve exterior lighting (40 complaints), power train (20 complaints), unknown or other (17 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,exterior lighting, electrical system, structure.
How many crash reports does the 2016 DODGE DURANGO have?
There are 23 crash reports associated with the 2016 DODGE DURANGO out of 159 total complaints (14.5% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 DODGE DURANGO have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 DODGE DURANGO out of 159 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 DODGE DURANGO.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
11 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 DODGE DURANGO. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 DODGE DURANGO is acceptable with caveats. It has 159 complaints, 3 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 DODGE DURANGO are: 1. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (40 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (20 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (17 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING (11 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7 complaints). EXTERIOR LIGHTING is the single most-reported problem area with 40 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
Regular maintenance and inspections are crucial to address common issues such as electrical system failures and fuel system problems. Ensure the vehicle is serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The 2016 DODGE DURANGO has 159 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
The 2016 DODGE DURANGO receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 159 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 24 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Electrical System Issues and Fuel System Delivery Problems.
What are the known issues with the 2016 DODGE DURANGO?
Known issues with the 2016 DODGE DURANGO include: Electrical System Issues, Fuel System Delivery Problems, Service Brake Caliper Foundation Components Issues, Rear License Plate Light Bulb Replacement Costs. These are based on patterns found across 159 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any common electrical system issues with the 2016 Dodge Durango?
Yes, frequent electrical system issues, particularly with wiring, have been reported.
What are the potential consequences of fuel system delivery problems?
Fuel system delivery issues can cause unexpected fuel odors and potential safety concerns.
How much does it cost to replace the rear license plate light bulb?
Replacing the rear license plate light bulb can cost over $1500 due to the need to replace the entire LED racetrack assembly.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Regular maintenance and inspections are crucial to address common issues such as electrical system failures and fuel system problems. Ensure the vehicle is serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Dodge Durango
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Dodge Durango. The data includes 159 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 23 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 11 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Dodge Durango an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14