2020 Dodge Durango Safety Report

The 2020 Dodge Durango presents a mixed safety profile, with strong crash test performance but a notable pattern of consumer complaints, particularly concerning exterior lighting and engine issues. NHTSA awarded the vehicle an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with excellent 5-star ratings in side crash tests. However, frontal crash tests received 4 stars, and the rollover rating was 3 stars, indicating average performance in these areas. The vehicle has accumulated 49 total complaints, including 2 fires and 4 injuries, but no reported crashes or deaths, which is a positive indicator for severe incident avoidance. A significant concern arises from the complaint data, where 'EXTERIOR LIGHTING' accounts for 14 complaints, representing 28.6% of all issues. Many of these describe water intrusion into the 'racetrack' LED taillight bar, leading to premature failure, dimming, and loss of license plate lights. This is a recurring theme in the complaints, with multiple owners reporting having to replace the unit at significant cost. Engine-related complaints are also prominent, with 4 specific 'ENGINE' complaints and 2 under 'ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE', totaling 6 complaints (12.2%). These often describe loss of power, violent vibrations, and issues with cams and lifters or crank-no-start conditions. Recall history for the 2020 Durango includes two significant safety recalls. One addresses a potentially loose or missing Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) fastener, which could lead to incorrect air bag deployment and increased injury risk. The other recall pertains to the 'BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA', where a lingering rearview image could distract the driver and increase crash risk. While these recalls address critical safety components, the high volume of unaddressed exterior lighting complaints suggests an ongoing design flaw not covered by a recall. The combination of strong crash test ratings with specific, recurring component failures highlights areas where the vehicle performs well and areas needing improvement or closer owner attention.

Our recommendation: Despite strong crash test ratings, potential buyers should be aware of recurring exterior lighting failures and engine performance issues, and verify all recall repairs have been addressed before purchase.