Steering Column If vehicle comes in for steering column replacement, verify column installed. Go to Info Column in Star Parts and open the flow chart to determine which column is installed. If column is Daimler, verify that a replacement Daimler column is in stock and use for replacement. If no Daimler column is in stock, replacement must use Presta column (which require a number of other components to be replaced). For more information and details on PN's, see W-Series Flowchart in Star Parts. Contact parts specifying for assistance regarding correct part numbers, for technical assistance contact Star. UPDATE: 11/9/2016 If the new bearing does not fit through the double dash, you need to re
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Dodge Durango steering problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Dodge Durango have filed 27 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 58,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Durango | 16 |
| 2008 Durango | 8 |
| 2011 Durango (this page) | 27 |
| 2012 Durango | 41 |
| 2013 Durango | 24 |
| 2014 Durango | 12 |
| 2015 Durango | 3 |
1crash
2fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 15 model years of Dodge Durango in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Steering Column If vehicle comes in for steering column replacement, verify column installed. Go to Info Column in Star Parts and open the flow chart to determine which column is installed. If column is Daimler, verify that a replacement Daimler column is in stock and use for replacement. If no Daimler column is in stock, replacement must use Presta column (which require a number of other components to be replaced). For more information and details on PN's, see W-Series Flowchart in Star Parts. Contact parts specifying for assistance regarding correct part numbers, for technical assistance contact Star.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Steering Column If vehicle comes in for steering column replacement, verify column installed. Go to Info Column in Star Parts and open the flow chart to determine which column is installed. If column is Daimler, verify that a replacement Daimler column is in stock and use for replacement. If no Daimler column is in stock, replacement must use Presta column (which require a number of other components to be replaced). For more information and details on PN's, see W-Series Flowchart in Star Parts. Contact parts specifying for assistance regarding correct part numbers, for technical assistance contact Star.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Clunk And/Or Bump Felt Through The Steering Wheel Under Moderate Braking And/Or Driving Over Rough Roads This bulletin involves road testing and if necessary replacing the intermediate shaft. Clunk and/or bump felt through the steering wheel under moderate braking or driving over rough roads. This can be caused by spline stick/slip from the intermediate shaft.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin involves road testing and if necessary replacing the intermediate shaft
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Durango steering and electrical systems have a severe reliability problem. Owners report engine stalls 4 to 20+ times, typically during turns or deceleration at speeds between 15 and 60 mph. When the engine dies, the steering wheel locks hard and power brakes fail—a critical safety issue that leaves drivers wrestling a disabled vehicle in live traffic. One owner nearly collided after losing steering mid-turn on a freeway exit; another had this happen five times, including once while making a left turn with children in the car.
The alternator is a major culprit. It fails suddenly, causing all dashboard lights to flash, wipers to spin, AC to blow hot air, and the vehicle to stall. One owner spent $900 on a new alternator and battery only to have the problem persist. Dodge issued a recall (P60) for 160-amp alternators, but some owners report 180-amp units fail the same way and aren't covered. One alternator failure fried the PCM, costing $1,500 to repair.
Dealers run diagnostics and find no codes. One service writer admitted he knew about the stalling problem and claimed a fix was coming via another recall—it never arrived.
Electrical fires are another risk. One vehicle caught fire and burned completely; smoke and burning wire smell were reported in others. The front end shakes violently above 45 mph in multiple vehicles, and right front struts leak oil. A service advisor noted this strut leak is recurring on multiple vehicles.
Same Dodge Durango steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall with power steering loss
Engine shuts off without warning while driving, typically during turns or deceleration. Electrical systems remain partially operational (lights, radio, AC), but steering becomes locked or extremely difficult to turn. Some owners report this happens 4–20+ times. Restart always succeeds.
When: During right turns, left turns, deceleration, or at traffic stops; typically 15–60 mph. One owner reports 4–5 times yearly; another 15+ times total.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies; tachometer reads zero; Steering wheel locks or becomes extremely stiff; Power brakes fail; brake pedal becomes hard or locked; Dashboard lights remain on; radio/AC unaffected; Vehicle restarts without issue; Some reports of FCW OFF and adaptive cruise control symbols lighting up
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers perform diagnostics, scan tools show no codes, connections checked and found normal. No repair solution provided in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One service writer acknowledged awareness of the problem and stated another recall would address it. Dodge dealers report inability to diagnose or repair. Chrysler told one owner warranty had expired and nothing could be done.
Alternator failure with electrical cascade
Alternator fails, causing sudden loss of electrical power. Dashboard lights flash or illuminate all at once, wipers activate uncontrollably, AC blows hot air, and instrument panel goes haywire. Vehicle may smoke or smell of burning electrical components. Power steering and power brakes fail. Vehicle stalls and cannot be restarted; may trap key in ignition and lock transmission in park.
When: At highway speeds, during turns, or while stopped. One failure at 57,045 miles; another at 80,000 miles. No mileage pattern across narratives.
Symptoms owners cite: CHECK BATTERY light appears first; All dashboard lights illuminate simultaneously; Windshield wipers engage; Radio/audio systems shut off or malfunction; AC blows hot air; Headlights flicker off; Steering becomes locked or extremely stiff; Power brakes lock or fail; Electrical smell, smoke, or burning odor from engine bay or under hood; Vehicle will not start after stalling; Key stuck in ignition; transmission locked in park
Codes mentioned: P60 (implied by recall references; 160 AMP alternator recall)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced alternator and battery at $900 total; problem persisted. Another owner had alternator replaced by dealer; repair cost unknown. One alternator failure fried the PCM, costing ~$1,500 repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P60 covers 2011 Durango with 160 AMP alternator; some owners report 180 AMP alternators also fail but are not covered. One owner's VIN excluded from recall despite same symptoms. Dealer told owner vehicle not eligible for P60 recall.
Electrical fire hazard
Electrical short or overload causes smoke, burning smell, and fire inside the vehicle. One vehicle caught fire and was totaled. Incidents occur after opening rear hatch or during electrical overload events, with glowing wires under floor carpet between firewall and front passenger seat.
When: One incident while ignition was on and hatch opened; another during alternator failure event. No specific mileage reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Electrical smoke visible in engine bay or cabin; Burning wire smell; Glowing wires under floor carpet; Fire that totals the vehicle; Smoke fills passenger compartment during towing
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled. No repair attempted.
Power steering line fracture and fluid leak
Power steering lines fracture or separate, causing premature fluid loss. No description of failure symptoms provided in narrative; diagnosis made by independent mechanic.
When: Mileage not available.
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leak from power steering system
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic recommended replacement of power steering lines. Dealer was contacted to order part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One TSB issued for EPS; no steering recall issued.
Steering wheel vibration or shake
Front end or steering wheel shakes or vibrates violently at highway speed, pulling vehicle to the right and causing temporary loss of control. Owner reports this started from initial purchase in 2011. Dealer and Chrysler claim normal characteristic; owner reports testing 3 other 2011 Durangos, two of which also exhibited shake, one did not.
When: At 45 mph and higher, particularly 70 mph. Failure mileage from 10,000 to current mileage of 22,000 in one report.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent steering wheel shake; Vehicle pulling to the right; Front end vibration increasing with speed; Momentary loss of control
Repairs/costs cited: One independent mechanic performed alignment, which reduced but did not correct the shake. Dealer performed road force balance test and claimed it is a vehicle characteristic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Chrysler told owner this is a normal characteristic of the vehicle; owner disputes this claim.
Front strut leaks
Right front strut develops oil leak. Service advisor at dealership reported seeing this failure on at least three vehicles.
When: No mileage or timing provided.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from right front strut; Service advisor noted concern about proximity to brake creating fire hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Strut requires replacement. Service advisor at dealership noted this is a recurring issue (third vehicle seen with same failure).
Intermittent electrical gremlins (hazard lights, radio, gauge failures)
Random intermittent electrical faults cause hazard lights to cut on and off briefly, dashboard lights to flash, radio to shut off, speedometer to drop to zero, windows and horn to stop working, and wipers to engage unexpectedly. Issues span weeks to months or resolve temporarily then recur.
When: Occurs sporadically; one owner reports hazard lights issue started weeks apart, then months apart, eventually leading to more serious failures. Another owner reports problem started one year prior and has worsened.
Symptoms owners cite: Hazard lights cut on and off unexpectedly, lasting seconds; Dashboard lights flash or illuminate randomly; Radio shuts off for seconds then returns; Speedometer drops to zero; Wipers engage without input; Windows stop working; Horn becomes inoperative; Lights flashing on and off; unable to accelerate
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership checked all connections, ran diagnostics, and found no codes. No repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One narrative references TIPM recall; owner discovered TIPM was never actually replaced despite Carfax report. After TIPM replacement, problems continued.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2011 Dodge Durango?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2011 Dodge Durango?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 28,500 and 82,000 miles, with the median around 58,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,500; a quarter make it past 82,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Dodge/Durango.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.