Regarding odi pe 16-014 opened 16 december 2016: one year ago (12/29/15) a neighbor alerted me via text to the fact that my vehicle was in the street outside our home. I discovered my 2015 durango had rolled backward approximately 35 feet coming to rest in the middle of the street. My first thought was that I had somehow failed to put the vehicle in "park". However, after starting the vehicle,…
2015 Dodge Durango electrical problems
severe 86 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
86
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
4fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 86 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Dodge Durango, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 86 electrical 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.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Durango electrical system is riddled with defects that dealers and Chrysler have not fixed despite decades of complaints. The racetrack tail light assembly is the most common and costly problem: water enters the sealed LED housing through defective seals, pools inside, corrodes circuitry, and burns out sections of lights. Owners report failures within two months of purchase (some at 18,000 miles) and recurrence even after replacement. Full assembly replacement bundled with the backup camera costs $1,000–$1,600 at dealerships. License plate LEDs fail repeatedly due to the same water intrusion, forcing owners through multiple bulb replacements and legal citations for non-functional lights.
Electrical control system failures are equally serious. Shifters fail to engage park; vehicles roll backward while parked with the transmission showing P. Instrument clusters black out completely while driving—one owner lost all gauges, headlights, and turn signals at 35 mph in a rain storm. Engine RPMs race while power vanishes; vehicles jerk forward unexpectedly. Two fires have been reported, one originating from the battery and another after uncontrolled acceleration. Turn signal wiring shorts burn out bulbs and triggers false warning lights regardless of bulb type.
Dealers have performed recalls, reprogramming, and repeated service visits without resolving these issues. Chrysler has dismissed rollaway incidents as "functioning as designed" and told owners unusual electrical failures are standard. Many defects fall outside warranty coverage, leaving owners responsible for thousand-dollar repairs on a vehicle sold with known manufacturing flaws.
Same Dodge Durango electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Racetrack/center tail light water intrusion and LED failure
Water penetrates the sealed rear taillight assembly (racetrack design), pools inside, corrodes circuitry and LED components, causing partial or complete light outage. Owners report recurring failures even after replacement; warranty companies exclude this as 'serviceable.' Repair requires replacing entire assembly (not just bulbs) bundled with backup camera at dealer cost $1,000–$1,600.
When: Across model year run; reported at various mileages from 18k upward; failures accelerate after 1–2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible pooling inside taillight lens; Sections of LED lights burn out or dim; Light fails completely after water intrusion; Recurring failure even after replacement; License plate lights also fail due to shared harness corrosion; Moisture freezes in cold climates, causing cracks
Repairs/costs cited: Entire taillight/backup camera assembly replacement $1,000–$1,600 at dealer; aftermarket used parts $600–$850. Owners report third-party shops confirm common defect. Some owners attempt to drain water by removing bolts, but this disables light function. Manufacturer stopped selling isolated components because water damage is endemic.
License plate LED light water intrusion and repeated failure
LED license plate lights corrode and fail repeatedly due to water entering the housing. Connected to the racetrack taillight harness; water damage to main assembly affects license plate lights via shared wiring. Replacement bulbs fail within days to weeks. Owners cite legal/traffic citation consequences for inoperative lights.
When: First occurrence as early as 2 months after purchase (18k miles on CPO); recurs every 1–2 years or months
Symptoms owners cite: License plate light goes out; Repeated failure of replacement bulbs within days; Corrosion visible on connectors and harness
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement $50 each at dealer; multiple replacements required. Permanent fix requires replacing entire wiring harness ($600–$1,000) because manufacturer bundled harness as single unit after recognizing endemic water damage.
Turn signal/blinker electrical malfunction and false warning lights
Turn signal bulbs short out at the terminal connector; replacement with standard or LED bulbs causes the vehicle computer to misreport signal status. Right or left signal shows 'out' warning even when bulb is functioning. Issue persists across multiple bulb types, indicating wiring/control module fault, not bulb defect. Dealer service attempts at $300 do not resolve underlying electrical problem.
When: Occurs after initial bulb failure and replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signal bulb burns out at terminal; Computer reports signal out when it is working; Computer intermittently reports signal out even when functioning; Issue affects both left and right signals, persists with any bulb type
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer charged $300 for bulb swap; does not fix root cause. Owner attempted LED bulb installation, which triggered false warning. No resolution reported.
Shifter control electrical/mechanical failure—unintended gear engagement and rolling
Vehicle shifts unexpectedly or fails to shift when commanded; rotary shifter shows park but vehicle rolls backward while parked with engine off and parking brake disengaged. In other incidents, shifter causes abrupt shifts (reverse to park) that risk transmission damage. Computer-controlled shifter module suffers from shorted electrical wiring that prevents proper engagement of park detent.
When: At purchase/early ownership; recurs across multiple service visits
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while parked (park not engaged despite dial showing P); Shifter does not respond to driver commands; Abrupt unintended gear changes (reverse to park); Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly or downshifts improperly; Shifting to neutral when acceleration commanded
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no discernible cause in rollaway case; Chrysler investigation concluded vehicle functioning as designed. Multiple service visits (3–4 times within months/weeks) have not resolved shifter response issues. Root cause cited as shorted electrical wiring in computer control system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler special investigations team stated vehicle 'functioning as designed' despite rollaway incident on standard driveway slope.
Instrument cluster and electrical system loss of function
Instrument panel goes completely dark (blackout) while driving, causing loss of all gauges, warning lights, turn signals, and headlights. Electrical functions deactivate and reactivate independently. One owner reported burning smell prior to cluster failure and dangerous highway situation requiring pull-over in busy traffic. Some cases follow recall service (15V461000); others occur without prior notice.
When: Various mileages; one case at 32k after recall service; another at 7k; one highway incident at 35 mph in rain
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument cluster goes completely blank; Headlights turn off while driving; Turn signals non-functional; Burning smell in cabin; All electrical functions briefly lose power then return; Radio operates independently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics found no failures in one case despite blackout. Another owner drove to dealership without instrumentation, turn signals, or headlights; vehicle remained in shop over one month. No repairs completed or diagnostic results disclosed in available narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed owner 'unusual occurrence' and referred to dealer. Recall 15V461000 (equipment/computer update) preceded at least one failure; however, update did not prevent recurrence.
Windshield wipers and headlights erratic operation
Windshield wipers operate frantically without command while driving in rain; headlights turn off unexpectedly. One owner experienced this during highway rain storm shortly after recall computer update. Defrosters may also activate on full blast without command, linked to touchscreen/display power loss.
When: During highway rain at 35 mph; occurred after recall service (15V461000)
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers operate frantically without driver command; Headlights turn off while driving; Defrosters activate full blast without command; Symptoms triggered by rain or moisture conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed diagnostic, found no failures. Owner continued to experience various electrical failures after this incident, including vehicle starting on its own in garage and running hot while idling.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated issue was 'unusual occurrence;' referred to dealer.
Touchscreen/infotainment display malfunction
Touchscreen display powers off and on unpredictably or remains off at startup, delaying operation of climate controls, backup camera, navigation, and radio. Display operates with 'mind of its own'—turning on/off without command. When display is off at startup and A/C knob is not pre-turned off, both front and rear defrosters blast on full without warning. USB firmware update at dealer did not resolve issues.
When: Recurring throughout vehicle ownership since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Display does not turn on at startup, requires waiting for it to decide to power on; Display powers off and on without driver input; Front and rear defrosters activate on full blast when display power cycles
Repairs/costs cited: Firmware USB update attempted at dealership; no resolution achieved.
Active head restraint (front passenger) unwanted deployment
Front passenger seat active head restraint deploys violently during normal operation with no accident or collision. Deployment occurred while vehicle was being operated, causing violent distraction. No audible or visible warning signs preceded deployment. Problem documented as reproduced by numerous consumers and third parties across multiple model year variants.
When: During normal vehicle operation; minimal/normal seat use
Symptoms owners cite: Head restraint deploys without collision or accident; Violent deployment causing distraction while driving; No warning signs prior to deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Defective headrest available for inspection; manufacturer communication in progress but not yet inspected.
Unintended vehicle acceleration and jerking
Vehicle jerks forward without warning while stopped at light or braking to stop. In one case, jerking occurred while entering parking space, resulting in collision with parked vehicle. Dealer attributed incidents to driver error; however, failures recurred. Recall service (18V332000, electrical system/vehicle speed control) performed, but technician still attributed jerking to driver error and vehicle was not repaired.
When: At 15,600 miles; recurred after initial incident
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks forward without driver input while at stop light; Vehicle jerks while entering parking space; Occurs without warning; repeatable
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 18V332000 performed but did not resolve jerking. Dealer attributed to driver error; no repairs completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 18V332000 (electrical system, vehicle speed control) applied; technician referred contact to manufacturer after attributing to driver error.
Vehicle spontaneous fire—battery/electrical origin
Vehicle caught fire while parked or shortly after owner returned to retrieve items from trunk. Fire originated from battery or engine compartment electrical system. One owner extinguished fire with hand and cloth; owner sustained smoke inhalation. Another owner was driving when vehicle began accelerating on its own, then burst into flames shortly after pulling over. Fire departments attended scenes; no recalls or service bulletins referenced.
When: One case at 154k miles; another case within 30 days of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke visible inside vehicle; Flames coming from beneath front passenger seat or battery area; Burning electrical smell while driving; Uncontrolled acceleration preceding fire (one case); Fire originates from battery per fire department
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle towed to autobody shop; not diagnosed or repaired. Second vehicle sold within 30 days with known electrical problems; owner left with total loss and no recourse.
Fuel pump electrical fuse failure—loss of motive power
Vehicle loses all motive power while driving at highway speed with no warning lights. F70 fuel pump fuse blown. Dealer diagnosis identified fuel pump and fuel pump auxiliary power relay failures. Electrical wiring issues underlying cause.
When: Unknown mileage; related to 15V115000 recall (electrical system)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of motive power while driving; Vehicle fails to restart after coasting to shoulder; No warning lights illuminated prior to failure
Codes mentioned: F70 fuel pump fuse blown
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; fuel pump and fuel pump auxiliary relay identified as failed. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 15V115000 (electrical system) cited by owner as related; VIN not included in report.
Horn and steering wheel control inoperability
Horn stops working; steering wheel mounted controls (wipers, turn signals, high beams) cease function. Multiple warning lights illuminate on dashboard, including airbag indicator. Recurring issue across Dodge product line since 1997 per owner research; no recall issued for 2015 Durango despite recalls on other years.
When: At undisclosed mileage during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Horn completely non-functional; Steering wheel controls unresponsive (wiper, turn signal, high beam); Multiple dashboard warning lights illuminate; Airbag warning light displayed
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; warranty does not cover.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2015 Durango despite documented issue across multiple model years since 1997.
Steering column control stalk structural failure
Blinker/turn signal arm (multi-function control stalk) breaks internally, rendering turn signals, high beams, wipers, and associated functions non-operational. Part on backorder due to high demand; third-party suppliers also unable to stock due to volume of failures. Replacement cost prohibitive: $850 for part plus $600 labor.
When: At undisclosed mileage during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Control stalk becomes internally broken and useless; Turn signals non-functional; High beam control inoperative; Wiper controls inoperative; All functions on stalk disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership part on backorder due to high demand; third-party dealers unable to supply. Replacement $850 (part) + $600 (labor) = $1,450 total.
Computer system loss of control—electrical wiring shorts
Shorted electrical wiring in vehicle computer control system causes cascading failures: transmission shifts abruptly (reverse to park), loss of shifter control, and drivability problems on highway. Multiple service visits and computer reprogramming attempts by dealers have failed to identify or correct the root cause.
When: Across multiple service visits; affects highway drivability
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter module loses responsiveness; Transmission shifts abruptly without driver command; Loss of drivability on highway; Computer reprogramming ineffective; Potential transmission damage from unintended shifts
Repairs/costs cited: Computer and transmission reprogrammed multiple times by dealer; failures persist. Shorted electrical wiring identified as cause but not repaired.
RPM surge and power loss—undiagnosed computer/electrical fault
Engine RPMs race without warning while vehicle simultaneously loses all power. Multiple warning lights illuminate. Dealer has serviced vehicle 5 times including two-week shop visit; computer and transmission reprogrammed repeatedly with no resolution. Vehicle remains unsafe; owner refused to accept vehicle back from latest repair attempt.
When: Multiple incidents over extended ownership; dangerous highway merge attempt into New York State Thruway
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs race without warning; Complete loss of power while RPMs elevated; Multiple dashboard warning lights illuminate; Stalling while driving; Problem reproduces despite repeated repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Computer reprogramming and transmission reprogramming attempted 5 times including two-week dealer shop visit; no resolution. Owner refuses vehicle.
Electrical system independent activation—radio, A/C, systems
Vehicle electrical systems activate and operate independently without driver command: radio display turns on/off, air conditioning turns on by itself (front and rear), rear air conditioning cycles on full blast despite being turned off. Occurs while driving highway speeds.
When: At various points during highway operation
Symptoms owners cite: Radio display cycles on and off independently; Air conditioning activates without command; Rear A/C activates on full blast despite being off; Systems do not respond to off commands; must lock controls
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Vehicle self-starting in garage and running hot
Vehicle starts on its own while parked in garage. Once started, engine runs abnormally hot while idling. Indicates serious electrical control system fault.
When: At 32,000 miles; occurred after recall service 15V461000
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle starts without driver action; Engine temperature elevated while idling; Dangerous fire risk
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired.
Headlight connector burnout and melting
Passenger side headlight connection socket burns and melts where bulb connects. Same defect occurred on owner's 2011 Dodge Charger, which was subject to wiring harness recall. 2015 Durango uses identical part but is not on recall.
When: At undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight connection socket melts and burns; Headlight inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Same defect on 2011 Charger was subject to recall for wiring harness; 2015 Durango not recalled despite identical part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for identical defective wiring harness in 2015 Durango.
Synthesized from 86 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The rear LED license plate lights are corroded and need replacing. One does not work.
Rear taillight assembly has water caused by a manufacture defect of not properly sealing light assembly. Vehicle was taken to the local Dodge dealership and was told this is a common problem with light assembly. This is a saftey problem and a recall should be issued. This can cause a rear end accident which will result in injuries. The vehicle used by a law enforcement agency's across the country…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 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 electrical problem on the 2015 Dodge Durango?
It's a meaningful issue. 86 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 53 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 32,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 49,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2015/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.