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…
2016 Dodge Durango electrical problems
moderate 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 32 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Dodge Durango, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 32 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.
Electrical accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Electrical gremlins plague this generation Durango—from mysterious power losses mid-drive to water-logged taillights and recurring software resets that dealers can't or won't fix. The money to diagnose and repair these issues adds up fast, and safety issues like unintended acceleration and stalling in traffic make this a risky buy without a thorough electrical inspection by an independent shop.
Owners of 2016 Durangos describe a wide range of electrical failures, often with safety implications. Multiple owners report unexpected engine shutdowns while driving at highway speeds or in intersections, with loss of power steering and inability to restart without waiting an hour or getting a jump-start. Several mention the vehicle going into park on its own mid-drive or displaying "Shift to P before changing gears" errors that kill acceleration in traffic.
Two early incidents involved unintended acceleration during parking maneuvers at low mileage (~3000 miles), with dealers unable to diagnose a root cause despite finding ECM broken contact initially. One owner's vehicle experienced complete electrical lockup—flashing lights, beeping, unresponsive buttons, locked doors—after a sudden stop at 20 mph.
The racetrack-style rear taillights are a widespread complaint: they collect water during rain, short out LEDs, and corrode wiring. Replacement costs exceed $1,100 and the problem recurs in some vehicles even after prior replacement. One owner was quoted $1,100 to replace water-damaged rear lighting after a $1,100-plus prior repair.
Alternator failures, TIPM module failures, and F13 fuse melting have been reported. Dashboard lights malfunction; Bluetooth and radio freeze; AC activates randomly. Headlights and turn signals blink due to moisture under the hood. Dealers consistently report "no problem found" or "no codes recorded" despite clear electrical events, sometimes refusing to diagnose or repair issues unless the owner experiences the failure three times. Owners express frustration that similar failures in other Chrysler models triggered recalls but the Durango remains unaddressed.
Same Dodge Durango electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates without driver input, typically during low-speed maneuvers like parking. Multiple incidents reported over consecutive days, with dashboard going blank during later occurrences. Dealership diagnostics found ECM broken contact on first visit but later reported no problem found.
When: ~3000 miles; incidents on consecutive days in October
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates unintentionally while making left turns into parking spots; Requires firm brake application and engine off to stop; Dashboard goes completely blank during later incidents
Codes mentioned: ECM broken contact (reported on first visit only)
Repairs/costs cited: Purchasing dealer (Suburban Chrysler, Farmington Hills MI) reported 'no problem found' after two days in service; out-of-area dealer read fault codes showing ECM broken contact on initial visit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Consumer mentions belief issue may be related to cruise control recall; dealer suggested weather tech as possible cause
Loss of power and electrical shutdown while driving
Engine shuts off completely while driving at highway or intersection speeds. Vehicle loses power steering, loses ability to restart without extended wait time or jump-start. Multiple service attempts fail to replicate or permanently fix issue. Wheels lock up in at least one case.
When: Various speeds 20-70 mph; mileage ranges from new to 105,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or shuts off while driving; Loss of power steering; Vehicle won't restart or requires 1+ hour wait before restarting; Wheels lock up at 20 mph in one case; Service power steering, electric stability control, and airbag warning lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: Service power steering warning, Service electric stability control warning, Control service airbag warning
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealers unable to duplicate failure; dealer diagnosed TIPM failure and attempted repair ~5 times, but failure recurred each time; alternator tested good in one case but no permanent solution found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and provided case numbers in at least one instance; NHTSA Campaign 14V530000 (Electrical System) mentioned by one owner but VIN not included in campaign
Erratic electrical behavior and system resets
Dashboard, radio, and infotainment system malfunction with error messages, freezing, random beeping, and repeated power cycling. Buttons and controls become unresponsive during events. Seatbelts fail to lock during sudden stops. Multiple complaints of 'no codes recorded' by dealers despite clear electrical events.
When: Early ownership (16 months old on lease); incidents happen without warning
Symptoms owners cite: All dash lights flash on and off repeatedly; Radio and infotainment screen freeze or won't respond; Error messages ('Shift to P before changing gears') stop acceleration mid-traffic; Car beeps continuously for 2-3 minutes; Buttons and controls unresponsive (door locks, windows); Seatbelts fail to lock during emergency stop; Headlights, rear lights, brake lights work intermittently or fail completely
Codes mentioned: Random error messages on infotainment display, No codes recorded in PCM per multiple dealership visits
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers showed owners manual computer reset procedure; no permanent repair found; one mechanic advised entire wiring harness is bad and cannot be repaired but continues attempting part repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge corporate told one owner car is 'functioning as designed' but cannot guarantee safety; required three incidents before considering claim; refused vehicle swap
Shift interlock / shift to park warnings
Vehicle displays 'Shift to P before changing gears' message mid-driving, causing complete loss of acceleration. Vehicle stops in traffic requiring restart. Issue recurs over multiple trips and mechanics cannot replicate consistently. One case involves vehicle going into park while driving.
When: Recurring across multiple trips; no warning prior to onset
Symptoms owners cite: Error message 'Shift to P before changing gears' appears while driving; Acceleration stops immediately; Vehicle requires complete restart before shifting to drive again; In one case, vehicle goes into park while driving at speed
Codes mentioned: Shift to park error message
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership and independent mechanics inspected shifter and could not find or replicate issue
Water ingress in rear racetrack taillight assembly
Rear taillights collect water in lower corners and along seals, especially during rain. Water causes LED shorts, corrosion of wiring, and light failure. Stress cracks in assembly noted by service techs. Affects both reverse lights and main brake light visibility. Very common complaint appearing in owner forums.
When: Occurs during rainy conditions; can happen repeatedly even after prior replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible in lower right and left corners of taillight lens; LED bulbs short out from moisture exposure; Tail lights and reverse lights fail to illuminate; License plate light wiring disintegrates from corrosion; Lights flicker on and off; Visibility of rear lights decreases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement cost quoted at $1100+ for LED racetrack lighting; one owner already replaced lights once and water ingress recurred; service tech identified 'stress crack' in taillight assembly; some owners replaced racetrack lighting only to have problem reoccur
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned; owners note this is a 'commonly known yet not addressed' issue; extended warranty denied coverage in at least one case
Alternator failure
Alternator malfunction or failure causes battery drain, inability to start, and loss of all electrical power. Vehicle stalls in intersection. Mechanic noted same issue occurred in other Chrysler model that was recalled.
When: ~98,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery gets worn out despite replacements; Vehicle stalls while driving; All power lost; vehicle won't start; Power steering goes out; Unable to restart without jump-start or extended wait
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic replaced alternator; however, unclear if this was the root cause or if other systems (PCM) were also affected
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Same-year Chrysler model has alternator recall; no recall issued for Durango despite similar complaints
TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) failure
TIPM electrical control module fails, causing multiple electrical system malfunctions. Vehicle has been repaired for TIPM failure multiple times but failure recurs each visit.
When: ~98,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off and steering wheel becomes inoperable; Vehicle fails to restart or requires extended wait to restart
Codes mentioned: TIPM failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to approximately 5 different dealers; diagnosed with TIPM failure and repaired ~5 times; failure recurred each time; vehicle was not repaired after final attempt
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V530000 (Electrical System) exists but VIN was not included in campaign
F13 fuse failure and melting
F13 fuse constantly fries and melts into fuse box, causing burning smell and loss of specific vehicle functions like blower motor. No warning lights illuminate to alert driver.
When: Recurring electrical faults
Symptoms owners cite: F13 fuse melts into fuse box; Electrical burning smell; Blower motor and other circuits stop working; No warning lights alert driver to issue
Headlight and turn signal moisture and blinking
Headlight assembly and turn signal blink or malfunction due to water and moisture in compartment under hood. Issue recurs after prior repair.
When: At least 1 year after prior repair (February 2018 repair; issue returned by February 2019)
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side headlight assembly blinks when right turn signal used; Day time running light (strip) blinks during turn signal use; Water and moisture found in compartment under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership cleaned and reassembled electrical connections in hood compartment; repair lasted ~1 year before recurrence
Radio and infotainment shutdown/malfunction
Radio and infotainment screen won't shut off even when vehicle is off; screen freezes during operation. Bluetooth connectivity drops and reconnects erratically, volume jumps randomly. In one case, screen failed to illuminate and froze.
When: Early ownership; recurring episodes
Symptoms owners cite: Radio and screen won't power off when vehicle is off; Screen freezes and becomes unresponsive; Bluetooth disconnects and reconnects randomly; Volume jumps to maximum without user input; Screen doesn't light up or freezes operation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers attempted repairs for radio and electrical issues but problems recurred; mechanics taught owners manual computer reset as temporary fix
AC/climate control malfunction
AC system activates randomly when vehicle is off or when only heat is desired, cycling on unexpectedly during winter months.
When: Winter operation
Symptoms owners cite: AC kicks on randomly without driver input; AC activates when only heat is needed; AC cycles on when vehicle is off
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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.
Tail light bar across back collects water (bad seals). Now has shorted out and tail light bar and tag lights do not work. Not covered under my extended warranty
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Dodge durango. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to lose power and the service power steering, service electric stability, and control service air bag warning indicators illuminated. The contact veered to the shoulder of the road and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to place the gear in park, but it did not resume normal operation. The vehicle was towed…
The car will just turn off, requiring it be placed in park and restarted.
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 32 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 36,000 and 58,500 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 58,500. 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/2016/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.