CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminates, Recent PCM Replace or Flash Update Performed, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P057B Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit Performance, P1572 Brake Pedal Stuck, C0042-54 Brake Pedal Missing Calibration
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Dodge Durango brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Durango | 15 |
| 2015 Durango | 4 |
| 2017 Durango | 3 |
| 2018 Durango (this page) | 14 |
| 2019 Durango | 17 |
| 2021 Durango | 4 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
Decreased Remote Start And RKE Range. Tire Pressure Sensors Values Are Not Displayed
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Module, Anti-lock brake system / Hydraulic Control Unit Some 2018-19 WD/WK vehicles have the brake lights staying on without depressing the brake pedal as an affect of DTC C1093-62 occurring or due to an internal failure in the HCU/ABS Module please contact FCA Redacted Content. If there is no response within 15 minutes of initiating your call, please - Obtain a vehicle scan report with the diagnostic environmental data. - Record the Primary Pressure Sensor value ($2002) and the Primary Pressure Sensor offset ($2007). - then, continue with your normal diagnostic process, if possible please avoid seperating the ECU and HCU.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Module, Anti-lock brake system / Hydraulic Control Unit Some 2018-19 WD/WK vehicles have the brake lights staying on without depressing the brake pedal as an affect of DTC C1093-62 occurring or due to an internal failure in the HCU/ABS Module please contact FCA Redacted Content. If there is no response within 15 minutes of initiating your call, please - Obtain a vehicle scan report with the diagnostic environmental data. - Record the Primary Pressure Sensor value ($2002) and the Primary Pressure Sensor offset ($2007). - then, continue with your normal diagnostic process.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Module, Anti-lock brake system / Hydraulic Control Unit Some 2018-19 WD/WK vehicles have the brake lights staying on without depressing the brake pedal as an affect of DTC C1093-62 occurring or due to an internal failure in the HCU/ABS Module please contact FCA Redacted Content. If there is no response within 15 minutes of initiating your call, please continue with your normal diagnostic process.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Dodge Durango brake complaints center on a systemic Hydraulic Control Unit/ABS module problem that appears to span multiple design generations and recall campaigns (22V-426, 23E-019, 24V-838). Owners report that ABS and check engine lights illuminate, the pedal becomes unresponsive, and shifter locks in park—sometimes all together. One owner's brake pedal failed entirely at 25 mph, causing a crash with deployed airbags. The real headache is the recall mess: parts remain unavailable for months, dealers mark repairs complete without doing them, and VIN eligibility lists exclude vehicles that contain the exact defective HCU parts they're supposed to address. One owner paid $1,578.41 out of pocket for an HCU replacement when his VIN wasn't on the recall list, despite his module having a Julian Date code (8201) within the supposedly defective range.
Beyond the ABS module, owners report premature rear brake pad wear (under 1 mm at 9,000 miles on a new truck), constant brake squeaking, calipers hitting pads, and spontaneous brake activation with warning chimes—sometimes with no warning light showing first. The ABS module failures also cascade into other systems: one owner lost AWD, cruise control, and park assist simultaneously when the module failed. A pending recall (94B) for ABS lockup issues has been repeatedly delayed past announced timelines.
Same Dodge Durango brakes reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
HCU/ABS Module Defects & Recall Delays
Hydraulic Control Unit / Anti-Lock Brake System modules are failing or malfunctioning, triggering ABS and ESC warning lights. Owners report difficulty completing recalls 22V-426, 23E-019, and 24V-838 due to parts shortages, incorrect VIN eligibility lists, and dealer refusal to honor recalls after marking them complete despite unresolved defects. One owner had a HCU module with Julian Date code 8201 installed despite being within a defective range supposedly excluded from production.
When: Failures reported between 9,000 and 65,000 miles; recall notification delays and non-completion spanning months
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illumination; ESC/Check engine warning lights; Brake warning lights; Intermittent starting difficulty; Gear shifter failure to move out of park without excessive brake pedal pressure; False pressure readings in primary circuit
Codes mentioned: HCU/ABS module fault codes, Service brake/hydraulic control circuit codes
Repairs/costs cited: HCU/ABS module replacement required; one owner paid $1,578.41 out of pocket after VIN was not on recall list despite having defective part Julian Date code 8201; parts consistently unavailable or on backorder; dealer diagnostics quoted at $3,000–$5,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 22V-426 (completed but failure still occurred), 23E-019 (VIN eligibility issues reported), 24V-838 (parts not available, recall marked complete without repair performed)
Premature Brake Pad Wear
Rear brake pads wearing excessively fast on low-mileage vehicles, with one owner reporting less than 1 mm remaining at 9,000 miles. Front pads at 4 mm at the same mileage. Another vehicle exhibited constant squeaking with worn brakes at 17,500 miles, expected to have 25,000+ miles of life remaining.
When: 9,000 to 17,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pad wear below normal lifespan; Constant brake squeaking; Rear pads worn to critical levels (<1 mm) while fronts still at 4 mm
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended rear brake pad replacement at 9,000 miles on a vehicle purchased new with 300 miles; customer reports other dealers found this abnormal; brake fluid and rotor cleaning attempted without resolving squeaking
Brake Pedal Failure & Unresponsiveness
Brake pedal loss of function or delayed response during driving, including one crash at 25 mph where the pedal did not respond. Another owner reports the pedal locks and takes excessive time to depress during normal braking.
When: One failure at 24,000 miles; another at undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal failure to respond during emergency braking; Brake pedal locking or sticking; Slow pedal travel
Codes mentioned: HECU failure codes
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required HECU replacement but was not repaired; crash resulted in airbag deployment
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V-426 recall had been completed on one vehicle before failure occurred
Brake Pads & Caliper Noise
Loud popping or squeaking sounds during braking, including calipers hitting brake pads. One owner with 21,787 miles reports a loud pop during full stops; dealer states calipers are hitting pads with no remedy offered.
When: 21,787 miles and ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Loud popping sound during full stop; Constant squeaking during braking; Caliper-to-pad contact noise
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable or unwilling to repair; advised no solution available
Unintended Braking & False ABS Activation
Vehicle alerts driver to brake unnecessarily, with dashboard 'BRAKE' warning flashing and audible alarm sounding. One owner reports the vehicle braked automatically once while driving with children present. Another owner notes ABS locked up easily on icy conditions despite 94B recall intended to address this.
When: Mileage not specified; recall 94B scheduled for 'first quarter of 2025' but not completed
Symptoms owners cite: False brake warning alerts; Unnecessary braking activation; Automatic braking while driving; ABS lockup on icy conditions; Dashboard 'BRAKE' flashing warnings; Alarm sounding without brake need
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA issued notice that affected owner's VIN was not included in recall, yet same symptoms present; recall 94B promised completion delayed beyond announced timeline
ABS Module Cascading System Failures
ABS module failure causing secondary system shutdowns, including all-wheel drive, cruise control, and park assist disabling simultaneously.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: ABS module failure; AWD disablement; Cruise control disablement; Parksense disablement
Codes mentioned: ABS module fault codes
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Anti lock brakes do not work. First icy conditions it locked up easily. 94B recall was supposed to be "first quarter of 2025"
Had brakes trouble with your 2018 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 brakes problem on the 2018 Dodge Durango?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 29,957 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2018/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.