COOLER - ENGINE OIL
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Dodge Durango engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Durango | 44 |
| 2015 Durango | 23 |
| 2016 Durango | 5 |
| 2017 Durango | 13 |
| 2018 Durango (this page) | 13 |
| 2019 Durango | 12 |
| 2020 Durango | 4 |
| 2021 Durango | 12 |
| 2022 Durango | 4 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
COOLER - ENGINE OIL
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ● **P0111-00 - Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Range Performance Bank 1. (In Active or Stored status) ● P0071-00 - Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Performance. (In Active or Stored status) ● P0072-00 - Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit "A" Low. (In Active or Stored status) ● P0073-00 - Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit "A" High. (In Active or Stored status) ● P0011-00 - Bank 1 Camshaft 1 Position Timing Over Advanced Or. (In Active or Stored status) ● P2
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Water Pump & Chain Case Cover
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Water Pump & Chain Case Cover
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two major failure clusters in 2018 Dodge Durango engines. The first involves catastrophic valvetrain damage: camshafts and lifters wear or fail suddenly, often without warning lights or with only late-stage cylinder misfires. Owners describe gradual valvetrain noise that progresses to pronounced knocking, metal debris in oil, worn camshaft lobes, and failed lifters requiring full engine replacement. One owner attributes this to inadequate oil delivery to the intake camshaft and rocker finger follower during cold starts below 30°F. Another believes it's a known issue with the 6.4L HEMI MDS system. A third notes a dealer-confirmed issue traced to improper heat treatment during manufacturing, hardening the steel incorrectly. Damage is often catastrophic—owners report metal contamination forcing complete engine replacement rather than component repair.
The second cluster involves head gasket and coolant failures. Owners report check engine lights followed by diagnosis of failed head gaskets allowing coolant into cylinders, causing misfires, overheating risk, and loss of power. These failures appear across both the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and 6.4L engines, with owners noting that they occur around 120,000 miles consistently, suggesting a design issue rather than isolated defect. A related failure involves coolant leaking into the engine and burning the starter. One owner also reports an oil pan gasket leak at 30,000 miles.
Same Dodge Durango engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Camshaft and lifter catastrophic failure (valvetrain wear)
Camshaft lobes wear down or fail suddenly; lifters fail; metal debris contaminates oil throughout engine. Damage progresses from gradual noise to sudden cylinder misfire and catastrophic wear requiring full engine replacement.
When: Variable: 53,272 miles (complaint #1), 66,700 miles (complaint #3), high mileage before detection
Symptoms owners cite: Gradual increase in valvetrain noise (ticking/tapping); Pronounced knocking or loud tapping during idle; Single cylinder misfire with check engine light and flashing; Loss of power during acceleration or highway driving; Vibration during idling; Engine shaking when misfiring
Codes mentioned: Cylinder 5 misfire (P0305 or similar), Cylinder 8 misfire (P0308 or similar), Multiple cylinder misfires
Repairs/costs cited: Metal debris in oil filter; camshaft and lifter replacement unsuccessful—full engine replacement required due to internal metal contamination. One owner had parts replaced under warranty at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #3: Dealer confirmed known issue due to improper heat treatment of steel; no recall or warranty coverage offered. Complaint #1: Warranty repair performed.
Head gasket failure with coolant intrusion
Head gasket fails, allowing coolant to leak into cylinders. Causes cylinder misfires, overheating risk, and engine damage. Owners note this occurs at similar mileage across vehicles, suggesting design issue.
When: Approximately 120,000 miles (complaint #4), 47,000 miles (complaint #9), variable across other reports
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Cylinder misfire; Overheating risk; Loss of power while driving; Engine requiring replacement
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes (cylinder-specific, e.g., P0300-P0308)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; repair shop assessed damage as catastrophic. Complaint #10 notes head gasket suspected but required off-site diagnosis.
Coolant leak with starter damage
Coolant leaks into engine, burning and damaging the starter motor. No warning lights initially; burning smell upon start attempts.
When: Approximately 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine fails to turn over; Burning odor on start attempts; No warning lights initially
Repairs/costs cited: Battery initially replaced (misdiagnosis); coolant leak and starter damage identified at dealer but vehicle not repaired. Owner told repair cost would be covered by manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; cost coverage promised but repair not completed per complaint.
Cold start valvetrain noise (oil starvation hypothesis)
Pronounced noise during cold starts below 30°F at idle, no load. Owner suspects inadequate oil delivery to intake camshaft and rocker finger follower interface during startup; oil appears fed only from exhaust side lash adjuster.
When: Noticed November 2024 at 53,272 miles; intermittent before warranty repair
Symptoms owners cite: Pronounced knocking/loud tapping noise during cold starts below 30°F; Noise diminishes as engine warms; Intake and exhaust camshaft damage (cylinder 5 worst affected); Metal debris in intake phaser
Codes mentioned: No check engine lights initially
Repairs/costs cited: Rocker finger follower, camshaft, and intake phaser replaced under warranty. Owner notes replacement parts are identical with no apparent design improvements; suspects issue will recur.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repair performed by dealer; parts available per owner request.
Oil pan gasket leak
Oil pan gasket worn and leaking oil at low mileage.
When: At or shortly after 30,000 miles (purchased at 30k with existing leak)
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from pan gasket
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement required; owner notes low quality Mopar parts.
Tensioner and pulley failure
Timing chain or serpentine belt tensioner and pulley failed at low mileage.
When: At or shortly after 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tensioner and pulley failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement required.
EVAP canister and sensor failure
EVAP emissions system component failure causing check engine light, abnormal drivability, and shaking.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: EVAP sensor code illuminates; Check engine light; Engine shaking and poor drivability; Vehicle running rough
Codes mentioned: EVAP sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel canister and sensor replaced; fuel system reworked.
Coolant leak and engine warning light (separate from head gasket)
Antifreeze leak when vehicle at idle, leaving residue in driveway. Poses safety risk to pets and wildlife.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Antifreeze leak during idle; Engine warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted in complaint.
A/C compressor noise
A/C compressor making abnormal noise (mentioned alongside coolant leak complaint).
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from A/C compressor
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified
Engine and transmission failure (SRT8)
Engine and transmission broke at very low mileage. Owner mentions factory error related to park lock rod causing transmission problems.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine and transmission failure
Repairs/costs cited: Under warranty; dealer compliant with repair. Owner notes factory manufacturing error and park lock rod issue mentioned.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer handling warranty repair.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I bought this car, brand new off the dealer and it has been in perfect shape until 120,000 miles. All of a sudden the check engine light comes in and turns out it was the head gasket!! 5 years old, hasn't needed a thing and the mechanic tells me I need a new engine!? What good is it if I buy a brand new car and take perfect care of it all to end up with the engine going to [XXX]. I have heard…
Doing some checking problems with this particular vehicle it seems that the water pump/ radiator has problems. My vehicle has a anti-freeze leak when at idle leaving a stream in the driveway. Thus causing a problem for pets and wildlife. The engine warning light has come on. The a/c compressor makes a noise also. FYI.
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2018 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 65,850 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.