Power Liftgate Inoperative.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Dodge Durango powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Durango | 41 |
| 2015 Durango | 38 |
| 2016 Durango | 30 |
| 2017 Durango | 22 |
| 2018 Durango (this page) | 13 |
| 2019 Durango | 10 |
| 2020 Durango | 3 |
| 2021 Durango | 10 |
| 2022 Durango | 9 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: P07E4, P1DB2, P0716, P1B14, P0733, P1D90, P1DB7, P1B13.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Transmission "Transmission For transmission concerns related to DTCs P0733-00, P1DA8-00, and/or P1D92-00, a repair is available, and transmission replacement is NOT required. Please reference TSB 21-009-25 Rev. A, for details on D-clutch replacement. Please also note, visible ""glitter"" or debris in the pan and fluid color/condition/odor is NOT an indicator of transmission health and should not be used as the reason for unit replacement. Complete unit replacements instead of repairs for these DTCs may be subject to chargeback."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Transmission For transmission concerns related to DTCs P0733-00, P1DA8-00, and/or P1D92-00, a repair is available, and transmission replacement is NOT required. Please reference TSB 21-009-25 Rev. A, for details on D-clutch replacement. Please also note, fluid color/condition/odor is NOT an indicator of transmission health and should not be used as the reason for unit replacement. Complete unit replacements instead of repairs for these DTCs may be subject to chargeback."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Plate - Planetary
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of transmission failures where the gearbox unexpectedly drops out of gear and into neutral at low and high mileage, with the engine revving but no power reaching the wheels. This happens during turns, highway driving, and reverse maneuvers—requiring shutdown and restart to restore function. At least one new vehicle required a full transmission replacement.
Water intrusion is a systemic concern. Rear axle actuator connectors absorb moisture and short out in wet weather, disabling all-wheel drive, cruise control, and other systems. Dealers confirm this affects multiple AWD Durangos and have no permanent fix; the manufacturer stated the issue will recur. Floorboards and brake light assemblies also leak, and some vehicles simply shut down during rain or snow.
Electrical gremlins plague many units: backup cameras, navigation, radios, and air conditioning work intermittently; windows stop responding to key-fob commands; interior lights cannot be turned off; and the entire electrical system randomly fails, going dark for days. One owner's reverse function shows a blinking gear indicator while the vehicle acts neutral. At high mileage, PCM failures trigger multiple warning lights, inability to restart, and batteries being drained by stuck electrical loads.
Engine knock and misfire codes persist even after spark plug and coil pack replacement. Transmissions produce hard thudding sensations during shift engagement and lock into first gear after load events. The park position itself fails, with vehicles rolling despite being shifted into park.
Same Dodge Durango powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission dropping to neutral unexpectedly
Transmission shifts out of gear (8th to neutral, or drive/reverse to neutral) while driving, causing complete loss of power. Engine revs but vehicle does not move. Requires park-ignition off-restart cycle to restore function.
When: Under 4000 miles on new vehicles; recurring across multiple driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission drops from 8th gear to neutral; Reverse shifts to neutral; Engine revs without power delivery; Transmission slipping; Occurs during turns, interstate driving, city streets, reverse, parking maneuvers; Check engine light comes on (does not stay illuminated)
Codes mentioned: P (unknown check engine code), ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
Repairs/costs cited: One consumer reported entire transmission replaced; dealer adjustment and recalibration attempts in other cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 18V280000 (powertrain); some vehicles excluded from recall coverage
Gear shift stuck in neutral
Gear shift becomes mechanically stuck or electronically locked in neutral position. Vehicle cannot be shifted out of neutral despite multiple attempts.
When: 29,080 miles and early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift stuck in neutral; Unable to shift out of neutral; No warning indicators prior to failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle excluded from NHTSA Campaign 18V280000; manufacturer did not provide repair solution
PCM/electrical control module failure
Powertrain Control Module malfunction causing loss of motive power, stalling, and inability to restart. Accompanied by multiple warning lights and electrical cascades.
When: 170,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving at highway speed; Vehicle nearly stalled; Multiple check engine and warning lights illuminated; Vehicle will not restart; Windows independently roll down despite ignition off; Vehicle rolls forward despite being in park
Codes mentioned: P (unknown code)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed battery drain and starter motor burnout secondary to electrical failure; PCM replacement advised
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised PCM software update had been missed
Water intrusion into wiring harness—axle actuator shorting
Water penetration into rear axle actuator wiring harness connector causes short circuit, triggering ESC warning lights and loss of all-wheel-drive function. Recurring issue; dealer stated repair is temporary and problem recurs in wet weather.
When: 300 miles on new vehicle; recurred at 1290 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All dash lights illuminate; ESC warning message displayed; Loss of AWD function; Loss of cruise control; Loss of other safety functions; Occurs in wet and snowy weather
Codes mentioned: ESC
Repairs/costs cited: Connector cleaned and axle actuator replaced; parts on backorder; harness connector redesign not available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty to 85 months; manufacturer stated issue is ongoing with no fix available; dealer advised problem will recur once driven in wet weather
Electrical system shorts and intermittent failures
Widespread intermittent electrical failures affecting multiple systems including backup camera, navigation, radio, air conditioning, map lights, and power window controls. Root cause not definitively diagnosed; possible battery backfeeding.
When: Around 4000 miles; ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera work intermittently; Navigation work intermittently; Radio work intermittently; A/C work intermittently; Map lights come on and cannot be turned off; Power windows malfunction (no longer auto roll down with key fobs); Electrical system power randomly fails; all lights go out; screen stops working; Reverse gear indicator blinks; vehicle acts as if in neutral when reverse selected; Engine revs but vehicle will not reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Overhead control panel replaced due to open circuit; battery initially suspected but diagnosis incomplete
Engine knock and misfire
Engine knock and misfire on cylinder 3 despite component replacement. Check engine light flashing. Auto stop/start function malfunctioning.
When: Ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knocking; Check engine light flashing; Engine misfire on cylinder 3; Auto stop/start does not work properly; Vehicle loses power during auto stop/start attempts; Whole vehicle vibrates and shakes
Codes mentioned: Cylinder 3 misfire, Lost communication of body control module
Repairs/costs cited: Coil packs and spark plugs replaced; all filters replaced; issue persists
Ignition and starting failures
Vehicle fails to start or starts intermittently. Ignition may remain in RUN position without engaging start or shutting down properly. Potentially related to PCM or electrical control issues.
When: Early in ownership and at high mileage (170k)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to restart; Ignition stuck in RUN position; Vehicle randomly will not start; Vehicle will not start after rain/wet weather exposure
Repairs/costs cited: Starter motor burnout diagnosed; battery replacement needed
Water intrusion causing electrical shutdown in wet weather
Vehicle shuts down completely when exposed to rain or snow. Brake light assemblies leak water; floorboards become soaked. Electrical system fails intermittently or permanently after wet weather exposure.
When: Recurring; ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stops or shuts down while driving in rain; Vehicle will not start after rain/snow exposure; Brake lights leak water; Floorboards soaked when raining; Vehicle randomly shifting out of gear
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states customer is on own; no resolution offered
Transmission shudder and clunk on shift engagement
Hard blow or thudding sensation when shifting from park to drive or park to reverse. Shudder and vibration increasing in frequency over time.
When: Days after purchase; increasing in frequency
Symptoms owners cite: Strong blow/thud when shifting from P to D; Strong blow/thud when shifting from P to R; Occurring more frequently over time
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no apparent issue
Transmission limp-mode after loss of power event
After loud thud noise during acceleration maneuver, transmission locks into first gear and will not shift above 1st. Cruise control disengages.
When: While driving on interstate using cruise control
Symptoms owners cite: Loud thud noise from transmission during acceleration; Vehicle slows after noise; Cruise control disengages; Transmission will not shift above 1st gear; Vehicle stuck in limp mode
Park position failure—vehicle rolls out of park
Vehicle will not stay in park and shifts back into drive. Vehicle can roll despite being shifted to park.
When: While coming to slow stop in driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not stay in park; Vehicle shifts back from park to drive; Vehicle rolls despite park engagement
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
TIPM failure
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 46,769 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.