COOLER - ENGINE OIL
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Dodge Durango engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Dodge Durango have filed 12 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
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Durango | 23 |
| 2016 Durango | 5 |
| 2017 Durango | 13 |
| 2018 Durango | 13 |
| 2019 Durango (this page) | 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
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WATER PUMP
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 coolant system failures tied to poor factory design. The coolant hose routing runs the length of the vehicle without adequate support, allowing it to rub against metal components underneath—particularly a metal pipe near the rear of the truck. Factory clamps sit too close to hoses, accelerating wear. The result: punctures, leaks pooling under the vehicle, and sudden overheating while driving. Several owners report the same failure recurring within six months of repair, with dealerships taking three weeks or longer to respond to warranty claims.
A separate cohort reports repeated head gasket failure starting at 30,000 miles, followed by cylinder misfire (cylinders 3 and 5) at higher mileage despite cam shaft replacement and regular maintenance. One owner encountered this cycle four times by 110,000 miles.
Additional issues include a persistent fuel smell inside and outside the cabin that remained unchanged after the dealership replaced the fuel tank and canister; unintended acceleration to 4000 RPM during a normal turn (one owner suspects connection to recall 22V426000, though the dealer stated no fix exists); stalling on steep grades without warning lights; water pump failure at 61,000 miles; and oil cooler failure reported as common for this engine but not recalled.
Same Dodge Durango engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Coolant line rubbing/abrasion damage
Factory-installed coolant hoses not properly secured or positioned, causing them to rub against adjacent metal components under the vehicle, resulting in punctures and significant coolant leaks.
When: 62,180 to 81,843 miles; recurring within 6-month intervals for some owners
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating; Check engine light illumination; Visible coolant pooling under vehicle; Smoke from under hood; Sudden loss of cooling function; Rapid temperature rise while driving
Codes mentioned: Check engine light present but specific codes not stated in narratives
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced radiator, radiator hoses, and thermostats; independent mechanic identified factory clamp positioned too close to tube; mechanics noted hose access requires removal of rear undercarriage components
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge advised owners to take vehicle to authorized dealer; owners report filing multiple claims with no response or resolution after 3+ weeks
Fuel system odor/leak
Strong gasoline smell inside and outside vehicle; dealership replaced fuel tank and canister but issue persisted despite 1+ month service stay.
When: 57,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strong gasoline odor inside cabin; Strong gasoline odor outside vehicle; Persistent smell even after fuel system component replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel tank and canister replaced; odor remained unchanged after repair
Stalling without warning lights
Engine stalled on steep grades without illuminating check engine or warning lights; owner suspected fuel delivery issue; car restarted normally after cooling period.
When: Undisclosed mileage, mountain driving at 20 mph on steep grade
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stall on steep grade; Engine hesitation upon restart attempts; Engine dies after momentary startup; No warning lights on dashboard prior to stall
Unintended rapid acceleration
Engine unexpectedly raced to approximately 4000 RPM during slow turn; driver regained control by braking hard, shifting to neutral, and turning off engine; owner suspects connection to recall 22V426000.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid unintended acceleration to 4000 RPM; Engine throttle spike during normal driving; Throttle remained elevated when shifted to neutral
Codes mentioned: Possibly related to recall 22V426000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated no fix currently available for recall 22V426000
Head gasket failure and cylinder misfire
Multiple blown head gaskets within short mileage intervals; subsequent cylinder misfire in cylinders 5 and 3; owner reports regular maintenance and oil changes performed.
When: 30,000 miles (first head gasket); repeated failures through 110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light; All dashboard warning lights illuminated; Cylinder misfire (cylinders 5 and 3); Multiple blown head gaskets
Codes mentioned: Cylinder 5 misfire detected, Cylinder 3 misfire detected
Repairs/costs cited: Cam shaft replaced; head gasket replaced multiple times; cylinders showing continued misfire despite repairs
Water pump failure
Water pump failed resulting in coolant leak; owner notes that older model years have extended warranties for this same issue but newer 2019 model does not.
When: 61,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leak; Engine overheating
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Older model years offered extended warranties for water pump failure; 2019 model year not covered under such program according to owner
EVAP system vacuum leak
Engine light triggered by vacuum leak in evaporative emission system; dealership diagnosis confirmed but repair status not stated.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: EVAP (evaporative emission system) vacuum leak identified
Oil cooler failure
Oil cooler failed; owner's mechanic reports this is a common problem with this engine type but no recall has been issued.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Oil cooler failure
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Oil cooler failure .I am concerned because my mechanic says this is a common problem with this type of motor. Why isn't it recall.
From my understanding, I went to several different mechanics who all said the same thing. 2019 and maybe older years, the way the truck was made, the coolant hose runs all the way from the resovoir to the back of the truck which is causing a metal pipe and the coolant hose to touch and when the metal pipe gets hot, it’s eating at the hose cause a significant leakage under the truck. And the hose…
Upon making slow turn I experiance a rapid unintended acceleration. Engine raced to about 4000 RPM. In order to get vehicle under control brakes were applied to maximum and vehicle was shifted into neutral which caused engine to throttle higher but driver was able to turn off vehicle and safely come to a stop. After restarting vehicle throttle reurned to normal functioning. I was lucky there…
Had engine trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 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 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 42,997 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/2019/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.