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The 2021 Dodge Durango has 185 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2021 Dodge Durango has 185 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is lighting at 61 complaints, typically surfacing around 46,340 miles (~$250 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Durango | 228 | 0 |
| 2019 Durango | 139 | 0 |
| 2020 Durango | 53 | 0 |
| 2021 Durango (this page) | 185 | 2 |
| 2022 Durango | 53 | 2 |
| 2023 Durango | 33 | 1 |
| 2024 Durango | 10 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2021 Dodge Durango SUV 4WD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 18,512 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Auto leveling headlights are pointed too low, not providing enough lit view of the road at night. This is a constant issue and not intermittent. Not being able to see far enough ahead of a vehicle travelling at the speed limit, could cause harm or even death to the operator,…
I keep receiving error messages on my vehicle, I spoke to a dealership and they stated that there is in fact for a recall.
Forward collision service warning came on me vehicle when there was nothing near my car and the weather was only slight rain. Why hasn’t this issue been a recall when I’ve read dozens of other complaints for this same issue.
The drivers side daytime running light led failed at approximately 56,000 miles and less than 4 years. The dealer (Dover Dodge) has informed me that the LED can’t simply be replaced , but the entire headlight has to be replaced for $1,400 dollars including labor. This component…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A damaged rear spoiler could detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 185 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Dodge Durango is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2021 Dodge Durango is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 39 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the lighting first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 61 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,340 miles. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 185 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is lighting. Typical failure occurs around 46,340 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is lighting, with 61 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,340 miles. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop.
The lighting is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 46,340 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 185 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $250, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.