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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the full size suv segment

2008 Dodge Durango vs 2008 Toyota 4Runner

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-05-03 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2008 Dodge Durango and 2008 Toyota 4Runner are nearly tied on reliability data

Two direct rivals running close on the data. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.9 versus 3.9), and both have similar complaint patterns. At this margin, choose based on what specifically matters to your use case rather than overall scoring.

2008 Dodge Durango

3.9/5
Reliability score
97 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$11,450 repair exposure
vs

2008 Toyota 4Runner

3.9/5
Reliability score
96 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$12,200 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Direct rivals running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores within rounding distance (3.9 for the 2008 Dodge Durango, 3.9 for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner). When two vehicles in the same segment land this close, the data alone won't pick a winner.

If you lean 2008 Dodge Durango, know what you're getting into on airbags and fuel system. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2008 Toyota 4Runner sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2008 Toyota 4Runner? Watch the powertrain and body. The 2008 Dodge Durango has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2008 Dodge Durango
2008 Toyota 4Runner
airbags
24 reports
severe · ~$1,100
4 reports
severe · ~$1,100
powertrain
4 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
21 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
fuel system
19 reports
severe · ~$1,200
No reports
electrical
9 reports
severe · ~$850
4 reports
severe · ~$850
steering
8 reports
moderate · ~$700
5 reports
severe · ~$700
body
3 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
9 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
cruise control
No reports
12 reports
severe · ~$600
suspension
No reports
10 reports
severe · ~$900
brakes
No reports
9 reports
moderate · ~$450
engine
5 reports
severe · ~$3,100
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2008 Dodge Durango or the 2008 Toyota 4Runner?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.9 vs 3.9). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2008 Dodge Durango?

Compared to the 2008 Toyota 4Runner, the 2008 Dodge Durango sees more reported issues in airbags and fuel system. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2008 Toyota 4Runner?

Compared to the 2008 Dodge Durango, the 2008 Toyota 4Runner has more complaints in powertrain and body. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 0 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $12,200 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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