8.5
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,670
- Average Mileage:
- 76,000 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 13 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (7 reports)
- warranty not honored and have to repair ourselves (6 reports)
Wash and wax my car weekly... everything on the car is beautiful except the tailgate and below the gas cap.
Gas gets under the paint where the gas neck is mounted and caused the quarter panel to rust... every Durango does this ... bad design... should be covered by Chrysler....
Tailgate started rusting at 40K... was told they would not warranty this as it had not rusted through. The trim on the tailgate latch rubs the paint causing it to fail... I now have a 3 inch hole that I proudly display ... This is the sign of a true Chrysler Product....
Rusty but goes like heck until the 4 wheel drive locks up and causes a crash...
Bought this one new... I wish it would be fixed by Dodge as both of these issues are their fault... bad engineering design and not standing behind their products...
At least I can continue to advertise this problem each time I drive my awesome except for the rusty Dodge...
- David P., 43209, OH, US
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Dodge is fully aware of this rusting issue with their 04 Durangos. I have seen hundreds of these vehicles and I stop and speak with the owner and they also contacted Dodge to know avail.
It shouldn't matter how much mileage is on the vehicle the point is we need this fixed. Perhaps we should all get together and file a class action law suit.
- Melissa P., Elkton, MD, US
Well here it goes, Dodge should have fixed this problem with the rust under the gas cap on the driver side, back in 2004-05 and put more paint on the bumpers. I have seen about a 100 or more like my Durango, rusted in same place. I think Dodge should stand behind their cars & trucks as much we the customer pay for them. If they did, they would probably sell more cars & suvs. I would be happy if Dodge would fix my Durango. Yeah, like that's going to happen.
- rap2003mo, Saint James, MO, US
Just wanted to join the apparent masses who seem to also be frustrated with the driver-side rear quarter panel rusting issue on an otherwise great vehicle! I agree with those of you who have posted that it is clearly a manufacturer flaw since it is such a common occurrence. I would hope Dodge has found a way for us to continue enjoying our vehicles. I'm getting afraid to drive mine in fear of being ticketed for littering from the decomposing fender parts falling off on the roadways!
- John W., Uniontown, OH, US
2004 dodge durango rust bucket. Durango rusting horrible under drivers side door as well as both rear quarter panels. See many complaints of same rust areas on many other durangos. Seems dodge needs to stand by their product. No vehicle should be rusted out this bad at 10 years old.
- Kelly G., Tunkhannock, PA, US
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THE VERY 1ST TIME I NOTICED THE PAINT BUBBLING MY 2004 DURANGO HOOD, I HAD 32,000 MILE ON IT AND IT WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT WASN'T REAL BAD BUT YOU CAN SOMETHING BAD WAS STARTING. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEN THE REAL PROBLEM STARTED AT 49,000 MILES OVER THE FUEL FILL ON THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL STARTED BUBBLING REALLY BAD AND THEN TURNED TO CANCER AND ITS CONTINUING TO SPREAD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER DOOR. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT SAYING I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I FOUND THIS SITE ONLINE WHERE I FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUES. WE ALL PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THESE SUVS TO HAVE ENDED UP WITH RUST BUCKETS. WE SHOULD ALL GET TOGETHER AND FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE.
- serrot40, Waterford Works, NJ, US
Drivers side rear quarter panel paint started bubbling and then became a big hole. I had it fixed and they put some new sheet metal over the hole and repainted. Unfortunately, only a few months later the part that didn't get sheet metal is rusting and bubbling again. I have seen many Durangos with the same problem and it is definitely a manufacturer defect.
- Jeanine M., Harleysville, PA, US
The paint started bubbling initially on left rear quarter panel under gas tank as others have listed also.....now chipping off in pieces. Back gate is rusted all the way through under license plate. Also under driver door, big pieces coming off and now bubbling on front and right front quarter panel. Cant afford to repair all this:(
- nwooster, Jensen Beach, FL, US
In March 2009, I purchased a used 2004 Dodge Durango from Steve Winkler Chevrolet in Paris, IL. Within 5 months, the left back panel paint started bubbling . By December 2009, the entire back panel up to the gas tank cap was bubbled and starting to rust.
I took the car to a body shop and they informed me this was definitely a manufacturing defect - under the panel was not sealed allowing moisture to accumulate between the panel and frame. There was still some warranty on it for the body so I returned it to the dealer to see what could be done. They first told me it was because the car was not garaged during the winter (load of bull since it sat on their lot from Dec 2008 until I purchased it). They then told me that it would not be covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
Per the body shop, the entire panel has to be replaced for a cost of $1800 (Dodge hasn't released the car to allow "generic" parts to be manufactured so replacement parts have to be purchased from Dodge.) Not only that, the car had chrome side mirrors which also bubbled and peeled off (I'll be issuing another complaint on that!).
I'll never buy another Dodge nor purchase another car from the above dealer again.
- kghouck4, Paris, IL, US
Seriously this is the biggest gas guzzling POS. Instrament panel problems, something with the transmission/engine when it rains it stalls out. All recalled problems fixed for now. now the lift gate is rusted all the way through next to the plate , does anyone know if this is covered by Dodge, all body shop estimators are shocked at the rust considering it is only 5 1/2 years old. DO NOT BUY DODGE
- gattolin, Buffalo Grove, IL, US
Truck was 3 years old and only 38,000 miles when the drivers side rear quarter panel paint was bubbling up in 3 places and the entire rear deck had "rainbow effect" with the entire surface showing paint giving away to rust. When taken to the dealership the assistant manager stated it appeared to be a clear warranty claim. He took pictures for the Dodge rep and then had me drop off the truck the following week for the Dodge reps. visit. The rep never showed up. I was asked to leave the truck a second time and the Dodge rep did not show again. I then called Dodge customer service which was in India and had to report it to 2 different people who then kept telling me they would connect me with Detroit in which I was disconnected on two different occasions. I sent e-mails and finally received a response that my claim hand been denied even though the rep had never shown up and looked at my truck. I finally, on my own, found a number in Detroit and eventually got to a "Senior Customer Rep". After detailing all the problems and then explaining that this was my 8th Dodge purchase in 13 year time span and thought honoring the warranty for a long time loyal customer would go a long way to keeping a customer I was told that the ruling would stand, even after they acknowledged the Dodge rep never saw the vehicle. I then re-iterated that I had 4 Dodge vehicles in my driveway with replacement value of $150,000 and asked if I should look at replacing them with a different manufacturer and was told that if I felt that was what I felt was best and that I was not the only customer that the warranty would not be honored for.
This is the last Dodge I will every buy. Proof of why Dodge/Chrysler has lost so much market share.
- campkathy, Rockford, IL, US
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I bought a 2004 Dodge Durango SLT with 29339 miles on it. It rained the hole week when i got it so it was dirty. When i got it washed and looked it over carefully i noticed rust spots all over. Both front doors have rust and some on the lower body. The front hood has some rust in the inside and the rear hatch has rust in the inside and outside. The two rear doors have a few little spot from rocks hitting the door. I went to the dealer to see the body shop and they are currently waiting for chrysler to see if they will pay for the rust problem.
- Joe B., Livonia, MI, US
Rusting started on back by plate, has now spread to back drivers side panel, and now the doors. I have seen many others with same type of problems, and called dealers - and they have offered no help at all except pay myself...
I will next consult a lawyer I guess, because this is obviously a manufacture problem. Vehicle is never in elements, always in garage.
- Richard C., Britt, US