Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2021-01-27 and 2026-08-31. Median delay from incident to filing: 17 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 10.9 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 12.0 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 29 complaints, 53% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Lighting (35.7% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.6%) and Engine (12.1%). Lighting complaints are 22.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Lighting reports, owners most often mention “daytime running”, “running light”, “side daytime”, “headlight” and “drl”. 13 reports (6.5%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 46 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (52% of incidents). In the last 12 months 67 new complaints were filed, versus 55 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for this model year. 48% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses.
Safety recalls (8)
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE Campaign 26V528000 · 2026-08-13
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Dodge Durango vehicles. The rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, possibly resulting in damage to the spoiler during liftgate use.
Risk: A damaged rear spoiler may detach and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace or repair the spoiler and align the liftgate as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning September 10, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 61D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 20, 2026. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 21V842 or 23V115. Vehicles repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 24V436000 · 2024-06-13 · Over-the-air fix
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 66B and 79B.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE Campaign 23V115000 · 2023-02-23
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Dodge Durango vehicles. The rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, resulting in damage to the spoiler during liftgate use.
Risk: A damaged rear spoiler can detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear spoiler, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 20A. This recall is an expansion of recall number 21V-842.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) Campaign 22V284000 · 2022-04-28
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z31.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION Campaign 22V154000 · 2022-03-14
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango and 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The steering gear rack bar may have been insufficiently hardened during manufacturing, possibly allowing it to bind within the steering rack, and resulting in difficulty steering or a loss of steering control.
Risk: Difficulty steering, or a loss of steering control, can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 12, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-852-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z18.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE Campaign 22V140000 · 2022-03-10
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.
STRUCTURE:BODY Campaign 21V842000 · 2021-10-28
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Durango vehicles. The rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, resulting in damage to the spoiler during liftgate use.
Risk: A damaged rear spoiler could detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear spoiler, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y73.
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS Campaign 21V280000 · 2021-04-22
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Durango vehicles. The Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) fastener may be loose or missing.
Risk: A loose or missing fastener may cause the side curtain air bag to deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten or replace the fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent on May 7, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y16.
How to check whether your car has an open recall ›
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Dodge Durango?
199 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Dodge Durango, or about 35.1 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Dodge Durango?
The most common category is Lighting, accounting for 35.7% of complaints.
Does the 2021 Dodge Durango have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 safety recall(s) for this model year.
Is the 2021 Dodge Durango still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 67 new complaints were filed, versus 55 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2021 Dodge Durango compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 199 owner complaints about the 2021 Dodge Durango, or 35.1 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.83, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #57 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Dodge models its rate is 174% higher; against other Midsize SUVs it is 34% lower.