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2016 Dodge Durango problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Dodge Durango are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 60 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).
Does the 2016 Dodge Durango have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 45 of 101 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Durango concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under power train (30). For comparison, the 2015 scores 35% and the 2017 scores 47%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Dodge Durango years
Of the 13 Dodge Durango years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (45%). The worst is the 2023 (52%), the best the 2018 (27%). By volume, the 2016 drew 161 complaints (45 drivetrain), against 503 for the 2015 and 212 for the 2017.
Dodge Durango years to avoid and best years →
2011 Durango problems · 2012 Durango problems · 2013 Durango problems · 2014 Durango problems · 2015 Durango problems · 2016 · 2017 Durango problems · 2018 Durango problems · 2019 Durango problems · 2020 Durango problems · 2021 Durango problems · 2022 Durango problems · 2023 Durango problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Dodge Durango
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Dodge Durango said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 45 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Dodge Durango fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Dodge Durango involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 10, 2016, to April 28, 2016 and equipped with a 3.6L engine built at the Saltillo engine plant. During the assembly of the engine, the fuel rail crossover tube may have been damaged, which, over time, may result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly for damage to the fuel rail crossover tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Dodge Durango? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Dodge Durango
Does the 2016 Dodge Durango have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 45 of 101 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Durango concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Dodge Durango?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Dodge Durango is exterior lighting: 53 of 161 complaints (33%) name it, followed by electrical system (40) and power train (30). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 45% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Dodge Durango reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 45% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Dodge Durango years we score, it ranks 5th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Dodge Durango?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Dodge Durango involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 16V814000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Dodge Durango years are better?
Among the Dodge Durango years we track, the 2018 (27%), the 2014 (31%) and the 2015 (35%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (45%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-durango
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.