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2020 Dodge Durango problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
51%
22 of 43 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Dodge Durango are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 32 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2020 Dodge Durango have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 22 of 43 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Dodge Durango concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under power train (11). For comparison, the 2019 scores 42% and the 2021 scores 35%. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
22
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
75
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
5 crashes · 9 injuries

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING23 · 31%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13 · 17%
POWER TRAIN11 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 12%
ENGINE9 · 12%
AIR BAGS8 · 11%

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 2020 compares with other Dodge Durango years

Of the 13 Dodge Durango years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (51%). The worst is the 2023 (52%), the best the 2018 (27%). By volume, the 2020 drew 75 complaints (22 drivetrain), against 142 for the 2019 and 202 for the 2021.

Dodge Durango years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2020 Dodge Durango

  • 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

POWER TRAIN01/31/2024CRASH1 INJURED
On [XXX] after filling van with gas I entered and started my van. I noticed the gas cap was open so I put the van in park, took my foot off the brake, took off my seat belt, opened the door and exited leaving the door open. After a couple minutes while I was putting the gas cap back on, the vehicle started to back up…

One of 22 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2020 Dodge Durango engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Dodge Durango, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: critical fasteners21V280000 · Apr 2021
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.
back over prevention: sensing system: camera20V191000 · Sep 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2020 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 2020 Dodge Durango

Does the 2020 Dodge Durango have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 22 of 43 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Dodge Durango concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). 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 2020 Dodge Durango?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Dodge Durango is exterior lighting: 23 of 75 complaints (31%) name it, followed by electrical system (13) and power train (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 51% of the relevant total.

Is the 2020 Dodge Durango reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 51% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Dodge Durango years we score, it ranks 2nd-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 2020 Dodge Durango?

No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Dodge Durango, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

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 2020 (51%). 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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Experimental 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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.