The Lemon Index2008 Dodge Durango.
The 2008 Dodge Durango is about average by owner complaints: 27 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 98, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about fuel system, gasoline, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 15 to 16 mpg combined. The best Dodge Durango year is 2020.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 97 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Dodge Durango year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 100K miles on the car (69 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 61K–130K miles
- fuel system, gasoline complaints mostly came at 25K–66K miles
Recalls 2
- airbags 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St.
- airbags 2015
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Dodge told dealers about
Dodge sent dealers 56 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Wipers may not return to park position
- Flash: UConnect and Voice Recognition Inoperative This bulletin involves replacing the Hands…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side — · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4000–4300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Fuel squirts out of filler neck every time the tank is filled, doesn't matter if it is filled fast or slow.
2008 Dodge Durango owner · NHTSA complaint 10395914
More owner reports
During the fuel filling of my Durango, once the pump clicks off after the tank is full gas will then back flush out of the fill neck on the person filling the vehicle as well as on the ground causing a immediate fire hazard.
NHTSA complaint 10377408
Upon filling fuel tank nozzle kicked off like normal but gas spewed out of the neck of the gas tank.
NHTSA complaint 10435446
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Dodge Durango reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 98; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Dodge Durango year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2008 Dodge Durango problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, gasoline (67%), steering (11%) and electrical (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Durango have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Dodge Durango get?
15 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Dodge Durango problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 35,100 and 100,000 miles. The middle report was at 64,000 miles, from 69 complaints.
Does the 2008 Dodge Durango have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2008 Dodge Durango cost in fuel a year?
About $4000 to $4300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Dodge Durango have?
3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl.
What Dodge Durango year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2022 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works