2006 DODGE DURANGO Steering Problems

design issue on rack and pinion assembly. Basically metal transfer pipes on side of assembly rust out. This is my second Durango 2006 model to have this problem. Complete loss of steering assist occurs because of loss of power fluid out of fore mentioned pipes. The pipes cannot be repaired, entire rack and assembly must be replaced. Exposure to road salt is cause of rusting as assembly is totally exposed under vehicle. Stainless steel pipes are a better way except to bean counters.

Been losing power to the car while driving which cause me to lose my steering ability and the 4 wheel drive keeps kicking on and off while driving plus the wiper motor works sometimes and sometimes it don’t. The navigation system comes on and off whenever it wants to and the rear end keeps popping

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT STARTUP THE STEERING CEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 230,000

MY DODGE DURANGO WILL ENGAGE BY ITSELF INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW OR VERY HIGH SPEED-IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE ELECTRICLY-COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT WHEN THIS DOES IT ON IT'S OWN OUT OF NOWHERE & MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED ABOUT THIS ISSUE-IT DOES IT AT STOPPING,GOING SLOW OR EVEN AT 75 MPH

Mileage: 125,000

MY 2006 DODGE DURANGO STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CAUSED ME TO BE INJURED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE MY PCM SHUT MY ENGINE DOWN PER DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE MY OIL SENDING UNIT HAD A FAULTY WIRE AND MY PCM THOUGHT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OIL IN MY CAR WHICH DISABLED MY CAR COMPLETELY BY DESIGN OF THE MANUFACTURER TO KEEP MY ENGINE FROM DAMAGE BECAUSE IT THOUGHT I HAD. O OIL. I HAVE A FAULTY DESIGN PRODUCT AND NOT ENOUGH WARNING. I HAVE BEEN OFF WORK FOR A YEAR WITH THE INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT AND LUCKILY I WASN'T HURT WORSE. MY CAR SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT PROPER WARNING SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED I HAVE PHOTOS AND A SERVICE REPAIR DOCUMENTS STATING THE FAULTY OIL SENDING UNIT DISABLED MY VEHICLE..UPDATED 09/21/17 *BF UPDATED 10/23/17 *BF...UPDATED 11/13/2017 *BF *JS UPDATED 7/18/18*JB *TR

Mileage: 150,000

WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE FROM THE PARKING LOT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO INSERT THE KEY IN THE SWITCH 10 TO 12 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD TURN. I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BY TURN IT THE BEST COULD TO GET THE IGNITION TO TURN BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN. THIS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. IN 2012 WE HAD TO AFTER THE SITUATION CONTINUED WE HAD THE IGNITION REPLACE, A COST OF ALMOST $1200.00. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS WAS CAUSED BY WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LATEST RECALL OF OVER 1.4 MILLION VEHICLES? ...UPDATED 09/11/15 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/29/15*JB

Mileage: 100,000

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING SEEMS TO GO OUT AND THE VEHICLE IN UNABLE TO BE TURNED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WILL USUALLY START TURNING AGAIN BUT IS HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE ON THE ROAD SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE.

Mileage: 123,000

MY 2006 DURANGO WILL SHIFT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE WHEN NOT RUNNING, USING THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE SEEM MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE SELECTOR MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

WHILE DRIVING ON A NEIGHBOR STREET, WHILE THERE WAS RAINFALL. HIT A PUDDLE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND IT RAINS ALOT DURING THE SUMMER. ADVISED CARMAX IN MIAMI. THEY SAID THIS IS BECAUSE THE SERPENTINE BELT IS GETTING WET. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. THEY NEED TO DO SOME TYPE OF ADJUSTMENT TO THESE VEHICLES INORDER FOR WATER NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS, MOTORISTS AND OCCUPANTS. THIS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I HAVE A 2006 DODGE DURANGO THAT JUST DIES GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH OUT WARNING! THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. IT STARTED AROUND 80000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I LOSS ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED ASAP. PEOPLE CARRY THERE FAMILY'S IN THESE VEHICLE'S. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DODGE DURING. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOME ONE IS KILLED FROM THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

OUR DODGE CONSISTENTLY STALLS AND DIES WHEN SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND/OR SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE TURNS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE DIES RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKES, STEERING,ETC. MULTIPLE TIMES THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR HAS CAUSED US TO JUMP THE CURB ALMOST HITTING TREES, ETC. WE'VE ALSO HAD THIS HAPPEN PULLING TRAILERS AND BOATS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I'D LIKE TO SEE DODGE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

AS I HAVE FOUND ONLINE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY DURANGO HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS THAT ALSO CAUSED NEAR MISSES AND SOME ACCIDENTS. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, I HIT A PUDDLE NO DEEPER THAN 3-4 INCHES AND ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAVE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND MANY TIMES CAME VERY CLOSE TO IMPACTING OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENS ON STRAIGHT AND TURNING SITUATIONS. AS WITH THE OTHER REPORTS, THERE ARE NO LEAKS FOUND OR DETECTED. ON TWO OCCASIONS MY REPAIR SHOP HAS CONTACTED BY PHONE DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND NO INFORMATION WAS GIVEN EXCEPT THAT THEY ALSO HAVE HAD MANY REPORTS BUT COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION OR REPAIR INSTRUCTION. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 DODGE DURANGO FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD ON A SIDE STREET AND COAST DOWN INTO A PARKING LOT. BY THIS POINT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. WE THOUGHT MAYBE A PART BROKE AT FIRST. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FIRES AND NOT A LOT OF SMOKE. SMOKE STARTED COMING MORE AND MORE QUICKLY OUT OF THE VENTS. WE GOT OUR 3 CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. BY THIS POINT SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT. MY HUSBAND RAN INTO A BUILDING AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE BUSINESS GAVE US A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS MY HUSBAND RAN BACK TO THE DURANGO FLAMES HE SAW THE DASHBOARD START TO COLLAPSE. NEXT THING WE KNEW FLAMES WERE FLYING UP THE FRONT WINDOW. HE USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON IT. THE FIREMAN ARRIVED AND HELPED MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 DURANGO SLT, DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO QUIT AND THE LIGHTS ALSO DIM LIKE THE TRUCK IS LOSING POWER. THE SERPENTINE BELT ON THE TRUCK IS ALSO SQUEALING WHICH I BELIEVED TO BE THE ISSUE. I CHANGED THE BELT ON THE TRUCK BUT POWER STEERING STILL FAILS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN A TURN AND JUST ABOUT LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH PROCEEDING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWERING STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. SHE HAD TO STEER IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AFTER A PERIOD OF TWENTY SECONDS THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,300.

Mileage: 34,000

CAR STEERED RIGHT (RIGHT WHEEL IN TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT) AND PULLED LEFT WHEN BRAKING (HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN BRAKING TO KEEP STRAIGHT). RACK AND PINION BOX WASN'T HOLDING TORQUE. REPLACED IT, INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING BOX. 22,880 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 22,880

I OWN A 2006 DURANGO WITH 66,000 MILES. IT REQUIRES REPAIR TO AN INNER TIE ROD. CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARRY THE PART AND FORCES YOU TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM AT A COST OF 1000$. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAN CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT . HOW MANY DRIVERS CANNOT AFFORD 1000$ AND ARE DRIVING AS I AM WITH THIS PART THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ANY MINUTE!! *TR

Mileage: 66,000

I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. SOMEDAYS THE TRUCK WON'T CRANK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF TOOK IT SO SALISBURY DODGE KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS GAVE IT BACK TO ME SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SAID THEY TURNED THE LIGHT OFF FOR ME 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM LIKE TRUCK NOT GETTING GAS, TRUCK JUST CUT OFF ON ME AND MY FAMILY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHERE BOUGHT KEPT VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD EVERY SINCE THEY GAVE ME VEHICLE BACK WHICH HAS BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS RADIO TURNS BY ITSELF HIT BUMP THE TRUCK TURNED OFF ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED TRYING TO PULL TO SHOULDER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, EVERY TIME I CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO GET APPT THEY SAY THEY CAN'T GIVE ME ONE I JUST NEED TO DROP THE TRUCK OFF AND THEY WILL GET TO IT WHEN THEY CAN,SO WHAT DO I SUPPOSE TO DO UNTIL THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL THEY DON'T WANT TO ASSIST ME WITH THAT. I'M REALLY SCARED FOR MY FAMILY SAFETY I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SOMETIMES WHEN I MAKE A TURN IT DOESN'T TURN CORRECTLY IT'S SCARY I REALLY NEED SOME ASSISTANT. *TR

Mileage: 11,000

MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE 2006 DODGE DURANGO SLT. I WAS DRIVING DURING RAINY/STORMY WEATHER ON SUNDAY, 06/17/2007 WHEN I HIT A PUDDLE, I LOST POWER STEERING AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP. I WAS TERRIFIED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION AND STOPPED BRIEFLY AT A GAS STATION TO GATHER MY WITS. AT THAT TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL, THEN IT WENT OFF. WHEN I WAS CALM ENOUGH TO GO HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP IN MY SUBDIVISION TO AVOID HITTING PARKED CARS. THESE TWO INCIDENTS WERE PRECEDED BY TWO SIMILAR INCIDENTS WHICH WERE EXPERIENCED BY MY FIANCE'. HE TOOK THE DURANGO TO FINDLEY CHRYSLER IN TOMBALL, TX THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND ON MONDAY, 06/18/2007, HE TOOK THE DURANGO TO TOMBALL DODGE, AND BOTH CERTIFIED DEALERSHIPS TOLD US THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SUV. THEY JUST NOTIFIED US TO BRING IT BACK TO THEM AGAIN IF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AGAIN. WE OPTED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN BEING UNABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM REPAIRED OR OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND RISK AN ACCIDENT, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY OUR DEATHS. *AK

2006 DODGE DURANGO, 6,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS HAD RUST COVERING THE POWER STEERING PUMP FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. DEALER (MCBRAYER CHRYSLER, ABERDEEN N.C.) NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AT 3,000 MILES. SERVICE MANAGER MADE A NOTE OF PROBLEM AND STATED THAT HE WOULD CHANGE PUMP BUT HE DIDN"T HAVE PART IN STOCK. CONTACTED SAME DEALER AT 6,000 MILES FOR RECALL ON ELECTRICAL AND INQUIRED ABOUT ALSO CHANGING POWER STEERING PUMP WHEN DOING RECALL REPAIR. DEALER STATED THAT THE RUSTED POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 1,500

BOUGHT 06 DURANGO IN 02/07. I NOTICED DURING THE FOLLOWING MONTH HOW THE VEHICLE PULL TO THE LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER COMING OUT OF A RIGHT TURN I NOTICED HOW THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT. WHILE IN PARK, I TURNED THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION THEN LET GO. THE WHEEL SNAPPED BACK MAKING AN UNUSUAL SOUND WHICH CAUSED CONCERN. RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE RACK & PINION STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF TODAY 04-04-07, THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN REPAIR AT THE DEALER. IT'S BEEN TWO DAYS. THIS IS MY THIRD BRAND NEW DODGE VEHICLE. I'VE HAD TO TAKE THEM ALL BACK FOR SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR PROBLEM THAT QUALITY CONTROL AND THE DEALER MISSED. I'M UPSET AND WANT TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE REPLACED OR MY MONEY, TRADE IN AND OTHER COST RETURNED. *JB

Mileage: 1,800

INTERMITTENT AND SPONTANEOUS ACTIVATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS DURING OPERATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. STEERING WHEEL SOUND SYSTEM CONTROLS WORK ERRATICALLY OR IN REVERSE OF NORMAL FUNCTION. IGNITION REMAINS ENGAGED UNTIL SWITCH IS RECYCLED. SEEMS TO BE LOW TEMPERATURE RELATED( HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN THE COOLER AM). VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR ATTEMPTS. CLOCK SPRING,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH,INDIVIDUAL AUDIO CONTROLS, AND THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER WITH OUT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSIS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT MAY RESULT IN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, OR A VEHICLE FIRE, AND INJURIES TO MY FAMILY. CHRYSLER REPS WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WHEN I HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEM VIA THEIR HOTLINE AT 1-800-992-1997. *NM

Mileage: 100