The Dodge Durango is a SUV built from 1995 to 2026 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 99.9% of those on record. Between 1998 and 2026 it grew 20 cm longer and gained 212 kg. Engines offered: Hybrid, V6, V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Durango is
The Dodge Durango is a SUV that Dodge built from 1995 to 2026 — 32 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2004. It has been offered with Hybrid, V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Charger, Ram, Challenger.
Where the Durango is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 11,401 Durangos on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1B4, 1C4, 1D4, 1D8 | 1997-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Durango belongs to. What every character in a Durango VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Durango adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Durango generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Durango's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Durango that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-2003 | 491 cm | 294 cm | 2066 kg | - | - |
| 2004-2026 | 511 cm | 300 cm | 2278 kg | +20 cm | +212 kg |
Between 1998 and 2026 the Durango gained 20 cm in length (+4.1%) and 212 kg in weight (+10.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Durango that is 212 kg against 20 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Durango tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Durango owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Durango have? Power & range
The Dodge Durango is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 3 for the Dodge Durango, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | AWD | Regular |
| V8 | 5.7L · 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | AWD | Midgrade |
| Hybrid | 5.7L · 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Dodge Durango tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Dodge Durango is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Durango's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Durango by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Durango. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Durango | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 160 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 14,034 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $4,305/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 2,147 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Durango?
The Durango is a SUV, built from 1995 to 2026 across 2 generations. Engines offered: Hybrid, V6, V8.
Where is the Dodge Durango made?
Across 11,401 cars in our records the split is: the United States (99.9%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Durango have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2004. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Durango grew 20 cm longer and gained 212 kg.
What is the Dodge Durango warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Durango reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Durango?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Journey | 2009–2023 | 53 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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