Diagsheet

Midsize and three-row SUVs · 8 model years, 2014 to 2026

Dodge Durango vs Ford Explorer: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Explorer looks better on 4 and the Durango on 1, with 2 too close to call.

Dodge Durango

Dodge Durango

2,218 complaints · 29 recalls

Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer

9,026 complaints · 62 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2026DurangoExplorer
Complaints that report a crash4.8%1.9%
Complaints that report a fire1.0%0.5%
Complaints that report an injury5.6%2.2%
Median miles when problems are reported53,00059,000
Recall campaigns per model year3.67.8
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations87

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system Durango owners complain about most is exterior lighting; for the Explorer it is structure. Complaints citing exterior lighting make up 35% of all Durango complaints, against 0.7% on the Explorer. The Explorer leans the other way on structure: 26% of its complaints, against 3.8% for the Durango.

Dodge DurangoFord Explorer

Exterior Lighting35%0.7%
Structure3.8%26%
Electrical23%5.9%
Engine10.0%13%
Steering1.8%16%
Transmission and drivetrain7.3%7.8%
Seats13%1.1%
Airbags6.9%3.1%
Fuel and propulsion4.2%3.7%
Suspension1.8%4.0%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the Durango is tail light failure (20% of its complaints). On the Explorer it is windshield problems (11% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Durango.

ProblemDurangoExplorer
Tail lights or brake lights fail20% 436most in 2014 · 51k mi0
Seat belt or seat problems16% 362most in 2014 · 70k mi2.5% 230most in 2016 · 58k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails6.4% 141most in 2018 · 45k mi5.1% 462most in 2015 · 80k mi
Windshield cracks or distorts011% 963most in 2017 · 78k mi
Airbag warning light or recall6.9% 154most in 2014 · 58k mi3.1% 279most in 2016 · 60k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving5.1% 11350k mi4.3% 384most in 2016 · 45k mi
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy0.5% 1245k mi8.8% 792most in 2014 · 71k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant1.8% 4165k mi4.8% 435most in 2016 · 92k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the Durango complaints that give a mileage come before 53,000 miles, and half the Explorer complaints before 59,000. 45% of Durango reports and 42% of Explorer reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Dodge DurangoFord Explorer

Under 25k19%21%
25k to 50k27%21%
50k to 75k29%21%
75k to 100k13%16%
100k to 150k10%16%
Over 150k1.9%4.7%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,256 for the Durango and 5,085 for the Explorer.

Worst and best years

The 2014 Durango draws 3.3 times the complaints of a typical Durango year for its age. The 2016 Explorer draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Explorer year for its age.

Dodge Durango

  • Years to avoid: 2014, 2015 and 2021
  • Best years: 2020, 2023 and 2024

Every Durango model year

Ford Explorer

Every Explorer model year

Dodge DurangoFord Explorer

Each model year against its own model's median. Durango: 2014 3.3, 2015 2.4, 2016 0.8, 2017 1.2, 2018 1.5, 2019 1.0, 2020 0.4, 2021 1.9, 2022 0.6, 2023 0.4, 2024 0.3. Explorer: 2014 1.5, 2015 1.8, 2016 2.7, 2017 2.1, 2018 1.0, 2019 0.5, 2020 2.1, 2021 0.9, 2022 0.7, 2023 0.3, 2024 0.1.2014 Durango: 3.3 times its median2014 Explorer: 1.5 times its median'142015 Durango: 2.4 times its median2015 Explorer: 1.8 times its median'152016 Durango: 0.8 times its median2016 Explorer: 2.7 times its median'162017 Durango: 1.2 times its median2017 Explorer: 2.1 times its median'172018 Durango: 1.5 times its median2018 Explorer: 1.0 times its median'182019 Durango: 1.0 times its median2019 Explorer: 0.5 times its median'192020 Durango: 0.4 times its median2020 Explorer: 2.1 times its median'202021 Durango: 1.9 times its median2021 Explorer: 0.9 times its median'212022 Durango: 0.6 times its median2022 Explorer: 0.7 times its median'222023 Durango: 0.4 times its median2023 Explorer: 0.3 times its median'232024 Durango: 0.3 times its median2024 Explorer: 0.1 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The Explorer draws more recalls: 7.8 campaigns per model year against 3.6 for the Durango. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Dodge Durango

29 recall campaigns and 8 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (6), service brakes, hydraulic (4) and transmission and drivetrain (3).

  • 18V-332 (electrical) covers 5 model years
  • 15V-461 (equipment) covers 2 model years

Investigations

  • EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
  • PE19011: Seat belt retraction (closed)
  • PE19014: Active head rest inadvertent deployment (closed)

Ford Explorer

62 recall campaigns and 7 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (8), seats (8) and engine and engine cooling (7).

  • 24V-031 (structure) covers 6 model years
  • 19V-435 (suspension) covers 4 model years

Investigations

  • EA23002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
  • RQ23002: Rear axle bolt failure (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE23001: Windshield trim molding item detachment (closed, led to a recall)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of Durango complaints report a crash: 4.8%, against 1.9% for the Explorer. Fire reports: 22 for the Durango and 44 for the Explorer. Complaints on file report 0 deaths in the Durango and 2 in the Explorer for these model years.

Dodge DurangoFord Explorer

Report a crash4.8%1.9%
Report a fire1.0%0.5%
Report someone hurt5.6%2.2%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Dodge Durango or the Ford Explorer more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Explorer looks better on 4 and the Durango on 1, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Durango has 2,218 complaints and the Explorer 9,026 for the 8 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the Durango or the Explorer?

The Durango has 29 recall campaigns and the Explorer 62 across the 8 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file. The Explorer draws more recalls: 7.8 campaigns per model year against 3.6 for the Durango.

What are the most common problems on the Durango and the Explorer?

The most reported problem on the Durango is tail light failure (20% of its complaints). On the Explorer it is windshield problems (11% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Durango.

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