2001 Dodge Durango r/t from North America - Comments

THE Problems first started when I noticed that I would put the car in reverse and the back up lights would not come on. I recently took it to the dealer and was told I needed a new water pump. Once this was done and the engine light remained on I took it back and was told I needed a new transmission. Which has completely blown me away. My truck is clearly out of warranty and I need a vehicle. What am I to do!!!

It has the engine of a race car and like many race cars it now needs a new transmission.

I was under the impression that the R/T had a 5.7L, or at least something larger than a 2.9L. One other question: are you actually experiencing a problem with the transmission shifting or going into gear, or did somebody at the garage just tell you that you needed one? I'd be suspicious if you drove in to have them look at the reverse lights, and they tried to sell you a transmission.

Not to trivialize your troubles in a time of desperation, but putting 107,000 miles on a car in less than 4 years seems like pretty good service. I would characterize the reverse lights as a minor annoyance, which I assume you had fixed. I would also characterize the water pump replacement as a fairly routine requirement once a car passes 80,000 miles.

That is a shame about your transmission. But with so many miles put on in such a short time, is it possible that you have been a little hard on it, and not kept up on maintenance like changing fluid and filter?

As for what to do, it depends on whether you are still paying on this car. If you have it paid off, maybe it's time to dump it and consider yourself lucky to have gotten this much use out of a vehicle that unfortunately has a spotty reputation. (For a car with a more reliable reputation, I would have suggested keeping it much longer after being paid off). At 112,000 miles, and with the check engine light that is often the death knell for these things, you may have trouble just around the corner. On the other hand, if you still owe money, you may as well get the transmission fixed and nurse it along (baby it from here on out!!) to at least get some use out of it until the loan is paid off. After all, you won't be able to sell it for what you owe, and will just have to roll the balance into the new loan on a different car.

The 2001 Dodge Durango Had a 360 V8 (5.9L). The Hemi was not put in the Durango Until 2004.

5.9 or 5.7, it doesn't matter. Neither one is the 2.9L quoted in the original review. Maybe the reviewer meant to say that his R/T has a 5.9L rather than a 2.9L.

I agree to the man in North America that Dodge Durangos. They are definately not BUILT to LAST!!! I live in the United Arab Emirates and we have a Dodge Durango and we have just had a gear box failure and the car has been in the garage for 30 days so far.

You say you have 112K miles on it and compalin the transmission is shot? You bought it with 5K. I'd say you got your money's worth. Go have your tranny rebuilt--but stay away from AAMCO.

Transmissions should last for over 200,000 miles= = like they did in the 70;s when they were made much heavier duty= = like they should be!