2007 Dodge Durango Safety Review [ 2008 ]
Dodge Durango Safety Review
Safety - NA
This year, for the first time, side air bags and an electronic-stability-control system are standard on the Durango. The Durango has fared well in government crash tests.
In 2004, just after the launch of the redesigned Durango, Dodge issued two safety recalls. Nearly 28,000 Durangos were recalled because an instrument panel circuit board could overheat and start a fire, and just over 21,000 Durangos were recalled because an improperly insulated cable could cause the throttle to stick open. No recalls have been issued since.
Accident Avoidance
In addition to the electronic-stability-control system, the Durango comes standard with anti-lock brakes and an anti-skid system. The SLT and the Limited also come standard with a tire-pressure-monitoring system. The Limited gets a standard-rear-obstacle-detection system. AutoMedia.com notes, "The new braking system has a twin-stage booster and electronic brake force distribution for better control during panic stops."
Crash Protection
On the Durango, standard side air bags join dual front air bags to help protect passengers. In addition, Head Curtain Airbags are now standard on all Durangos, designed to help protect all three rows. AutoMedia.com points out an engineering decision that could make a difference in a crash: "The front bumper is unusually low, designed to be within the bumper height zone of passenger cars and to engage the structures of other vehicles in the event of an impact."
In government crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Durango receives five out of five stars for frontal crash tests. No data is yet available from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
