DodgeDurango20123.6L/dodge/durango/2012/3-6l/
WD platform

2012 Dodge Durango — 3.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Durango 3.6L.

Body SUVEngine 3.6L

The 2012 Dodge Durango is a full-size SUV powered by a 3.6L engine and built on an all-wheel-drive platform, requiring 6 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for maintenance. This model year generated 637 total owner complaints with 10 recalls on record, with the electrical system emerging as the primary concern among owners. Compared to the model's complaint history spanning 1997 through 2026, the 2012 sits well below the peak of 2,043 complaints recorded in 1999, though it remains substantially elevated from the baseline of just 4 complaints in 1997, indicating this generation occupies a more moderate position within the model's broader reliability trajectory rather than representing either extreme.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque110 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 700 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04884899AC. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 700 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP265-50R20OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04884899AC alt 68079744AD
Engine air filter04861756AA
Spark plugSPLZFR5C11 alt SP149125AF
BatteryBBH8A001AA alt BBH7A001AA
Front wiper blades68079858AA alt 68079859AA
Thermostat52028898AJ alt 05184894AA
Cabin air filter68606182AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height70.9 in
Wheelbase119.7 in
Curb weight4987 lb
Track (front / rear)63.8 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2012 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

7.4–8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.40 sec — 2017 GT
260 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011Crew 3.6L V68.20 sec16.40 sec290 hpAWD
2011Crew 3.6L V68.40 sec16.50 sec290 hpRWD
2011Crew 3.6L V68.50 sec16.40 sec290 hpAWD
2011Citadel 3.6L V68.80 sec16.60 sec290 hpRWD
2014Citadel 3.6L V67.60 sec15.80 sec290 hpAWD
2014Limited 3.6L V67.90 sec16.00 sec290 hpAWD
2017GT 3.6L V67.40 sec15.70 sec295 hpAWD
2017GT 3.6L V67.60 sec15.80 sec295 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85 · 75W-140 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 110 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3-5.5
Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.5
Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.2
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85 · 75W-140

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts70 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8.8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts110 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugMP2010: 16.0-21.0, MP3023: 15.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugMP2010: 16.0-21.0, MP3023: 15.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub229 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub229 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.6-0.9 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6,000-9,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance700 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16-20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature195 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)56-60.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12+-0.6 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure5

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket41 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle144 ft-lbs / 89 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.00035 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.2 in / 0.807 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.199 in / 0.806 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., step 2: 10530 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 9 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
233.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
375 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.75 degrees
450 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.50 degrees
5Loosen bolts in reverse sequence
622.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
733.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
870 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.70 degrees
970 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.; Bolts should be checked for stretching using a straight edge. Ay bolts that show stretching should be replaced.70 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 8,000 mi; spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant at 104,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 104,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 8,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 16,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 16,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 32,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 48,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 96,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 104,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Durango, the second model year of the revived generation, shows a modest improvement in complaint volume over the 2011 launch year (637 versus 797) but a rise in recalls to 10 and a significant jump in technical service bulletins to 207, signaling active manufacturer response to emerging issues. The complaint trend across the 2011–2014 arc peaks in 2014 at 781 complaints and 372 TSBs before declining, placing 2012 in an early, elevated but stabilizing phase of the generation's federal record. Electrical System complaints dominate the 2012 profile at 204 reports — roughly one-third of the total — while Engine, Service Brakes, and Fuel/Propulsion System follow at notably lower counts; the data does not specify root causes for these categories. Crash and fire complaints stand at 16 and 32 respectively, figures that persist across adjacent years without sharp deviation. Compared to the 2011 launch and the 2013–2014 escalation, 2012 represents a transitional year with high TSB activity but moderating owner-reported problems. For a used buyer, 2012 is a reasonable choice if all recall remedies and relevant TSBs have been addressed, particularly given the Electrical System focus, but it does not stand out as a clearly superior vintage within the generation.

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
207
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
637
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 32 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 637 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System204
Engine56
Service Brakes46
Fuel/Propulsion System34
Electrical System,Engine24
Unknown Or Other21
Power Train18
Air Bags16

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V435000Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/RegulatorReported 10/07/2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began…

15V879000Electrical System:WiringReported 28/12/2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 207 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1121922026-05-19EngineCOOLER - ENGINE OIL
1121912026-05-19EngineCOOLER - ENGINE OIL
1106042026-03-03Electrical SystemSPEAKER - NONE
1106032026-03-03Electrical SystemSPEAKER - NONE
1076142025-09-30Unknown Or OtherEVAPORATOR - AIR CONDITIONING & CORE - HEATER

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Durango. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Durango 3.6L take?

6 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API MEETING CHRYSLER SPECIFICATION MS-6395, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Durango have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.