2017 Dodge Durango

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Exterior lighting is the leading concern among 211 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 25 Durango model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 211

Of the 2017 reports, 9 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.

Primary concernExterior lighting79 reports · 37% of complaints
Owner complaints211Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Exterior lighting79
  2. Electrical system61
  3. Engine28
  4. Power train23
  5. Other or unspecified21
  6. Fuel/propulsion system16
  7. Steering11
  8. Seats10

Recalls and investigations

  1. Electrical system, wiringMay 17, 2018

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

    If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

    Campaign 18V332000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftAug 31, 2017

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Durango vehicles. The vehicles may have been assembled with rear axle halfshafts that are too short.

    If a halfshaft is too short, it may disengage from the differential causing a loss of drive and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace both halfshafts, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T55.

    Campaign 17V541000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints

211 reports, newest first.

  1. Exterior lighting, Sep 8, 2017

    I RENTED 2017 DODGE DURANGO GT I HAVE THE TAILGATE OPEN AND THEN GRABBED BOTTLE CASE OF WATER I WAKE CLOSER TO THE TAILLIGHTS I CUT WITH THAT ,TAILLIGHTS HAVE PIECE OF THE TAILLIGHTS POINTING OUT IS DANGEROUS FILL LIKE A BLADE IF A CHILD GET CLOSER SOMETHING BAD GET I HAVE PIC FROM MY INJURY AND THE PLACE ON THE TAILLIGHTS

  2. Power train, Aug 3, 2017

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,700.

  3. Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2017

    MY BRAND NEW DODGE DURANGO SXT 2017 WAS STOLEN AT A SERVICE STATION. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR THAT WAS ON AND LOCKED. THIS PERSON USED SOME TYPE OF DEVICE TO OPEN IT WITHOUT THE KEY. IT IS 36 DAYS OLD.

  4. Power train, Jun 20, 2017, crash

    I STARTED TO BACK OUT OF MY DAUGHTERS GARAGE AND FELT THE TIRE HIT SOMETHING. I DIDN'T WANT TO BACK OVER IT SO I PULLED FORWARD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, OPENED THE DOOR AND STARTED TO GET OUT. I GOT ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE. I WAS THROWN BACK INTO THE SEAT. THE DOOR BEING PARTIALLY OPEN HIT A BOX WHICH FLUNG THE DOOR COMPLETELY OPEN. THE DOOR CLIPPED THE GARAGE DOOR JAM AND PUSHED THE DOOR INTO THE FRONT FENDER DAMAGING IT AND THE DOOR. I'M NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BUT MY WIFE WHO WAS STANDING OUTSIDE SAID SHE WONDERED WHY I WAS BACKING OUT SO FAST. I GOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND SHUT IT OFF. IT ALL SEEMED TO HAPPEN PRETTY FAST.

  5. Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 24, 2017

    THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK (RIGHT SIDE SECOND ROW) I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STAYS THAT THERE IS NO NOISE, THEY HAD BROUGHT ANOTHER DODGE DURANGO WITH THE SAME FUEL TANK AND THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE THE NOISE AS MINE DOES.

  6. Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 4, 2017, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE AUTOMATIC MODE OR STOP/START FEATURE ACTIVATED, IT LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE CONTACT'S FOOT RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES CONSISTENT WITH A CERVICAL STRAIN AND BRUISED RIBS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE OCCUPANT IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,999.

  7. Structure, Mar 29, 2017, crash

    THE OFFICER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE HAD PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ROTARY KNOB STYLE GEAR SELECTOR. THE OFFICER WAS GETTING HIS K9 PARTNER'S FOOD AND WATER READY IN HIS BACKYARD. ACCORDING TO THE OFFICER, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE THE NOISE, HE FOUND THAT THE SUV HAS DROVE THROUGH HIS GARAGE DOOR. THE OFFICER STATES THAT THE GEAR INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK.

  8. Suspension, Feb 17, 2017

    THERE IS A DISTINCT THUD OR LOW PITCHED BANGING SOUND WHEN DRIVING OVER A TRANSITION CURB FROM A CITY STREET INTO A SERVICE TYPE DRIVEWAY OR VICE VERSA, DRIVING OVER MAN HOLE COVERS, DRIVING OVER INSIGNIFICANT ROADWAY POT HOLES, HITTING SHARPER BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY. MOST TIMES THERE WILL BE A SIDE TO SIDE MOTION, BUT ALWAYS A BANG OR THUD AT THE LEFT REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 TO 40 MPH. THIS CONCERN HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED FROM THE NHSTA TO CHRYSLER DATING BACK TO 2011 AND CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED 4 TSB'S THAT CONTINUE TO BE INEFFECTIVE. CHRYSLER CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE SAFETY RELEVANCE, REGARDING THE VEHICLES REAR SUSPENSION.

  9. Power train, Jan 27, 2017

    AFTER TWO DAYS OF USE AND THREE HUNDRED TOTAL MILES ON MY VEHICLE I DISCOVERED AN OIL LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECHNICIANS INFORMED ME THAT THE LEAK FROM THE REAR MAIN SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICE OIL LEAKING FROM THE SAME AREA. I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A SECOND TIME AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE OIL PAN THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A WEEK GOES BY AND THE DEALERSHIP INFORMS ME THE VEHICLE IS READY FOR PICKUP. THE NEXT DAY I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO ARRANGE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THE LEAK IS STILL PRESENT WHICH RESULTED IN A STAR CASE WHICH THE MANUFACTURERS ENGINEERS ARE ASSISTING THE LOCAL TECHNICIANS IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. APPROXIMATELY TEN DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WITH NO RESOLUTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER REVIEWING COMPLAINTS FILED ON WEBSITE VEHICLE FORUMS I DISCOVERED MANY VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE ONE I OWN. WITH MY EXPERIENCE TO DATE I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT DISCLOSING THE SEVERITY AND EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM INHERENT WITH THE VEHICLE TO ITS CUSTOMERS CREATING A SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY TO THE OPERATORS/OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED. IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION THAT AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE INITIATED INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

  10. Engine, Jan 27, 2017

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING. THE OIL PAN WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

  11. Power train, Other or unspecified, Dec 22, 2016

    NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED YET BUT I BELIEVE ONE WILL. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A ROTARY TRANSMISSION SELECTOR FOR DRIVE BY WIRE TRANSMISSION AND HAS AN AUTO ENGINE STOP START FEATURE. THIS START STOP FEATURE CAN BE DISABLED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, BUT CANNOT BE SET BY DEFAULT TO DISABLE THIS FEATURE. I UNDERSTAND THE FUEL SAVING ISSUE, HOWEVER BUT MANY OF US HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MANY YEARS AND WE DO A LOT OF THINGS UNCONSCIOUSLY BECAUSE THESE ACTIVITIES ARE SO COMMON TO US. WHEN THIS FEATURE IS ACTIVATED AND YOU COME INTO YOUR DRIVE WAY, YOUR GARAGE OR A PARKING SPACE AND FULLY COME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF AND ALL GOES QUIET. SUBCONSCIOUSLY BECAUSE OF A LIFETIME OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, YOU THINK THE CAR IS OFF, YOUR TRAVEL IS OVER AND YOU ARE READY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. YOU START TO OPEN THE DOOR AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS AND MOVES FORWARD. IF A CHILD OR SOMEONE ELSE OR A BUILDING WALL IS IT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. PLEASE RETHINK THIS. IT IS NOT AN INTUITIVE PROCESS WHEN WE HAVE YEARS OR DECADES OF A DIFFERENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE. WE THINK THE CAR IS OFF, SAFE TO EXIT. WE NEED A WAY TO DEFAULT DISABLE THIS FEATURE RATHER THAN DEFAULT ENABLE. I KNOW THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING DEATH OR INJURY WITH REGARD TO THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY A CLAIM THAT VEHICLE COULD MOVE WITH SELECTOR PUT IN THE PARK POSITION. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WERE RESULT OF DRIVERS THINKING THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND THEN IT MOVED. IT MAY BE EMBARRASSING AND NOT BE ADMITTED TO. *TR