2017 Dodge Durango recalls and problems

The 2017 Dodge Durango has 2 recalls and 215 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is exterior lighting.

2017 Dodge Durango
Photo: 2017 Dodge Durango by Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2017 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 26 Durango model years — 14th most.

2recalls
215complaints
9crashes
2fires
11injuries
35,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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2 recalls

Electrical System

May 17, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V332000 · 4,815,661 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Train

Aug 31, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V541000 · 4 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2016: 1 complaints20162017: 15 complaints20172018: 16 complaints20182019: 25 complaints20192020: 32 complaints2020322021: 24 complaints20212022: 22 complaints20222023: 23 complaints20232024: 24 complaints20242025: 17 complaints20252026: 16 complaints202616

NHTSA investigations

Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment

PE19014 · opened Sep 9, 2019 · closed Feb 25, 2026
Summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of vehicle control as a result of being surprised and distracted by being struck in the head by the inadvertent AHR deployment. On September 24, 2019, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).ODI requested certain detailed information from FCA related to the following subject vehicles: MY 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger 200, MY 2010-2014 Dodge Calber, MY 2010-2014 Chrysler Sebring, MY 2013-2015 Ram Tradesman, MY 2012 Ram Van, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, MY 2010-2016 Chrysler Town and Country, MY 2010-2017 Jeep Compass, MY 2011-2020 Dodge Durango, MY 2011-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, MY 2010-2019 Dodge Journey, MY 2010-2012 Jeep Liberty, MY 2010-2011 Jeep Nitro, and MY 2010-2011 Jeep Patriot vehicles.On December 2, 2019, ODI received a response from FCA that in…

Vehicle Rollaway

PE16014 · opened Dec 16, 2016 · closed Jan 25, 2024
Summary

Basis – On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to Park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents.  These complaints involved multiple Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) model and model year vehicles that share a common electronic rotary shifter design.  Of the 43 consumer complaints, 25 complaints alleged crashes, and eight complaints alleged at least one injury. Subject Vehicles – When NHTSA opened the investigation, the subject vehicles were model year (MY) 2013-2016 Ram 1500 vehicles and MY 2014-2016 Dodge Durango vehicles equipped with a rotary electronic shifter. However, NHTSA expanded the scope of the investigation to include subsequent model years of the same model vehicles when the Agency learned that those new model year vehicles use the same rotary shifter.  Additionally, all subject vehicles manufactured by FCA are equipped with electronic rotary shifters supplied by Kostal Automotive. Reason for closing - During the course of this investigation, ODI did not find evidence that a vehicle-based design or manufacturing defect was the cause of vehicle rollaway incidents on the subject vehicles. Nevertheless, given the risk of a vehicle rollaway, FCA’s CSN actions provide automated vehicle securement when an operator attempts to exit the vehicle without successfully achieving a Park position with th…

2017 vs. other Dodge Durango years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2017. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2017 Dodge Durango have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2017 Dodge Durango, the latest from May 17, 2018 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Dodge Durango?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention exterior lighting (82), electrical system (62), engine (29). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.