2017 Dodge Durango Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 42,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The rear racetrack led keeps getting water inside them and shorting out all of the lights on the tailgate. When this happens I don’t have taillights, running lights, brake lights, reverse lights or even tag lights who’s is all extremely dangerous when driving and the car doesn’t tell me anything about it. I notice it usually when I get…Owner complaint, filed 2026

2017 Dodge Durango, rear racetrack lights went out due to widely publicized problem of water getting in and shorting the lights out, also took out my license plate lights. I had to get it replaced so I didnt get fined for the license plate lights being out. Dodge just announced a program for 2018-2024 years, this issued started in…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving; the vehicles dashboard, navigation system, entire vehicles light glitches as well as speed diminishes but doesn't completely shuts off only for seconds at a time causing the vehicle to continue accelerating while also pulling back like a chocking sensation as dashboard speed goes from 0mph to a lower speed vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while attempting to add the vehicle to the insurance company policy, the Carfax history report showed a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 69,752; however, it was later discovered on the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 153,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Vehicle overheats while at a stop. Problem has been happening for past 8 months. Leaking antifreeze under transmission. Shop unable to diagnose problem after various attempts. Researched problem online and discovered many 2017 durango owners are having issue. Many saying it's due to manufacture problem. It's a safety issue for my family…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Bought a used 17 Dodge Durango from Audi Hunt Valley of autonation July of 2024 nothing but any problem misfires camshaft issue camshaft has been replaced twice now in less than a year and now it needs a new transmission. I purchased an extended warranty for engine and transmission. Now they are not covering it I spoke to somebody…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to respond, and the engine made an abnormal revving sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent…Owner complaint, filed 2025

While I was merging onto the freeway with my daughter, I accelerated to a speed of 60 mph and it felt like my transmission dropped. My car was revving at 5k rpm’s and would not allow me to go any faster than 45 mph. Luckily no accident occurred as I was able to safely get my child and myself off the freeway. I now have a service…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Customer Satisfaction Notification T23 (TSB 18-031-17). Under this T23 a PCM software flash and a replacement EGR valve assembly were required. My dealer only did the software flash and my car now threw out an active PO401 (EGR Flow Insufficient Detected"). Which is a direct result of the failed software update and the physical damage…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Vehicle would not fill up with fuel. Took to dealership, dealership quoted $2700 to fix the issue. Issue was stated as fuel had entered the evap canister (somehow) and would need to be replaced and because this needed to be replaced the fuel tank needed to be replaced as well. 10 days later I received a bill for $2700 for a replaced tank…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the driver’s side headrest unexpectedly exploded. The contact stated that it felt like being struck by a ball in the back of the head. The contact had a mild headache and treated the headache with painkillers. The failure mileage was approximately…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 180,000 miles

While driving, the Active Headrest Restraint deployed on the passenger side WITHOUT accident. It appears the plastic piece that holds the pin broke. Luckily there wasn't a passenger present but this could've done serious head injury. This also puts the driver at risk for the driver side could deploy randomly. There were no messages or…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 7,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The first two incidents occurred while the vehicle was parked and idle. The vehicle would not turn on and all system indications were being alerted on the dashboard screen (power steering off, park assist off, check engine light, etc.). The third incident occurred while driving the vehicle down a main thoroughfare. The vehicle started…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 6,708 miles

Runaway vehicle, police was called after car stopped and I was able to safely park it on the side of the freeway.also a police officer on motorcycle came the the scene to make sure I was able to get a towing scheduled. Dealership currently confirmed gas pedal accelerator needing to be replaced.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Electric Power Steering failed at 3 years (2020) as of this date (6/2023) no repair parts (paid for years ago) can be had. Even junkyard parts are VIN-coded making them also useless.Owner complaint, filed 2023

I took my 2017 Durango RT AWD in for my steering rack locking up on me while driving and after being parked out in the cold for about 10 min. The two technicians working on it did there multi point inspection and stated that my CV boot had a slight tear and needed replacement as the gears had sediment but were not able to recreate my…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 7,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Cruise control will engage and disengage. The cruise light will flicker on screen. When pressed it will not engage or come on at allOwner complaint, filed 2025

Runaway vehicle, police was called after car stopped and I was able to safely park it on the side of the freeway.also a police officer on motorcycle came the the scene to make sure I was able to get a towing scheduled. Dealership currently confirmed gas pedal accelerator needing to be replaced.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Parts named most: Body (10).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The suspension rod that lifts and holds the liftgate open snapped at the bolt and broke. The liftgate can only be opened and close manually now. It has fallen on my arm and caused bruises multiple times. I fear it can fall on my head or my children's. I haven't taken it to get repaired as I'm sure it will be costly and money is very…Owner complaint, filed 2022

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…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 4,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Driving down the road around 35mph and front passenger active headrest deployed out of nowhere. Luckily my daught wasn't taller than what she is or it would have impact the backnof her head.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Airbag warning light comes on and off when vehicle is moving or when vehicles is in park. It’ll take off at times but will re-appear randomly.Owner complaint, filed 2022

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving, the lights on the dash control panel (speed, rpm's, blinkers, etc) turn off and on randomly multiple times. While driving, the lane sense will turn off and on randomly multiple times. While driving, the acc/fxcw will turn off and on randomly multiple times. While driving, the passenger window will roll down multiple times.…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 20,000 miles

When backing with trailer or and hitch usage the car will not allow the driver to turn off the parking assist “off” button its been a ongoing issue with many dodge vehicles and the dealer ships will say a update is needed and charge for it. How ever we dont know when its needed and get stuck in a parking lot tryna back up or in the…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have a 2017 durango, the rear shock are bad on it, the vehicle only has 26500 on it. Dodge currently has 200+ of these shocks on back order. With the shocks being bad if I go over a small bump it causes the back end of the vehicle to get loose and you almost lose control of the vehicle. I've looked at several dodge durango forums and…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 26,500 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 100 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Driving car on freeway when the computer locked up system of AWD and sensors. The back tires would not turn and car started to jerk and slowed down. The dash board lighted up and all sensors said off off off . The mileage speedometer changed to kilometers and the mapping screen had the car going in a circle. The steering wheel was stiff…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 31,250 miles