Problems · NHTSA complaints

2017 Dodge Durango problems

Owners filed 214 complaints about the 2017 Dodge Durango with NHTSA between Dec 2016 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (81).

Complaints
214
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting81
  2. Electrical system61
  3. Engine28
  4. Power train23
  5. Fuel/propulsion system16
  6. Seats11
  7. Steering11
  8. Vehicle speed control10
  9. Structure10
  10. Service brakes8
  11. Air bags7
  12. Forward collision avoidance4
  13. Suspension4
  14. Visibility/wiper3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20161
201715
201816
201925
202032
202124
202222
202323
202423
202517
202616

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

81 reports1 crash
“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 in the car because the lights don’t flash in the back when I unlock it but when I’m not home and this happens I still have to get home to fix the issue and luckily I’ve been able to get them to drain and come back on for now. It’s been happening periodically for years”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11772894

Electrical system

61 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The vehicle involved is a 2017 Dodge Durango. The primary systems malfunctioning include the engine cooling system, braking system, and electrical system. The engine repeatedly overheats while driving and has produced smoke from under the hood, creating a risk of breakdown or fire. The braking system is unreliable, with the brake pedal going down too far and not providing proper stopping power, increasing the risk of a crash. The electrical system malfunctions unpredictably, including windshield wipers and interior controls turning on and off without input. These issues have occurred multiple times and have left the vehicle stranded on the side of the road, including at night. This has placed the driver and passengers at risk in unsafe conditions and traffic environments. The problems began shortly after purchase and have been ongoing. The issues have not been properly resolved. A mechanic was supposed to inspect the vehicle, but it is UNKNOWN if a full inspection was completed. Warning signs included overheating temperature readings, smoke, weak braking response, and electrical irregularities prior to failure. The vehicle is currently not reliable or safe to…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2026Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11734696

Engine

28 reports1 crash1 fire
“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 and I since I don't know what the problem is to fix it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2026EngineODI 11739965

Power train

23 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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 mechanic for brake servicing, the contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V541000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included on the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2025Power trainODI 11692429

Fuel/propulsion system

16 reports
“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 caused by this known issue. Dealer is refusing the repair along with the manufacturer.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11761516

Seats

11 reports
“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 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2026SeatsODI 11767690
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.