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2017 Dodge Durango problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
47%
60 of 128 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

47% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Dodge Durango are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 84 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Dodge Durango have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 60 of 128 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Dodge Durango concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (47%), and the largest group is filed under engine (28). For comparison, the 2016 scores 45% and the 2018 scores 27%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
60
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
212
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
9 crashes · 11 injuries

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING79 · 37%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM61 · 29%
ENGINE28 · 13%
POWER TRAIN23 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER21 · 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16 · 8%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2017 compares with other Dodge Durango years

Of the 13 Dodge Durango years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (47%). The worst is the 2023 (52%), the best the 2018 (27%). By volume, the 2017 drew 212 complaints (60 drivetrain), against 161 for the 2016 and 232 for the 2018.

Dodge Durango years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Dodge Durango

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2017 Dodge Durango said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE04/04/2017CRASH1 INJURED
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 S…

One of 60 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2017 Dodge Durango powertrain recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Dodge Durango involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: axle assembly: axle shaft17V541000 · Aug 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.

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.

Fix: 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…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system: wiring18V332000 · May 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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Dodge Durango? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Dodge Durango

Does the 2017 Dodge Durango have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 60 of 128 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Dodge Durango concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (47%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Dodge Durango?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Dodge Durango is exterior lighting: 79 of 212 complaints (37%) name it, followed by electrical system (61) and engine (28). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 47% of the relevant total.

Is the 2017 Dodge Durango reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 47% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Dodge Durango years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Dodge Durango?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Dodge Durango involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 17V541000 (power train: axle assembly: axle shaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Dodge Durango years are better?

Among the Dodge Durango years we track, the 2018 (27%), the 2014 (31%) and the 2015 (35%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (47%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-durango

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.