Is the 2017 Dodge Durango a bad year?
215 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Durango years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2017 Dodge Durango are in line with other Durango years. Exterior lighting stands out for this year: see below.
4th quietest of 18 Durango years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Durango owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 42,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 82 (38%) | 34k–59k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 62 (29%) | 10k–50k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 29 (13%) | 10k–58k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 23 (11%) | 8k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 16 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 42,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 215 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
20 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2017 Dodge Durango: 2
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… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 160
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Dodge Durango. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
ADJUSTER Valve Lash Customer's complaint may include a ticking noise coming from the engine
3.6L PSU Long Block Misfire DTC codes and/or rough idle and/or valvetrain noise
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Vehicle Rollaway
Neighbouring years
2016 Durango: 161 complaints, keep it · 2018 Durango: 234 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Durango year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Durango years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Dodge Durango a bad year?
215 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Durango years. At 42,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Dodge Durango?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (82), electrical system (62), engine (29), transmission and drivetrain (23), fuel system (16).
How many recalls does the 2017 Dodge Durango have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 18V-332), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 17V-541). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.