My car started leaking oil I took it to a local mechanic and I was told that the oil filter housing needs to be replaced. He said that he sees that problem with thos vehicles he even sain that he is surprised that it has been recalled because apparently it breaks easily and it needs to be changed to a metal. Again he mentioned how he sees this problem often with this specific car.
2017 Dodge Durango engine problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Durango engine shows a pattern of failure across multiple systems. Head gaskets fail early and often—at mileage ranging from near-factory-new (300 miles) to over 112,000 miles, causing coolant loss, overheating, white smoke from the tail pipe, and forcing expensive replacement. The plastic oil filter housing cracks routinely, especially in cold weather, spilling oil and creating engine shake at idle; one independent mechanic told an owner he sees this problem frequently and expects it should have been recalled, noting the part needs upgrading to metal.
Coolant lines—both the hard line to the purge solenoid and ridge-type lines—crack and leak, triggering extensive diagnostic loops and in one case requiring transmission removal just to access the repair. One owner at 99,414 miles had the dealer replace the oil filter housing four separate times before another shop finally found the actual problem: a cracked cooling line.
At the lower end of the mileage scale, an owner saw failures start at just 300 miles—rear main seal leakage, then oil pan leakage, then transmission pump failure, none of which warranty or repeat repairs resolved. Other owners report catastrophic internal failure (cylinder rod through block at 103,000 miles) and an unexplained total electrical shutdown at 68,000 miles that dealers could not diagnose.
Same Dodge Durango engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Head Gasket Failure
Cracked or leaking head gaskets causing coolant loss, overheating, white/grey smoke from exhaust, and requiring replacement. Owners report this occurs at mileage ranging from near-new to over 100k miles.
When: 80,000 miles; 99,414 miles; ~100,000 miles; 112,008 miles; also reported on low-mileage vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: grey and white smoke from tail pipe; engine overheating; coolant leaks; check engine light; loss of coolant in reservoir; temperature needle approaching hot mark
Codes mentioned: P0476
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replacement required; one owner reported dealer replaced oil filter housing system four times before crack in cooling line was found elsewhere
Oil Filter Housing Leak
Plastic oil filter housing unit cracks, causing oil leaks. Multiple owners report this as a known, frequent issue with this engine. One mechanic noted he sees this problem often and mentioned it should be replaced with metal housing instead of plastic.
When: 300 miles; also reported during negative temperatures; no specific mileage given for other instances
Symptoms owners cite: oil leaking from bottom of vehicle; oil pooling under motor; engine shaking during low idle
Repairs/costs cited: Oil filter housing replacement required; plastic unit cracking easily; mechanic mentioned metal replacement would be more durable; one owner stated dealer replaced oil filter housing system four times
Coolant Line Cracks
Hard coolant lines, including lines to purge solenoid and ridge coolant lines, crack causing coolant leaks. Owners report this requires extensive maintenance to correct, sometimes necessitating transmission removal.
When: 99,414 miles; timing not specified for other reports
Symptoms owners cite: coolant leaks; fluids of different colors and consistencies leaking; engine overheating; check engine light
Codes mentioned: P0476
Repairs/costs cited: Cracked hard line to purge solenoid; ridge coolant lines susceptible to failure; one owner states transmission must be removed to access and repair coolant leak
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; provided 2-star cases to one owner but failure persisted
Rear Main Seal and Oil Pan Leaks
Rear main seal and oil pan leaks occurring even at very low mileage. Initial seal replacement failed, then oil pan replacement failed, with transmission pump eventually requiring replacement.
When: 300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: oil leaking from bottom of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Rear main seal replacement performed but failed; oil pan replaced but failure recurred; transmission pump replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failures
Engine Power Loss and Electrical Shutdown
Complete loss of automotive power and instrument panel becoming inoperable while driving, with no warning lights illuminated prior to failure. Vehicle recovered after restart.
When: 68,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loss of automotive power; instrument panel inoperable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; dealer unable to determine cause
Misfire and Camshaft Issues
Engine misfiring and camshaft failures requiring replacement. One owner reported camshaft replaced twice in less than a year on a used vehicle purchased with extended warranty.
When: Less than one year of ownership; timing not specified for other reports
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light; misfires; misfire on cylinder 3; car did not start
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft replaced twice; head gasket and related gaskets replaced; starter replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty claim denied for one owner
Engine Block Catastrophic Failure
Cylinder rod puncturing through engine block requiring complete engine replacement. Occurred on vehicle with regular maintenance.
When: 103,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine shaking; smoke and misfire
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2017 Dodge Durango?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 82,471 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Dodge/Durango.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.