Hands On Steering Wheel Message In EVIC
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Dodge Durango steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Dodge Durango have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Durango | 24 |
| 2014 Durango | 12 |
| 2015 Durango | 3 |
| 2016 Durango | 3 |
| 2017 Durango (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 Durango | 3 |
| 2019 Durango | 6 |
| 2020 Durango | 3 |
| 2021 Durango | 4 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Electric Power Steering Gear If any of the following DTCs exist, it is okay to replace the steering gear: C2217-00, C15C1-00 (EPS Mechanical Performance) or C15DB-00 (Latch Active) otherwise perform the following; 1) Electrical, Communication or DTC (other then above) issue please contact: Terry Gavit @ cell (248) 882-6108 terry.gavit@fcagroup.com Engineering is requesting a copy of Vehicle Scan Report (VSR) to be emailed to the above address. 2) Noise or Mechanical issue please contact: Ruth Delong @ cell (810) 569-0354.~ If you do not receive a return call within 15 minutes, proceed with the repair.~ Please be sure to attach a copy of the Vehicle Scan Report on the repair order
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Electric Power Steering Gear If any of the following DTCs exist, it is okay to replace the steering gear: C2217-00, C15C1-00 (EPS Mechanical Performance) or C15DB-00 (Latch Active) otherwise perform the following; 1) Electrical, Communication or DTC (other then above) issue please contact: Terry Gavit @ cell (248) 882-6108 terry.gavit@fcagroup.com Engineering is requesting a copy of Vehicle Scan Report (VSR) to be emailed to the above address. 2) Noise or Mechanical issue please contact: Ruth Delong @ cell (810) 569-0354.~ If you do not receive a return call within 15 minutes, proceed with the repair.~ Please be sure to attach a copy of the Vehicle Scan Report on the repair order
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Steering problems in 2017 Durangos fall into several categories. Cold-weather steering lock is the most common complaint—steering rack becomes very stiff or locks up after sitting in cold, sometimes taking 20 minutes of rocking the vehicle to free it. One owner found water and lack of grease inside the steering rack boot. Temporary fixes (replacing the boot, adding grease) work for a while but locking returns.
A second pattern is intermittent power-steering loss. Owners get "power steering unavailable" codes on startup, requiring multiple restarts to restore assist. One owner's steering wheel locked while driving on ice. ABS system resets have temporarily cleared the issue in at least one case.
More serious are complete steering failures. One owner's steering wheel seized at 75 mph, requiring excessive force to maintain control. Another experienced total electrical shutdown on the freeway—all gauges off, AWD locked, steering stiff—though the issue cleared itself before the dealer could examine it.
The worst case is EPS module failure (code C2217-00). The electric power steering module is VIN-programmed; when it fails, replacement parts—even from junkyards—cannot be reprogrammed and generate "VIN mismatch" errors, leaving the vehicle undriveable. Warranty has expired on affected vehicles. One shop repeatedly couldn't fix the same steering complaint and claimed warranty didn't cover it.
Same Dodge Durango steering reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Rack Locking/Stiffness in Cold Weather
Steering rack locks up or becomes extremely stiff during or after cold exposure, sometimes requiring multiple cycles of moving the vehicle forward and backward to free up. One owner found water accumulation and lack of grease inside the steering rack boot, suggesting moisture intrusion and inadequate lubrication.
When: Cold weather conditions; one case at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or becomes very difficult to turn; Happens after parking in cold for ~10 minutes; Momentary locking during driving; Excessive stiffness requiring significant force to overcome
Codes mentioned: Steering Rack Hot (temperature warning message)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced steering rack boot cover ($50 part) and added grease; dealer estimate for full steering rack replacement was $5K labor plus $2K parts. Dealer did not diagnose root cause.
Complete Electrical System Shutdown with Stiff Steering
Vehicle experiences sudden, severe electrical system failure during highway driving. The entire vehicle computer system appears to shut down or reset, causing steering wheel stiffness, loss of all dashboard indicators, and AWD system lockup. Power is restored after the vehicle is parked and systems reset themselves.
When: While driving on freeway; one case at unspecified mileage; customer notes previous occurrence with high beam controls only
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly becomes stiff; All dashboard sensors show 'OFF'; Dashboard displays shift to kilometers and mapping errors; AWD system locks up; rear tires will not turn; Vehicle jerks and slows down; Clunking sound heard when failure occurs; Difficulty keeping vehicle in neutral during tow
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not find anything wrong; stated computer reset itself. Vehicle was not repaired.
Engine Stall with Loss of Power Steering
Engine stalls or seizes while driving at highway speed, causing immediate loss of power steering assist and making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. No warning lights precede the failure. Vehicle can be restarted but problem recurs.
When: At 20,500 miles; one case while driving 65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or seizes without warning; Steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn; No warning indicator lights before failure; Loss of power steering assist
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure; no diagnosis or repair performed.
Intermittent Power Steering Unavailable Code / Loss of Assist
Electric Power Steering system throws a 'power steering unavailable' code and disables assist. Restarting the vehicle multiple times clears the code and restores steering assist temporarily. Owner suspects connection to ABS/ECU system entering limp mode when any subsystem malfunctions. One instance of steering wheel locking during snowy/icy conditions.
When: Starting at 88K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering unavailable code appears; Loss of power steering assist on startup; Steering assist returns after multiple restarts; Steering wheel locked once during snow/ice driving
Codes mentioned: Power Steering Unavailable Code
Repairs/costs cited: ABS was reset by technician; power steering restored without replacing entire electric power steering system.
Electric Power Steering Module Failure (C2217-00 Code)
Electric Power Steering module internal failure disables the entire power steering system, rendering the vehicle unusable. VIN is programmed into the module; replacement parts (even from junkyards) cannot be used without matching VIN, resulting in a permanent 'VIN mismatch error' and disabled steering.
When: At 3 years of ownership (June 2023 report date suggests ~2020 failure); one case at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Electric Power Steering disabled; Vehicle becomes essentially useless for operation; Steering non-functional
Codes mentioned: C2217-00 (Electric Power Steering module internal)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair parts available through normal channels. Used/junkyard parts cannot be reprogrammed; all fail with VIN mismatch error. Repair was denied due to warranty expiration in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage denied; parts unavailable
Steering Wheel Seized at Highway Speed
Steering wheel suddenly becomes extremely rigid and nearly immovable while driving at 75 mph. The driver had to exert extra strength to maintain vehicle control. No diagnostic testing was performed.
When: At 34,104 miles; while driving 75 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes; Extreme stiffness requiring extra force to turn
Electrical System Failure (Multi-System Cascade) with Steering Impact
At very low mileage, the vehicle experiences cascade electrical failure: engine overheating light, transmission light, loss of all gauges, engine shutdown while coasting downhill. Vehicle could not be shifted to neutral easily. Subsequent engine knocking heard. This broad electrical failure affected overall vehicle operation including steering ability.
When: At 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating warning light; Transmission warning light; All gauges cease operating; Engine shut down while coasting; Difficulty shifting to neutral; Engine knocking sounds
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The electrical power steering failed making it nearly impossible to steer.
Had steering trouble with your 2017 Dodge Durango?
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 steering problem on the 2017 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 19,241 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.