1997 Dodge Durango Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Durango years
- Not enough data 29th of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Durango. That ranks 29th out of 29 Durango model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (2 complaints, 50%). Complaints mention 1 fire. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 4owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Dodge Durango problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 2 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Dodge Durango recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th vin position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11th vin position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.
Risk: When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.
Fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, will also be included in this campaign. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Upper ball joint separation (EA03023) — opened Nov 19, 2003, closed Feb 11, 2005, led to recall 04V596000.
- Safety belt cinching latch plate (PE02082) — opened Nov 6, 2002, closed Apr 23, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1999 dodge durango left front wheel assembly caught on fire while driving. *ts the consumer stated he had some suspension work done on nov 21, 2005. *jb
Cruise control was on when vehicle unexpectedly accelerated on its own. Consumer had to stomp on accelerator in order to stop vehicle from increasing speed for the second time in a week. Consumer will contact manufacturer.*ak......when cruise control stuck consumer turne dit off and vehicle…
The dealer replaced the upper ball joints twice. Now the upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced. Please provide any additional information. *nm *la
Brake failure intermittently when applying brakes in heavy traffic with a/c on, causing pedal to harden briefly and resume again. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide further details. *ak
Other Dodge Durango years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Durango | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 Durango | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 Durango | 14 | 0 |
| 2023 Durango | 32 | 2 |
| 2022 Durango | 58 | 7 |
| 2021 Durango | 203 | 8 |
| 2020 Durango | 55 | 2 |
| 2019 Durango | 144 | 4 |
| 2018 Durango | 233 | 5 |
| 2017 Durango | 213 | 2 |
| 2016 Durango | 161 | 3 |
| 2015 Durango | 503 | 4 |
| 2014 Durango | 782 | 11 |
| 2013 Durango | 640 | 11 |
| 2012 Durango | 640 | 10 |
| 2011 Durango | 800 | 8 |
| 2009 Durango | 12 | 4 |
| 2008 Durango | 97 | 2 |
| 2007 Durango | 191 | 4 |
| 2006 Durango | 852 | 9 |
| 2005 Durango | 1,567 | 8 |
| 2004 Durango | 1,115 | 8 |
| 2003 Durango | 339 | 4 |
| 2002 Durango | 423 | 4 |
| 2001 Durango | 665 | 5 |
| 2000 Durango | 1,075 | 2 |
| 1999 Durango | 1,967 | 3 |
| 1998 Durango | 965 | 4 |
| 1997 | 4 | 1 |
See all Dodge Durango problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Durango?
Owners most often report suspension, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge Durango?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Dodge Durango a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Durango model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.