There are 3 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2017 Dodge Durangoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
When backing with trailer or and hitch usage the car will not allow the driver to turn off the parking assist “off” button its been a ongoing issue with many dodge vehicles and the dealer ships will say a update is needed and charge for it. How ever we dont know when its needed and get stuck in a parking lot tryna back up or in the middle of a street trying to back up a trailer. When you turn it off the button will turn it self back on and brake as if it is an emergency so your stuck with a trailer on the vehicle and cant park.
The vehicle has a rear parking assist function. Via a Uconnect (touchscreen) system, the function can be enabled or disabled. The Uconnect system allows the operator to select whether the function will provide an audible warning or brake automatically if an object behind the vehicle is detected by any of 4 sensors installed in the rear bumper. The function can also be enabled or disabled via a physical button below the Uconnect system. I purchased the vehicle new and have owned the vehicle for 3 years. I have towed boats many times. Until recently, I was able to successfully use the touchscreen or physical button to disable the function when backing up with a trailer connected. Now I cannot disable the function or braking via either method. It appears to turn off for about 1 second before turning back on. I've tested in various conditions such as park/neutral, with/without a trailer, etc. to no avail. I thought I would try resetting software in the rear parking assist controller, so I disconnected both batteries and removed the proper fuse, but that didn't fix the issue. That got me worried because the failsafe should be that if the control system goes bad, the function should be disabled. I believe this to be true, because sometimes you need to back up to avoid collisions with irresponsible drivers, etc. If you are towing a trailer, you wouldn't be able to back up if the system failed. I understand about failsafe design from working on safety-critical aircraft computers. I reviewed the users manual and information online, and found that if connected to a trailer or exceeding 7 mph in reverse, the function should disengage. However, the function has NEVER, in 3 years, disengaged when towing a trailer, and I am unable to exceed 7 mph when towing due to the automatic braking. I tested this again by plugging a trailer into both factory-installed electrical receptacles provided with the tow package. I could not disable it. Other vehicle owners have the same issue.
I DOWNLOADED AND SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED A RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE UPDATE TO MY 2017 DODGE DURANGO THIS PAST SUMMER. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE DIFFICULTY SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS CHANGED IN THE TIMING OF THE THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF AND WHEN I TURN IT OFF. I HAVE OCCASIONALLY STARTED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT I HAD NOT TURNED IT OFF, BUT BACK ON. THIS IS AN AGGRAVATION ALL BY ITSELF, BUT THE REASON FOR MY REAL COMPLAINT WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL I HOOKED UP MY TRAILER. I FOUND THAT I CANNOT TURN OFF OR DISABLE MY PARK ASSIST. WHEN THERE IS A NEAR OBJECT SUCH AS A TRAILER, WHEN I TRY TO BACK UP, THE BRAKES LOCK ON. I DISCOVERED THIS WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON A BLIND CORNER TRYING TO BACK INTO A DRIVEWAY. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY SO I HAD TO GO A MILE DOWN THE ROAD IN ORDER TO FIND A PLACE THAT I COULD U-TURN. I THEN HAD TO DETACH AND MANUALLY PARK MY TRAILER. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS A LITTLE SCARY NOT BEING ABLE TO BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY. OH, THE BEST PART, EVEN THOUGH THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY DODGE SOFTWARE ENGINEERS, I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. THE SOONEST APPOINTMENT IS 2 WEEKS FROM NOW. BETWEEN NOW AND THEN I HAVE TO TAKE A TRIP TO CHICAGO AND PARK WHERE I KNOW I WILL HAVE TO PARK IN TIGHT SPACES.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026