Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Lights

2018 Dodge Durango Lighting problems

Owners have filed 57 complaints about the 2018 Dodge Durango's lights with NHTSA - 24% of all its complaints, most recently on November 5, 2026. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.

Complaints
57
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Lighting complaints

Electrical systemLights

The rear tail lights The factory gaskets and seals fail to keep rain out, causing water to pool inside and short out or corrode the LED strips and circuit boards

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11776000
Electrical systemLights

I purchased a 2018 Dodge Durango. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, moisture was present inside the rear liftgate/racetrack lamp assembly and portions of the rear lighting did not operate. The selling dealership inspected and repaired the vehicle. Its repair invoice states that the left rear tail/running/parking lamp was inoperative because of an open wire between the body control module and the left rear lamp, but I have a picture I uploaded that only one of the passenger side light actually worked so I don'...

Read the full complaint

know about the broke wire, but I know the lights didn't work when I purchased the vehicle as our home camera showed after I brought it home. But they did try to fix them. The dealership routed a new wire, taped and waterproofed it, and returned the vehicle after stating that the system worked. I was also told or understood that the racetrack lamp assembly had been replaced, but the repair records I received do not identify a replacement lamp or part number. Approximately one week after the repair, moisture reappeared. The liftgate lamp assembly now contains substantial visible standing water that moves when the liftgate is raised or lowered. Sections along the bottom appear to be dimming or failing, Because raising the liftgate causes the standing water to move toward the upper lamps and electrical connections, I now avoid using it A suggestion drilling a drainage hole in the lamp assembly. I have not drilled, sealed, drained or otherwise modified the assembly. I am concerned that the standing water may contact or corrode the lamp sockets, connectors, wiring, license-plate lamps, backup lamps or rear camera and cause the rear lighting to fail without warning. This could make the vehicle difficult for other drivers to see, especially at night. Cannot drive it at night for safety reasons No crash, fire or injury has occurred. The vehicle and defective component are available for inspection. Photographs, video and dealership repair records are available

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11762926
Lights

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that a section of the rear light was inoperable. The passenger's side light was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the tail light needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall or warranty coverage on the vehicle. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11749577
Electrical systemLights

Water in racetrack tailgate taillights

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11730341
Lights

The tailgate light has gone out on my 2018 Dodge Durango R/T. Researching online has lead me to discover that this is a known issue that is costing customers thousands of dollars due to a known design flaw. The tailgate light goes out and usually leads to the brake lights and backup camera going out. I do not know when the brakes lights may glitch or go out which can cause an accident. I asked the service person at the dealership about the tailgate issue in May of 2025 when the tailgate light was intermittently...

Read the full complaint

going in and out. I was told to call the 800 customer service number. There's no warning for the tailgate light failing and leading to the failure of the brake lights and backup camera.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11695961
Electrical systemLights

Rainwater or going through a car wash leaks water into backend lighting compartment which leads to backend lights not working. You can see the water into the lights. Water leaks out the backend when you open or close the back door. No brake lights could cause accidents. Wiring also corrodes and needs replacement due to water corrosion.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11671214
Lights

Purchased this vehicle used from a dealership and a few months later the racetrack light malfunctioned and stopped working which is also connected to my license plate light. The dealership refused to cover the expense of the light which to my surprise was over two thousand dollars, an expense I was not prepared for and now I am at a loss. They tried to negotiate that I should pay for half the cost when the car was purchased of their lot less than a few months with a major malfunction like this. Upon further research I find out there is a class action lawsuit against FCA about this issue. I do not have the money for this repair unless I borrow the money, if so can I get reimbursed though FCA?

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11661737
Electrical systemLights

Rear Racetrack LED lightning is failing due to water intrusion. This could also possibly cause electrical issues to the license plate lights and back up camera. When in bad weather, other drivers could fail to see the back of my car, and could get into an accident. Yes, dealer stated that the cost is 1500 to fix. The Durango has 60K miles. Dealer only. No warning just a fellow driver reported my Racetrack light flickers and dim.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11659700
Lights

The rear race track rail has water build up at the bottom of it and it fried the lights so they don't work anymore.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11651569
Lights

Center lift gate racetrack light failed due to water getting into seam and shorting out that light and the license plate light. The whole unit needs to be replaced due to a faulty design which is going to cost over $2000

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11648092
Lights

After our cold winter here in PA when temperatures were -8 I noticed my tail light had a section not working and after looking at it I noticed a crack and water in that part. I started looking at replacing it until I seen it was going to be $2,000.00 just for the light. Will the Durango's that have these issues because of faulty parts pass state inspections until Dodge figures out what to do?

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11647753
Lights

Water in racetrack lighting in rear tailgate. Also, license plate lights are not working either. Should be mfg problem to repair/recall

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11645179
Lights

Racetrack Tail light burned out and can effect driving safety issues, water got in there and the automaker know about this problem and they won't fix it , I have to pay out of pocket.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11640509
Lights

My tailgate lamp also known as the race track lamp it's collecting water every time I take it into the car wash which it now cost part of my life to burn out which can be a safety issue if all of it completely goes out

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11630477
Lights

I have noticed moisture in the rear tailgate light which houses the rear camera, license plate light, reverse lights and a larger(racetrack) tailight. I have drained the light a couple of times and noticed a small portion of the light was dim. This has been going on probably a year. Last night our son was driving behind and noticed the whole tailgate light had gone out along with the license plate light. There is no way to service this light it has to be replaced. The replacement light at the dealer was $1480. To me that is not an option. This is definitely a safety and consumer concern in my book.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11613065
Lights

Tail gate LED brake light fills with water and cause the light to stop working. Because of the design it has the potential for the driver behind not to see the brake lights which can result in an accident. Reported issue to the dealership and the insurance company that I took extra exterior insurance from and they said it happens all the time and wants me to pay hundreds out of pocket. This is a manufacturing defect because it happens to many of this model it's not fair to the customer. I see many other Durangos with the same issue. Dodge should compensate the customers.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11592973
Lights

The rear taillights are filling up with water and burning the rear lights out which causes safety for other not being able to see the rear of the car. I know 3 other people that have the same issue on there dodge durango. You have to take the bolt out to drain the water. There is no seal or gasket inside preventing water from going in also can cause other electrical problems which is not safe.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11585333
LightsBrakes

The center hate LED brake light has water in it and shorted out making visibility of the rear of the vehicle hard to see at night. Dealer told me this is a very common issue and wants over $1000 for me to order another. Dodge needs to fix this and make it right as it's a design issue. This is a serious safety concern and will not drive with my family in the vehicle until able to fix it.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Service brakesNHTSA 11584283
Lights

Water is getting into the tail lights which is starting to burn the lights out. It's a safety concern especially at night time. They're should be a recall on this issue as fixing it is costly. A lot of people are being affected by this.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11579988
Lights

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the driver's side tailgate LED light had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that water had gotten inside the lighting enclosure. The dealer stated that the area where the tailgate racetrack light was located needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11579219
Electrical systemLights

Water entered into the rear tail light from rain and shorted the light and caused it to stop working. And is burnt out. This doesn't have a bulb to replace it's the entire running light system.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11578453
Electrical systemLightsBody, doors & structure

There is a problem with the rear middle light on the lift gate. Water is getting into them and shorting them out then leading it to need a replacement. This is an on going issue with dodge Durangos. Something needs to be done with this design flaw on the Durango's because they charge 1400 for the part plus labor for it to be replaced when the light wasn't built right

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · StructureNHTSA 11575875
Electrical systemLightsBrakes

There is a known problem with the rear brake lights allowing water into it. It can ruin the electrical and cause brake lights to go out without the drivers knowledge and could cause and accident. Lucky I was able to fix it for now.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Service brakesNHTSA 11574810
LightsEngine & cooling

Rear tail lights are out. All the Dodge Durangos on the road are ! Safety hazard for people behind me and me! Initially part of the light went out tonight the whole light went out . Cam shaft has went bad twice

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11571544
Electrical systemLights

The "racetrack" lights have pooling water in them and are now not working at all. the back end of the truck is a hazard as you are not able to see it.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11570567

Dodge Durango lighting complaints by year

Durango lighting problems, every year

Had a lighting problem with your 2018 Durango? Tell other owners.

Your experience goes live straight away and helps every owner and buyer who checks this vehicle. Anonymous, free, no account.

Overall, how would you rate it? *

0/4000 · Please leave out names, phone numbers and your full VIN.

By posting you confirm it's your own, honest experience and agree to the rules. Safety defect? Also report it to NHTSA - that's how recalls start.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience