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2020 Dodge Durango Lighting problems

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2020 Dodge Durango's lights with NHTSA - 41% of all its complaints, most recently on October 23, 2026. They describe 0 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.

Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

Lighting complaints

Lights

I'm here to report yet another Gen 3 Dodge Durango "racetrack" liftgate light assembly experiencing water/moisture ingress. This issue has been ongoing since the 2014 model year when the racetrack lighting was introduced. The issue is, overt time, water makes its way into the assembly, eventually causing one or more sections of the LED's to stop working. The failure of the assembly leads to reduced light directed from the rear of the vehicle outward, which in my opinion IS a safety issue in the dark. This...

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assembly installed is over $1000.00 at a dealer, and the vehicle just looks trashy once the failure process begins. For the most part, it's not if but when this process will begin for a Gen 3 Durango. The racetrack on my '20 SXT Plus Durango began to show signs of water ingress around 4 years of age, with less than 50k miles, which is of course beyond the warranty. This situation is 100% wrong for a vehicle in the Durango's price class., let alone the safety aspect.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11773316
Lights

Purchased in [redacted] from Tri Star Motors in [[redacted]] with approximately 18,000 miles on it. In [redacted], I noticed some flickering on the passenger side racetrack light and water entrapment after a somewhat heavy snowfall. After some research, I removed the drain bolt and drained the water out. I left the drain bolt off so that water would not get trapped in it again. I have kept an eye on it to make sure the condensation dried up and keep monitoring for any issues with brake lights. So far, it has not...

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affected my brake lights, rear view camera or back up lights. For the most part, it is just dimmed in that passenger lower side of the racetrack light itself and still flickers some. I do worry about the integrity of the wiring now and if any issues will arise. Especially the integrity of my brake lights. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11764835
Electrical systemLights

My entire lighting system in back of truck stopped working. The racetrack lighting system. The license plate lights done. I cannot drive the car at night because I will get pulled over. Dodge saying it is not covered under the extended warranty I purchased.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11754292
Lights

Tail light not working, was replaced, replacement also malfunctioning.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11736626
Lights

Back lights. Bottom of right is out and bottom left is starting to go out. Water collects inside the lights.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11733806
Lights

The rear tail lights and the rear "race track" running light have allowed water to enter causing premature failure of a large portion of the light(s). These are not user serviceable parts and should be completely sealed from the elements. Eventually, the entire 'marker light' portion of the the taillights and race track with be completely non-functioning causing the vehicle to have no rear illumination except brake lights when the vehicle headlights are on. It started out as one small section but has rapidly progressed.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11717357
Lights

Water had accumulated in the racetrack led light in the center of the trunk. Causing light to short circuit and lose taillight, license plate light, and back up lights as well.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11711740
Electrical systemLights

The racetrack lighting on the tailgate had water in it and dodge refused to repair or replace...now I have no racetrack lighting and no tag light and they still will not help.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11685160
Lights

The break lights do not have a proper seal and the LED lights are shorted out on the rear exterior brake lights. This is a safety issue and should be recalled.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11651918
Lights

Taillight "racetrack" style went completely due to water and moisture. Had to spend over $1200 and some change just to replace the unit. No license plate light either due to water damage.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11651631
Lights

Rear racetrack taillight collects water and the leds short out making the taillight not work

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11609510
Lights

Rear taillamp goes out and is a safety issue , it is a known issue, there is a similar problem with years 2021 and above and a recall was issued , water gets in the light and causes problems , it also causes the license plate light to go out in which a cop can stop you and issue you a ticket , the light has failed in all sorts of ways that can be a safety issue in the day or night , it's all over the forums and general internet, my light has water and is starting to fail as well as the license plate light , I...

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asked a police officer and was told if stopped they may issue me a ticket , im disabled with issues in my arm and can no longer be able to be handy with tools , seeing this is a widespread issue and a recall has been issued for other years why has this 2020 and previous years have been overlooked , it is a Hazzard if you cannot see rear taillights and if your vehicles plates cannot be seen by traffic cameras for bridges, tolls or street cams for various reasons that can include security issues as well as safety.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11589242
Lights

The rear tailgate bar has been going out due to water leaks. Whenever it rains, water is pooled up inside the light and is causing the light bar to dim.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11580351
Lights

The L.E.D light strip on the back of the car completely failed so now the whole middle of the rear is non working. Without this working now it is not as safe driving at night because other vehicles might not be able to notice me as well as usual. This has been a continuing problem with absolutely no interest in fixing it or repairing the problem with the manufacturer or dealership which is costing consumers alot of money out of pocket for somthin they shouldn't be responsible for. When this occurred there was no...

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warning signs no sign of any damage at all and not even any water built up inside the components , I have seen other vehicles that had what looked like a cup of water in there light and it still was working except for maybe some dim areas but with my situation I don't see how my whole component could just fail all together more going on then just water getting in it.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11569154
Lights

The rear lift gate "racetrack" tail light and license plate light bar to include backup lights just stopped working. I suddenly have extremely little visibility of my car from the rear at night. The contact stated with the taillight removed, It is apparent that a deficient factory assembly process resulted in taillight wires impeding the weather seal designed to keep water out of the tail light electronics. The presence of water and corrosion/rust in the immediate area supports this.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11563431
Lights

The tail light burned out because of water intrusion. I understand there is a leaky gasket that lets water in and, in time, this moisture ruins the LED taillight. Mine gave way at 45k miles. One section on the left started fading, then the whole taillight burned out. I was reading on the Internet a lot of people report the same issue for a number of years, how is this still happening, can you please help?

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11561673
LightsBody, doors & structure

Water intrusion into racetrack tail light. This has apparently been an issue for ten years on this style of light on Durangos with no recall or fix offered. There are hundreds of YouTube videos on how to drain water by removing a bolt, applying silicone caulk or other random fixes. Now my rear tail light is so dim it's nearly undetectable and the dealership wants to charge $1600 to fix it. But I read that even though dealers replace the lights, the problem persists because the problem with design is not fixed. No...

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warning lights to tell me my light was out. My son told me he noticed it when I visited him a few days ago. No inspection has been done. You can see water inside that's filled up the light component. I drive this vehicle less than 1000 mi per month. It can pretty much be inspected at any time in my driveway. The problem doesn't need to be confirmed by a dealer. I can take a picture. It's water in a tail light. Very obvious.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · StructureNHTSA 11520838
Lights

The center liftgate "racetrack" lamp assembly experienced water intrusion and pooling in the lower RH corner between the clear outer lens and red LED light strip. The concern and defect were confirmed by the local Dodge service department and replaced under the vehicle manufacturer's Basic Limited Warranty. Observation of other 2014-2022 Dodge Durango models with the same lamp assembly and water intrusion problem indicates a partial or full failure of the outer red LED racetrack light band will eventually result....

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Such a failure could increase the probability of rear-end collision in low visibility or nighttime conditions due to insufficient illumination of the vehicle's rear. Note: the lamp assembly is a sealed, non-serviceable, component and must be replaced as an entire unit.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11466287
Lights

It is well known in the Dodge Durango community that the main tail light housing on these vehicles was not properly sealed from weather elements. Over the course of time, water intrusion will cause areas of the tail light to burn out, gradually leading to the entire system to fail. Dodge is well aware of this but does not offer any repair outside of warranty period if this happens on factory housing. The repair cost for this is astronomical considering this is a defect straight from the factory. Dodge needs to...

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make it a point to create a recall for the Durango to have the tail light properly sealed and reinstalled at no cost to the owner. When these lights burn out this causes a massive safety hazard at night.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11465348
Lights

Bought vehicle new in 2020, has 41K miles. Tonight, I noticed when arriving home that the entire center light on the lift gate is not functioning. I also do not have tag lights and my rear camera is non-functioning. At night, the back of the vehicle is not lit very well without that center light plus the tag is not illuminated. I appears this is a common issue with the Durango. I feel is poses a serious risk due to the rear lighting not functioning.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11448293
LightsBody, doors & structure1 injury

The rear tail lights have a sharp edge that is beak shaped and if you brush up against it on accident it slices into your skin or clothes. I was loading groceries and my arm skimmed over it and sliced a whole piece of skin off. I have researched the incident to see if others have had the same experience looking for a recall or solution after it happened to me and my husband multiple times most recently myself a big cut and I see forums with other people sharing same story.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Structure · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11431314
LightsBody, doors & structure2 injuries

There is a very sharp side on the back rear taillight that connects with the lift gate. This razor sharp edge has cut myself, husband, and almost my son. The only thing that saved him from getting cut was the sleeve on his shirt. I have reported this issue to Chrysler. An investigation is in process. The man came out to take pictures he also agreed this was a safety issue. Both my husband and I have been left with permanent scars.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · StructureNHTSA 11424824
Lights

Water intrusion into the rear tail lights.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11417423

Dodge Durango lighting complaints by year

Durango lighting problems, every year

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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

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