License Plate LED Light Inoperative - Moisture Visible Within the Lens The customer may experience the following: ? There is a potential for water intrusion which over time could lead to an inoperable license plate lamp. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: ? License plate LED light is inoperable. ? Moisture in the license plate lamp housing. This bulletin involves inspecting the license plate LED lamp for being inoperative or visible signs of moisture within the LED lamp housing and if necessary replacing the LED and installing a additional O-ring and foam gasket to the license plate applique
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Dodge Durango lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Dodge Durango have filed 60 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 42,500 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Durango | 5 |
| 2014 Durango | 217 |
| 2015 Durango | 147 |
| 2016 Durango | 40 |
| 2017 Durango (this page) | 60 |
| 2018 Durango | 41 |
| 2019 Durango | 31 |
| 2020 Durango | 19 |
| 2021 Durango | 61 |
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 60 lighting complaints filed for the 2017 Dodge Durango, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 60 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Lighting accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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.
License Plate LED Light Inoperative - Moisture Visible Within the Lens This bulletin involves inspecting the license plate LED lamp for being inoperative or visible signs of moisture within the LED lamp housing and if necessary replacing the LED and installing a foam gasket to the license plate applique. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: License plate LED light is inoperable. Moisture in the license plate lamp housing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗License Plate LED Light Inoperative - Moisture Visible Within the Lens This bulletin involves inspecting the license plate LED lamp for being inoperative or visible signs of moisture within the LED lamp housing and if necessary replacing the LED and installing a foam gasket to the license plate applique. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: License plate LED light is inoperable. Moisture in the license plate lamp housing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Powertrain Diagnostic and System Enhancements This bulletin involves reprogramming the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation the technician may find one of the following DTCs have been set:P040B - Exhaust Gas Recirculation Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Performance(2017 MY with a 3.6L Only). U1424 - Implausible Engine Torque Signal Received(2017 MY Only). P2681 - Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Control Circuit Open(3.6L Only). P2299-00 - Brake Pedal Position/Accelerator Pedal Position Incompatible. B23C3 - Stop/Start Disable Switch 1/2 Correlation(3.0L and 3.6L
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Customer Satisfaction Notification T23 ? EGR Valve Function The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) on about 415,000 of the above vehicles has software that may be operating the Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve (EGR) with an aggressive seating velocity. An aggressive seating velocity may damage the EGR valve. As a result this condition may illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and display a P0404 code. The PCM must be reprogrammed on all involved vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Durango has two distinct lighting problems affecting safety and visibility.
Turn signal and headlight failures: Owners report front turn signals working intermittently or failing completely, with burnt contacts in both bulbs and receptacles. The issue recurs after bulb replacement. Headlights also fail repeatedly—drivers describe lights turning off while driving, bulbs burning out every 3–4 weeks, and ballast failures requiring full headlight assembly replacement. Both issues appear tied to electrical contact deterioration rather than simple bulb defects.
Racetrack taillight water intrusion: The center brake light assembly (the "racetrack light" on the rear liftgate) leaks water into its housing. Owners describe visible standing water, condensation, pooling, and moisture causing LED sections to short out or fail. The problem occurs as early as 10,000 miles. Many report the taillight has cracked or lost its seal despite no collision damage. Repairs are expensive ($1,200–$1,500) and failures recur even on replacement units. Some owners note a hazardous sharp edge on the taillight housing that caused cuts. Backup camera malfunction and license plate light failure are also linked to water intrusion. Dealers and Dodge reportedly acknowledge the issue but decline warranty coverage or recall action, with some citing expired extended warranties or attributing it to condensation rather than design defect.
Both problems create safety hazards—missing brake lights reduce visibility to following drivers, and failed turn signals and headlights compromise nighttime driving and legal compliance.
Same Dodge Durango lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Front turn signal intermittent failure and burnt contacts
Front turn signals stop working or operate intermittently. When inspected, bulbs and socket contacts show burn damage. Problem recurs shortly after bulb replacement.
When: Occurs across vehicle lifespan; owners note it's a widespread issue across multiple model years
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signal stops working; Turn signal works intermittently; Burnt contacts visible in bulb socket; Burnt bulb filaments; Problem resumes days after bulb replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement temporary; socket/contact replacement also required but failure recurs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim no outstanding recalls; refuse to acknowledge known issue or commit to solution
Headlight repeated failure with ballast defect
Headlights fail repeatedly; bulbs burn out frequently or shut off while driving. Dealers diagnose bad ballast in headlight assembly, requiring full assembly replacement. Problem reoccurs within weeks to months on replacement unit.
When: Occurs on both driver and passenger sides; failures reported at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight turns off while driving; Bulb burns out every 3–4 weeks; Light flashes on then goes out after starting vehicle; Repeated bulb failures despite replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement of entire headlight assembly due to bad ballast; problem recurs on replacement unit
Racetrack taillight water intrusion and LED failure
The center brake light assembly (racetrack light) on the rear liftgate leaks water into the housing, causing condensation and standing water that shorts out LED sections. Failures occur despite no collision damage, suggesting seal or manufacturing defect. Replacement units experience the same failure.
When: Failures reported as early as 10,000 miles; most complaints 35,000–84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Standing water visible inside taillight housing; Condensation inside assembly; Water pooling at bottom of light; LED sections flickering or going out; Entire taillight assembly failing; Lights short out intermittently while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Taillight assembly replacement cost $1,200–$1,500; replacement units develop same water intrusion within months to 1 year; water can be drained by removing bolts but refills within weeks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge it's a recurring issue; Dodge refuses warranty coverage citing expired warranty or condensation exclusion; extended Mopar warranty doesn't cover; dealers state no recall exists; some inform owners Dodge will reimburse if recall issued
Rear taillight assembly seal/gasket failure
Water intrusion linked to failed taillight gasket or seal. Dealership diagnostic identifies seal failure allowing water ingress. Circuit chips burn due to fluid contact.
When: Failures reported at 40,000–79,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking into taillight casing; Short-circuited wiring; Circuit chip burned; Taillight failure reoccurs after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Seal/gasket replacement; failure reoccurs indicating design or installation defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance
Liftgate light flickering
Liftgate lights flicker while vehicle is driven at various speeds. No warning indicators illuminate.
When: Failure mileage 60,000
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate lights flicker
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed liftgate lights needed repair; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no action taken
License plate light failure
License plate light inoperable, linked to water intrusion in rear taillight assembly area.
When: Failure mileage 84,506
Symptoms owners cite: License plate light inoperable
Sharp or exposed edges on taillight housing
Taillight housing has sharp or protruding edges at the seam where parts meet, creating a laceration hazard when opening the rear hatch.
When: Occurs during normal operation of vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Upper arm/forearm cuts from opening rear hatch; Sharp edges near taillight seam; Exposed plastic or metal edges
Synthesized from 60 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
The rear center tail light, “Racetrack light” has water in it and is defective now for the second time, this is a well known issue, but continues to fail. Dodge will not cover the repair even with a maximum care warranty, pushing a well documented issue back to the consumer.
Water collects in the rear tail light assembly (the one across the tailgate with the back-up camera). So bad, some lamps have blown out on the lower right of the assembly. It only drains out when removing a.bolt on each side, but within a few weeks, the water returns.
My 2017 Dodge durango had water intrusion in the lift-gate tail light. I had one replaced under warranty after I noticed that the lights had failed and could see the water pooling in the light. The replace tail light also has water pooling in the bottom part of the light. The dealer won't replace this one for free because the warranty had expired.
Water collecting in lift gate racetrack tail light.
My vehicle has below 11,000 miles and has water pooled in the backup lamp assembly (racetrack light) in the rear of the vehicle. This is causing the LED's to flicker and short out at random. This assembly is also the center brake light for the vehicle. Without being corrected this issue will lead to the entire assembly to fail.
All of my lights on the back of my vehicle are out due to water damage. This is a known problem with these vehicles. The vehicle has less than 50,000 miles. The cost for a replacement is $1500. Dodge has known of this issue for many years has done nothing to correct it. It will not pass the state safety inspection with the lights out. It is a safety issue because I have no rear lights. We…
Water enters the rear tail light track lighting system, causing shorts in the LED lights. I have had it replaced 2 times now because of this defect. The new track light hasn't been installed for 1 year yet and water has gotten back into the tail lights cause shortages and outages. This is a hazard that needs to be addressed by Dodge
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2017 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 60 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 34 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 33,500 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 42,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,500; a quarter make it past 60,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.